Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-02-13
COMMON COUNCIL.

At q regular meeting OF the Common Coun.
Gil Of the city Of Alexsndris, Va, held
February 12, 1901, there were present:
Hubert, Snowden, esq, President, and
Messrs. TIimyer, Moore, Desmond. Bladder,
Harrison. Lawler, Evans and Smith.
Tho following message was received from
the Mayor aud referred to the joint Commit
tee on Police and Finance.
Alexandra, w., February 18th, 1901.
To the Honorable, the City Council of Alex
apdria:
Gentlemen-I would respectfully suggest
to your honorable body the propriety Of
gradually reducing the expenses incident to
the maintenance Of our police force. shall
not for o moment advocate an immediate
elimination OF members, for tuch oouue
would Of necessity work ap injustice TO cit.
zens who have been induced, by an employ.
ment containing the tempting clements Of
peImanency, to give up other oc' upatiors
and assume duties that were to continue dur
ing good conduct Besides the prscticsbity
Of reducing the force is born of efficient service
performed by our policemen. and to sum-
marily diminish the membership won be
q condemnstios of excellent acts rather than
premium xpon efficiency Therefore, should
there exist q just and equitable method Of
considering the sufject. a plan suggestive
OF full and complete fairness to the police in.
cumbcnts and of economy and justice to our
community could be quite easily formulated
upon the proposition Of filing no vacancies
that are oecasioned by death removal re,ig-
nation or otherwise, until such vacancies
shall have produced membership Of LEES
than fifteen. then can vacancies DO I'll ed so as
to bring the total members ip up 10 fifteen,
said membership OF nfteen with chief and
I<wxs- l. F..n
you will easily perceive. after the reduction
snail have teen fully consummsted, there
viii bs saving to our people OF more than
1000 per snnun. But IS l have herein
before assu med, principles Of economy should
net influence desire TO deprive any present
policeman OF his position position 60 well
and 90 faithfully filed, that good order and
the absence Of serious offences in our city
fully Justify the employment Of fifteen In
stead Of nineteen policemen.
Respectfully,
GEO. l.. SIMPSON, Mayor.
A COPY OF the report OF the jail inspectors
wss received from Hon. J. K NJ. Norton,
Judge Of the Corporation Court and referred
to the joint Committee on General Laws and
Putlic Property.
A petition from the Board Of 7 ireetols Of
the Alexandra free kindergatt ten for an ar
Of $500 to enable them to estsb-
lish schools 10 different sections OF the city,
was referred TO the Committee on Finance
A petition from Mr.. Weston N. Atkinson. q
member Of the police force, for two months
pay while disabled during December and
January, with certificate OF DR. W II. Smith,
was referred to the ommitt' Q on FnsIcs
resolution spproDristins $500 for TO-
inch terra Gotta sswer from King street 10
Christ Par sh Hs ] on Columbus street, was
referred to the Committee on Streets
A resolution to appropriate $500 to drive
piles at the fsh wharf, wss referred to the
Com mittee os Public Property.
A communication from Gardner L. Boothe.
Attorney, enclosing IN act 10
smend and re-enaet the Gath section Of tho
sity charter, was referred 10 the Committee
DO General Laws.
The board then adjourned.
HUBERT SNOWDEN, President.
Teste: DANIEL 3. STAHsBURY. Clerk.