Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-09-27

he Al lbS az
ton of the Common Couoci on reso-
luton as TO the expediepcy of continu-
ing street work under the 33 section
OF the city charter, and then adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The board was not called to order I'M
iii some time after o'clock.
The Mayors message, chilling the
board, was read. The Mayor said that
he had called the ing at the request
of the sesqui-centennisl committee. and
bad also, to avoid duplication OF
meetings, sent at the same time mes
sage giving his reasons for vetoing an
ordinance adopted by the City Council
a. its last session, in reference TO repairs
on north Alfred street.
MIR. SnoWden moved that the mem.
bers of the Board OF Aldermen be in
vited to unite in joint session to re-
ceive the sesqui-centennial committee,
and Mr.. Ficklln was appointed to invite
the committee into the chamber.
Messsrs. W. B. Smoot, Dr. VIM. NJ.
Smith, George K Hill, John w. Nav,
Capt. J. E King, G. l.. Boothe. @. E.
Leadbealer and NJ. B. Harlow then
oulered.
JOINT SESSION.
Dr.. Wm. Nj. Smith explained that the
committee was present because Alex.
andria was about to celebrate its sesqul-
centennial. He narrated the circum-
stances which led to The celebration,
and described the various organizations
which expected to attend, saying he ex
pecled nearly 10 900 menu. s. sold
ers and sailors, The brigade from Wash
ngton, men from the navy yard, &c,
and thought that 81 900 would be needed
from the city. York, Pa, with 10000
inhabitants, had appropriated S50,OJO,
but only mere fragment OF that sum
was asked here. There would be here
lions of the Union, and the celebration
should be one that would do credit to
the city. 1t behooved this city to enter
tain these guests in seemly manner, so
an appropriation OF 81 900 was asked
by the committee.
Mr.. Geo. K. Hill said this movement
mad been inauguared at a mass meeting
Of representative people. The cenien-
dial would be an advertisement OF very
great value. They desired the City
Council To express Its approval and 10
unite as an official body 10 the process
sion upon that occasion.
Mr.. NJ B. Harlow gave an official in-
vitation to the Mayor and City Council
10 unite ia the celebration. He said
that it was hoped that all buildings
would be adorned in the day and il.
animated at night.
DI. Smith said that the committee
nad arranged to decorate the City Hall
the school houses and The engine houses
and that the members OF Council would
De provided with carriages to ride il
the parade.
Mr.. Harlow returned thanks for the
courtesy and the committee retired.
Ga motion of Mr.. B. B. Smith it was
agreed that the subject OF an appro-
Dra.on be di .cussed in joint session.
After short discussion as 10 the mat
ter of the proceeding,
A resolution, sent in by the sesqui
centennial committee, that 81 900 be
appropriated Tor the centennial, was
read.
! Alderman ]. Z. Sweeney thought
hat the enterprise had reached
proportions that called the attention
of the City Council to the project. He
was disposed TO do everything that the
c ty should do, yet $1,000 was q con-
siderable sum Tor the city Of Alezan-
dria to give. The appropriation OF
Washington to welcome Admiral
Dewey was only $4,000 or $1,000 He
thought that al the city could afford
would be $500 He urged that the ad-
Verlisement would be OF value TO the
city.
No further remarks were made and
me joint meeting dissolved.
COUNCIL RECoNvENEs.
The Common Council then resumed |
Its session.
To get the matter before Council Mr.
Smith moved that $1,000 be appro-
priated.
Mr.. Burke thought the city had no
legal right to spend the peoples money |
in this way Any citizen could stop |
the expenditure by injunction. He |
favored, however, an appropriation to
assist in making the celebration a sue
cess, and moved that $500 be appro-
priated, instead of $1,000.
MrS1ith was not willing to go on and
10 thing which was illegal and if ii
was wrong to appropriate $1,000 it
was wrong to appropriate $500. He
thought $500 was not worth coming 10
Council for. He suggested that the
subject be referred to the corporation
attorney and let the city remain in her
darkness with the curtains drawn as it
had been for hundred years.
Mr.. Burke did not think it necessary
to get on opinion from the attorney OF
the corporation OF Alexandra, nor did
he believe that the city had been in
darkness nor would it lapse into dark
ness if there were no celebration. |
was prosperous city. But he favored
making the cost to the city of this cele-
bration as light as possible.
Mr.. Smith was unwilling 10 do any
act that was illegal in the matter.
Can't we wait on the Mayor and see if
be is going to veto an appropriation
Mr.. Snowden said be did not wish 10
attend any further meetings here this
week and was opposed to asking the
attorneys opinion unless it could be
obtained at once. The suggestion Of
waiting on the Mayor to see if he in
tended vetoing any measure this body
might pass was out OF the question.
MIR. Desmond was sorry to see the