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

spirited discussions, but in the Com
mon Council the scenes at times were
animated, especially when the mat
ter concerning work at the Con ed
crate monument, was under considero-
! ton. An ordinance fixing the rare oi
speed OF electric cars 1T eight miles an
hour while Within The city limits. TO ne
10 operation forty days, was passed oy
! both boards. Considerable routine
business was transsc ed without debate
| BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
All the Aldermen were present Ii
was nearly eight o'clock when the
board was called to order.
Mr.. F. F. Msrbury, elected Alder
| man from the Second ward TO ill the
| u expired term OF his father, the late
| Wm. n. Marbury, appeared aud was
sworn In by President Ballenger. Mr..
Marbury was subse queutly appointed
| on the committees on general laws ana
public properly.
MIR. Hill offered a resolution, which
was adopted, providing that when
F.! Council adjourned it be to meet on the
second Tuesday in January, 1901.
Mr.. Clark asked Mr.. w. h. Sweeney
| if the appropriation Tor street-cleanine
work was exhaus ed. He said several
men who had heretofore been working
for the city were at present idle, the
cause, he had understood, being the
ant of funds to carry on the work.
Winter was coming on and it was q
serious matter to those who had for
| merly been employed, az they were To-
capable of performing other labor, and
! had for years been dependent upon the
| city for employment.
Mr.. Sweeney said he could not readily
| answer Mr.. Clark's Interrogation, not
knowing what amount was to the credi,
| OF the street cleaning fund. There had,
however, been no demand made re
Gently upon the finance committee for
more money for that purpose, and 1t IS
| supposed there would have been had
the appropriation been exhausted.
Mr.. Clark said he understood that
but four men were now employed as
street cleaners.
Mr.. Dobie stated that seven men
were employed; also three carts.
Mr.. Clark asserted that the alleys Of
the city were in foul condition.
Mr.. Sweeney asserted that IL the
committee on streets had expended the
appropriation they should come to the
finance committee for more money.
The committee would help them out.
Mr.. Hill suggested that a resolution
should be passed inquiring into the
I, matter. He, however, was satisfied
| that there was still money available for
| the committee.
Mr.. J. T. Sweeney said If there re-
] NAMED unexpended money to the
| credit of the street. cleaning fund the
City Engineer could put more men TO
work. Council was supposed to know
nothing about the several appropria-
tons until notified by the Auditor.
| Mr.. Dobi, suggested that Mr.. Hol-
com De was proceeding cautiously IN
order to keep within the limits OF the
appropriation.
Mr. Clark was opposed to such a
cheese pairing method OF conducting
street work. Be said there were sew
eral old men who were. iD a measure,
dependent upon the city for their liveli'
hood, being inca pacitated from perform.
Jog other labor than that OF strert
cleaning. There was no economy 10
the procedure suggested by MIR. Dobe.
Mr.. J. T. Sweeney read the law re-
curing the Auditor to notify Council
when en- appropriation was exhausted.
Mr. Clark intimated that the money
was being held back.
Mr.. J. L. Sweeney suggested that The
committee on streets and City En-
gineer could consult about the matter
and the whole trouble be amicably ad-
justed.
Mr.. w. H. Sweeney went into an ex-
planation OF the manner 10 which To
appropriation for street cleaning had
been made. He was sure So 600 had
| not been expended since the first OF
last June
NJ. Clark finally introduced q resolu-
ton iDquring into the matter.
Mr.. Hill moved its adoption.
Mr., J. L. Sweeney opposed the reso'
luton. He said STRENGTHENING was
directly under the supervision OF the
committee on streets and the City EG'
gineer, and Council could not take
away their prerogatives. He sympa-
thiZed with II g spirit of the resolution
and we're a measure before the board
appropristiug money for sireet-cleaDing
be would cheerfully support it; but be
repeated that Council bad no right to
interfere with the committee or City
Engineer who had been entrusted with
the work.
Mr.. Clsrk-"Wbat is the appropria-
| ton for"
Mr.. J. T. Sweeney replied that the
| committee and City Engineer should
be the judges in expanding the sppro-
priation; they were charged with that
duty, and the resolution savored very
much of instructions.
Mr.. Clark insisted that a vote be
taken upon bis resolution. he wanted
the matter placed before the public
and let them be the judes OF the affair.
Mr, ]. T, Sweeney asked Mr.. c ark
to allow the committee and City E0-
oineer to arrange the matter; he was
hey would act right.
sure - said their recent procedure
Mr. Oiafh lay were bent upon
iOoKeu as though - iof the fiscal
showing a saving at the en-. the
year. The poor men employed o.
streets indirectly paid taxes as we'll as
other people.
Mr.. w. Il. Sweeney said should Mr.. |
Clsrk's resolution be adopted and the |
City Engineer report to Council that |
he was acting In the interests OF the |
city. there the matter would have to
end. Council could not force him to
alter his mode OF procedure.
Upon motion of Mr.. Dobie the reso.