Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-02-27
CITY COUNCIL.


The regular meeting OF the City
Council last night did not lapse into a
protracted session but az times the
discussions savored of spirit Most OF
the business transacted was OF no gen.
eral Importance. There was joint SEES
sion for the purpose of electipg a school
trustee from the Second ward in place
of Mr.. Fred Klaus, resigned. The candi-
dates were Messrs. w. w Bslleuger, Geo.
! Flsnerand A. II. Thomson. Several in
effectual ballots were taken and the
Joint session dissolved without selecting
o successor to Mr.. Klaus. 10 the Board
Of Aldermen the chronic question OF
taxing the electric railway for the use
of Royal street was discussed, and al
ordinance providing for the same was
laid over.
| BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Six members were present when the
Board Of Aldermen was called to order
by the clerk.
Upon motion Mr.. Curtin was elected
president pro tempore. Mr.. BalleDger,
the president, later entered the cham
bar, bat did not assume the chair. He
was heartily greeted, it being his fret
appearance 10 the chamber since last
December.
Mr.. Dobie introduced o resolution
appropriating S25 for placing new
pump at the corner of Fairfax and
Franklin streets. He stated that the
old pump, which had been in use for
forty years, had worn out; that the
cylinder had become so large that it
would be impossible 10 repair II; that
all the pump.repairers in Alexandria
had tried to put it in working order and
all had signslly failed. II was now 10
q condition when it would cost more
| for repairs than for q new pump. Mr..
Dobie said q large number OF people 90
south Fairfax street and in other parts
OF that neighborhood depended upon
the pump for water, and by it be-
ing out of repair much Inconvenience
was experienced. He hoped the reso.
luton would be passed without refer
ence to a committee.
The other members of the board
agreed with him and the resolution was
passed by unanimous vote. Later. an
order was received from the Common
Council for the repair Of the pImp.
This was laid over by the aldermen.
Mr.. J. L. Sweeney introduced an or.
dinance providing for the taxing of the
electric railway 1890 per annum for
| The use OF it's tracks on Royal street
from King to Franklin. BE said all
recognized The fact that the bill had
been introduced and amply discussed
during the past two years, but that 1t
had always failed OF passage for certain
reasons. The ordinance presented was
the same 10 substance under which the
Company was now operating save in the
provis ons OF Section 5, which compelled
the company to pay into the city treas
ury the tum of 81 600 annually for the
use OF Royal street. Mr.. Sweeney said he
did not purpose to enter into any ex.
tended discussion of the ordinance, as
all the members of the board were ia
mlliar with the arguments which had
been urged pro and con. All, however,
were agreed that some legislation ia re.
gard to the matter should be entered
into at an early date. By the terms OF
the ordinance but little was asked OF
the railway cOmpany-merely that
they pay fair sum for the use of their
franchise.
Mr.. Ballenger thought the company
should pay fair cum of-tsxation for
the uss of Royal street, but he was
convinced that there should be some
limit. He said the City Council had
recently passed an ordinance granting
certain privileges to Messre. Hopkins
and others, who purpose establishing
a glass factory here. They have an
option on certain city property for
period OF fifteen years. He was not
opposed to the ordinance, and had he
been present would have voted for it,
but what was fair 10 this case should be
equally fair 10 that of the railway. He
repeated that something should be
done in order that fair rate OF taxa.
ton could be levied on the railway
company.
Mr.. Sweeney said the ordinance re.
ferred to by Mr.. BslleDger was different
altogether in its nature. Mr.. Hopkins
and his associates had agreed to do
certain things which were calculated to
enhance the commercial Importance of
the city. They intended to briog about
an initiatory movement for locating
manufactures in the city and were to
employ workmeD.
Mr.. Ballenger called attention to the |
fact that the electric railway company !
a large number of men.
Mr.. Sweeney said it could not be de-
MED that the road in some ways wss q |
good thing, bat he said 1t had not done |
right with the city, but had resisted |
every movement which had been made |
toward making it do its part toward
of streets, Sc. He gave
q rapid review of the history oIthe con-
hict between the city and the road, but /
8aid that in order to show that he was
not radical nor obdurate 10 his opinions
he was willing to make some concfs-
zion in order that legislation be not
,loRged. lie recognized that we should
III give and take, and he would be
Villing to allow the ordinance to be
amended By inserting the words. "for
period of five years" in section 5. He
lid, however, believe such amendment
on the part OF Council, but
would make the concession in order to
ring about some action.
Mr.. Bsllenger said he would favor 10
rears, and when the ordinance should
'e placed on its second reading he
you'd move such an amendment. He,
however, was desirious OF seeing the
natter settled aud the city receiving
i 800 a year from the company. He F,
aid the fact should not be lost sight OF {
hat the railway company employed
bout 100 Alexsndrians.