Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-12-12

street should De opened
Mr.. Trimyer said that Bell had de-
layed the work at first because be
would not haul gravel and now be de-
layed it again because he would not
haul sand.
Mr.. Evans said that it ives pity
that the city should he gouged as 1t 10
heinz at present. He tod how the
men at work on tn etreets losfed aud
said that the City Engineer had told
him he could not help it, that he was
getting all the work out OF the men he
could and that the city had to take
care of the men one way or another.
Mr.. Lawler said he was bsiug abused
by many or voting against appropris-
tions for street improvements and he
wished to say, as a member OF the h.
nance committee, that be would NOT
vote to spend money when it was nc
torious fact that the city vas not get
ting value received for money expended.
He said that member OF Council, Mr.
Dobie, was on the committee. creating
worB for himself as the boss of the
street working gang. He declared Mr..
Dobie knew that il a0other member
was added to the committee on streets,
and that member be from the Common
Council, numerous schemes would be
blocked
Mr.. Lawler thought there were too
many pensioners on the rolls; ne did
not think it right to have Mr.. Dobie on
the street committee, because be was
: drawing pay from all appropriations
that were made, and, of course, he
.. always favored appropriations for street
work. He declared that il a member
of the City Couucil was added to the
street committee Mr.. Dobie would walk
the tow line, and that was why he 81
bitterly opposed the measure. he sal
that be understood that Mr.. DObie had
been carried on the rolls as lsborer a.
l.25 day. and that the engineer had
given him Is cents dsy extra to keep
him from kicking.
Mr.. Burke said that as long as tbf
present state of affairs existed he would
be afraid to vote to appropriate any
more Of the cily's money. At the meet
ing of the committee just held mem
Der of the committee, an Alderman,
who seemed to control that body, hao
said that unless an Alderman was APP
pointed the additional member of tb'
committee the number of the commit
tee would never be increased.
Mr.. Trimyer said that he did not
know the mysterious Mr.. Bell, who war
furnishing the city with alleged short
loads of sand. but he thought il
a shame TO have such q rotten
state of stfairs existing in the CITY
and il the City Engineer was recresnt to
his trust, be should be deposed.
DIR. Evans said be understood that be-
fore MIR. Burkr became chairman of The
street committee the Cay Engineer
had called on Mr. Burke and said: ST
we make you chairman Of the CONN
tee on streets will you retain DOb!'Y
Mr.. Burke corroborated Mr.. Evans
statement.
Mr.. Evans then asked Mr.. Burke
when be demanded of the City Eoei-
neer to know who had cent bin o.
such mission, what response had the
engineer made.
Mr.. Burke replied that the Engineer
had named Mr.. Brent as the person
who had sent him.
| Mr.. Brent requests it to be stated
that be did not send the Engineer t
Mr.. Burke to secure any promises rom
him.
MI Evans then asked what shoul
be thought of CITY Engineer who
would ask members OF committees t.
make promises TO secure chalrmsnsbips
Mr.. Trimyer said some u mbers Of
Council posed 10 the community as b.
iog public spirited men, and doing
everything TO advance the city's iD-
terest, whereas they were only Cou
cilmeD 10 their own interest. h.
thought it time to purge Couocil of such
men.
NJ. Evans declared that be knew Of
three members of the City Counc wbC
had passes over the WASH gtoD, Alex
endria and Mount Vernon Railway, an
ne declared that they were rot fl to De
members of that body.
Mr.. LAWYER said il might be Inferred
tnat some of them accepted "otber
things"
Mr.. Trimyer regretted that the time
had come when such q discussion mus
be held in public aud in the presence OF
representatives of the press; that the
rotton condition of affairs should be
spread abroad. He said that he did
not have pass over the electric road
He said # the charges made against the
City Engineer we're true be should b.
removed; II not be should be protected.
Mr.. Paf said that he had never re-
| ceived Courtesies from the electric rail-
read, and deprecated such q state Of
affairs.
A mixed discussion followed, in |
which Mr.. Psff said that Council was |
now powerless, but next year the PEG.
pie would take the matter in hand and |
elect business men without regard to |
party politics.
The order suspending the five mile |
ordinsn 9 concerning the electric rail-
way having been disagreed to by the |
AL iermen came back to Council and |
was made the sui ject Of committee
| Of conference, and dessrs. Trimyer anC |
Lawler were appointed.
The form of the order having been
changed by the coDferees, it was adopt
ed in both boards.
A resolution presented by Mr.. Law
Ter, naming the presidents of the two
boards and the members of the commit
tee on streets a committee to appoint
board to examine applicants for the po-
stion of superintendent of gas, was
passed.
The subject of the delay Of work at
the Confederate monument was then
resumed. and Mr. Lawler said the CRY