Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-03-14
CITY COUNCIL.

So Conaci last night. Most of it..
Sagever. was of a routine nature. The
Enhances creating the Office of super
;"taodent of gas and celebrating ad-
,ma,,i-ements from telegraph and other
poles were passed.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
All the Alderman were present. No
ooartators of the proceedings appeared
wi,hOut the bar.
snortly after The board had been
osIIed 10 order Mr.. Clark asked what
had become of the report OF the COM
MICE on light showing the cost of en-
isrgioe the city's electric light plant.
Us sai1 the committee bad spent much
,,ms and labor in ascertaining every.
hing IN connection with the matter
aod mad prepered the report with care.
The speaker was Informed that the
-anort had been submitted to the Com
man Council and that board had re-
ceyel IL. The Alderman had simply
coucurred in their action.
Mr. Clark did not think the commit
Tee mad been treated with proper def.
e,epce in the matter. The people
wanted electric lights, and 1t was time
they we're having them.
Mr. J. T. Sweeney doubted the pro-
pre,y Of calling up the report now.
Mr. Clark said he would move to
take +, up. aud the chair would have
tod.cide on the legality of such action.
lie did not want the report to be put
10 sleep on the table.
Mr.. J. T. Sweeney said the action o.
the two boards at the last meeti 3
meant no more than that Council at
that time did not desire to take further
action. The matter could come up at
any subse queDt time 10 the nature OF az
ordinance TO carry out the recommen-
dalions of the committee. When he
helped to prepare the report he natur.
ally expected Council would do nothing
more at present than receive it. The
report embraced nothing more than TO-.
formation Oh which Council could at
some future time act upon.
Mr.. Clark urged that the report be
taken up and referred to the commit
tees on public property and light.
The messenger was sent to the cham.
Der of the Common Council for
the purpose of obtaining the report,
but he soon returned without it, the
paper being in the hands Of the Audi
tor who had left his Office few min.
utes previously.
After some further debate Mr.. Clark
offered resolution, which was passed,
referring the report to the committees
on public property, finance, and light.
Mr.. Hill presented q petition from
Mr. Z Z. Downhsm asking for a re-
ducti0n OF rental from ten to five dollars
year on a lot owned by him at the
corner of Pitt and Princess streets, he
stating that the city at present used two
thirds of said lot. The petition was re-.
isrred 10 the iuance committee. This
and Mr.. G ark's resolution were the
only papers presented in the Aldermen,
the other business transacted coming
from the lower board, most OF which
Was cOncurred in without debate.
After the ordinance forbidding the
placing of advertising signs, &C., on
telegraph and other poles in the city
had been read,
Mr.. Clark moved an amendment, al
lowing the placing ofthe advertisements
on the poles, but making it a INSIDE
meanor to post such advertisements less
than six feet from the pavement. He
said the dresses OF ladies were often
torn by the signs placed too far down
on the poles. He was, however, oppos-
ed to celebrating them although, az
the parties who placed the signs, &C.,
on the poles paid Mr.. Hill, the regular
licensed bill poster of the city, for the
privilege, aud the city to small ex'
tent at least was benefited thereby.
Mr.. J.. I. Sweeney called attention to
the fact that in cases we're companies
mad been granted the privilege to erect
poles it was with the understanding
That they should be kept painted and
in slightly condition. If that law was
carried out the poles would be no places
for advertising designs.
Mr.. Clark wanted to know why the
law was not carried out.
Mr.. sweeney replied that he did moi
know.
Mr.. Clark insisted on his amendment
He did not desire to stop the placard'
INK Of the poles entirely, nor did he
want to see fence built around Alex
andra.
DIR Sweeney said such placardii
rendered the poles unsightly. All de-
scuptons of advertising appeared OF
them, and some of the devices, made
Of tin, were always tearing ladies
dresscs and mems coats. He urged
that there were plenty Of other places
n the city where such advertising
could be done. He again referred tt
the provisions in the ordinances grant
ing permis:inn for the erection of pole s
and said they were formerly KEEP
paiuted. He did not know why they
we're not painted at regular times, bu
they should be.
Mr.. Clark said his amendment re
curing the placing OF the plscards
Tee from the ground would remedy al
difficulty.
Mr.. Hill said the present mode o
covering the poles with advertising
sisus made them look unsigh ly. l
made King street especially prescott
sorry spec acle. Personally he was IL
40 wise interested 10 the placing OF TN
sdyeTtlsewents. 1t wasa email matte
to bin 20 far as bill posting was Con
Cerned
Mr. W. II. Sweeney controverted MI
C'ar&'s impressions concerning 20
matter under discussion. The peopl
who engaged 10 placarding the Cit.
paid no taxes, nor did they take on
licenses. Such things were not allow
ed 10 other cities.
Mr.. Hill said some of our own mer
chants used this mode OF advertising.
Mr.. J. T. Sweeney was satisfied tba
should the Aldermen concur in the &C