Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-01-12
OFFICIAL.


Simpson, Mayor, was read in tn, City Coun-
oil at its regular meeting January 8, 1901
Alexsndris, Va, Jan. 8, 1901.
To the Honorable the City Council OF Alex
andIia:
Gentlemen At the possible risk Of incur
ring criticism for an apparent unnecessary
interference with legislative functions, de.
sire to call the attention of your honorable
body to the uuaccountsble distractions ana
the delays which have accompanied attempt
ed collections of equitable revenues from the
w., A. & Mt. v. BY. Co. and as justi6ca-
ton for remarks hereinafter introduced.
mention that my chartered obligations are
lay before the City Council from time to
time, In writing, such alterations in the laws
Of the city as he shall deem necessary and
proper"
November 14th, 1899, recommended to
the City Council the propriety of instituting
inquiry regarding the comparatively small
returns made BY the w., a. & Mt. V. Ky.
Co. for manifold privileges and concessions
granted, the obiec. being more equitable
distribution OF the burdens Of taxation and a
proper relief Of Alexsndriss individual tax
payers to the extent, at least, Of the railroads
assumption Of portion of the onerons re-
sponsibilities, which our citizens for 10 these
many years, have been forced to assume I'M
aided and uurelieved. Your honorable body
deeming the recommendation of sufficient inn
portance to warrant Investigation. referred 1t
to the committees on finance, streets, al gen.
eral laws. The Mayor was invited to be
present OF the discussion Of the matter In
committee and while appreciated ihs fact
that the invitation so kindly extended it,
Guided the liberty OF participating in the cub
ject's analysis, yet natural modesty super
added to q meager knowledge of the routine
OF committees proceedings induced me TO Ie-
main silent until my views were requested
/ think BY Alderman Hill, probably through
friendly regard rather than implicit conf
dence In my judgment-and, in accepting
the opportunity, took occasion to assume
that matters Of loops ard contracts we're en-
tirely extraneous, and that the only question
wss that of charging the electric railway for
the use OF Royal street, This view the COM
mittee, of which Aldermen Sweeney, Ballen.
ger, Hill add Sweeney were among those
present, unanimously endorsed and followed
up by unanimously agreeing upon the sum
that the railway company should annually
Iay and by directing that the Corporation
Attorney should prepare an ordinance In
consonance with this action. With the recol-
lection of aforementioned transaction, 1t lie
naturally surprising TO find the wheels Of
legislation uDpleasantly clogged with irrele-
want Suggestions Of impractica5le and uD-
practical term contracts" with the railway
company, when the simple solution. as unan.
imously agreed upon in CT nmittee, is the i'm
position of az annual tax for the use of Roysl
street. The comprehensive simplicity OF this
arrangement becomes eminentiy practical
when We reflect upon the fairness Of the
proposition and the efficacious means at our
disposal to put it into execution. cannot
for a moment believe That the electric rail-
way company. tn its knowledge improved
b. expensive litigation with our city, would
be willing to oppose the fair plan of your
committee, and 1t Is not unreasonable TO sup
pose that any act Of repugnancy. on the part
imagined protection of potentisl politicians,
whose advocacy of q eompany's claims is
oftentimes purchased at very much higher
figure than the legitimate expenses attending
the payment OF lawful municipal taxation.
Railroads frequently and courteously bestow
complimentary favors upon national, State
and city officials, but contemplate indeed
would be the man whose subserviency is pro-
cured by such means or who Is swayed from
advocacy Of his communiiy's welfare because
Of his having received personal courtesies.
There has been discussion as to the probabili-
ty Of the electric railway company removing
their tracks from the city and passing to
Mount VerLon from Washington without
coming through Alexandria, but men mutt
have poor opinion OF our city's importance
il they believe such an sbsurdity as that Of q
railway company. whose man iicent patron.
age is dependent 30 largely upon this com
munity. trsversing unsettled territory simply
to avoid paying the righteous demands of our
oyer.generous people. The electric railway
company would undoubtedly prefer giving
Ave thousand dollars "a, 600 per annum to
surrendering privileges enjoyed by them in
Alexandria city. 1t is not my purpose TO
tresps8 With lengthy discussion Of this mat
ter, for am quite sure that Alderman ]. T.
Sweeney and others in their remai ks and In
THAR ideas Of the improperly OF enterin
into contract with the railway company for
the rental Of Royal street have fully ably and
legally covered the ground, but l am earnest
ly In favor Of prompt measures being taken
In the premises, not as q matter Of aDtsgo
Dism to the electric railway company indeed
there would be no justification for tu a &c,
sition by one who has witnessed with pleas.
ure the uniform courtesy and good conduct
of all connected with said company, bat as a
matter of justice and fairness to city, whose
people uncompainingly have seen their prir-
cipal business thoroughfare practically de-
stroyed and have borne the burdens Of undl-
vided taxation 10 point where the Mayor
feels that his position would be Justly dis
credited did he fail to insist upon thu rail
way company's bearing some of the RESPONSE
bility who're they have enjoyed such valua-
BILE privileges. Why, gentlemen, our psople's
patronage and the fact that the terminu, of
the road Is Alexandris, probably create three.
fourtLs Of the company 70 revenues, the tourist
travel to Mount Vernon adding but little TO
said company's prosperity. And it would be
strange, indeed, II under such circumstances
We should neglect to enact fair and proper
ordinances increasing revenues, aud, stranger
till, IL the electric railway company, with
The memory of so many benefits rece we'd,
should hesitate TO contribute their proportion.
Respectfully,
GEO. L. SIMPSON. Mayor.