Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-10-10
CITY COUNCIL.

held last night. A large volume OF
business had accumulated, but it was
mostly of routine nature and melted
INIT little debate. The average num-
Der of spectators was without the bar
in the chamber of both boards. A
Joint session was held at which Mr..
| Harry A. Downhsm was elected Fire
| Warden for the Third ward In place OF
Mr.. X. E. Gronau, resigned, and Mr..
George Richards Overseer OF Outdoor
Poor in place of w. F. Shock, de
ceased. Both boards passed the reso-
lutJn appropriating s., 800 to repave
King street from Fairfax to Royal with
vitritied brick.
| BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
All the Aldermen were present. The
board was called to order by the clerk
and Mr.. Curtin was elected President
pro tempore.
The first husiuess in order was the
election OF President in place OF w.
II. Marbury, deceased.
Mr.. w. II. Sweeney arose and NOM
mated Mr.. j. L. Sweeney. He said 1t
was the custom on such occasions 10
select the senior member for President.
Mr.. Sweeney, he said, had been MEM
| Der OF the City Council for twenty
| years. He had been a member OF the
lower board for eight years, and had
! been its President for four years, pre-
vious to becoming mem DER OF the
Board OF Aldermen. He spoke OF his
services in the legislative branch OF the
city government aud the ability be had
ever displayed. The speaker said he
| reflected on no Que else who might as
| pire to the position, but reiterated that
| 1t being customary TO confer such nonor
on a senior member, he hoped Mr..
sweeney would be selected.
Mr.. Clark nominated MIR. BalleDger.
He Was not, he ssid, the senior men,
Der OF Council, but was known to be
thoroughly competent and in every
way worthy of the honor he hoped
| would be conferred upon him.
A ballot was taken which resulted as
follows: Sweeney 2. Bsllenger 3, and
the latter was declared elected.
Mr.. Bsllenger upon taking the chair
said:
Gentlemen: | thank you for the
courtesy you have conferred upon me
by elecLiDg me president OF your honor
able body aud / shall use every effort
| TO lie guided by the same spirit of fair
] ness and imparliality 10 presiding over
, this body az was manifested Dy W. h.
Marbury, our late lamented president.
| have been a member of the two
branches of Council for many years
and | have realizsd the fact that the
proceedings OF the TWO boards have not
been 10 harmony of late, and | desire
10 state shall do all 10 my power TO
bring about more satisfactory condi-
ton OF affairs in order that som ething
may be done for the material welfare
OF our city.
Several resolutions, &C., concerning
street and sewer work (Which will be
found in the official proceedngs) Were
introduced and appropriately disposed
Of, after which
Mr.. J. L. Sweeney from the Joint COM
mittees on streets, finance and general
laws, introduced, as the report OF these
committees, an ordnance amend
ing the ordinance allowing the Wash.
Jag ion, Alexandria and Mount Vernon
Railway Company TO use Royal street
50 as 10 require said company to paw in
toe city treasury the sum of 81, 500
year for sucn privileges. Mr.. Sweeney
gave history of the legislation which
had eliminated 10 the introduction o
the ordin 4nce, be going into the details
irCm the time the Mayor called the at
teniion of Council so the fact that the
company Was paying an Insignificant
,um 10 The way Of taxes for a valuable
franchise. Mr.. Sweeney gave succinct
accounts OF the interviews the JONI
committees had had with the company's
offi GERS and their attorneys; how the
latter had attempted to get the priv
iege OF forming loop on Prince street
from Fairfax TO Royal and TO be allowed
to take oil their street Car provided
81 800 year were paid. The speaker
said the controversy with the railway
mad been 10 progress for a year, and
that the company Was at present pay
Jog one dollar and few cents day
into the city treasury in the way OF
taxes. The company had almost the
exclusive use of King street, rendering
it unfit for other traffic, while it occu-
pied Royal street from King street 10
the city limits. He urged the passage
Of the ordinance as submitted Ia order
that the city could collect the 81 600 as
provided.
Mr. Hill ssid,ss a member of the joint
committee, he attended the meetings |
referred to by Mr.. Sweeney. He sup
posed that should the company agree to |
pay the $1,000 it would be optional |
with them to run car down Fairfax |
street. He noticed, however, in the or
dinsnce that provision was made for |
running that Car. The company did |
not desire to abandon Fairfax street,
out at the same time they did not want
the running of that car made compul-
sorry, and be required to pay 81, 800
also.
Mr.. Sweeney said he did not believe
the company could stop the running of
The street Car.
Mr.. Hill said there was no particular
Time given the company provided they
agreed to pay the amount required. At
any time Counoil could increase the
levy. He wanted the city to get all it
could; the company enjoyed valuable
franchise, and it did not pay enough for
il, bu. he thought some time should be
fixed and not lay the company liable to
he cspriciousDess Of this or some sub
sequeut Council who could change the
sum ad libitum. Mr.. Hill read the
terms OF franchises granted TO similar
companies in other cities. Some had
perpetual privileges, others for ten,
twenty or thirty years.
Mr.. Sweeney replied by saying roads
10 other cities paid something for their
while the city of Alexan. {
dria had been in trouble with the {