Evening star., 1902-03-11
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
MAYORS VIEWS REGARDING
SURRENDER OF GAS WORKS.
Does Not Believe Syndicate's PROPOSE
ton Will Be Seriously Considered
General and Personal News.
Evening Star Bureau.
No. 701 King Street,
Rell Talenhopo No 10S

ALEXANDRIA, Va, March IL, 1902
When the proposition that the city sur
render the management and operation of
the corporation gas works was mentioned
before Mayor Simpson this morning he
treated the matter with levity and cx-
pressed the belief that it would not be Sc
riously entertained. The idea, he said, OF
relinquishing one Of Alexandria's most val
| liable assets was absurd. In recent years,
the mayor said. there had been many offers
from outside capitalists for the purchase
of the local gas works, but all Of them had
been turned down.
At the semi-monthly meeting Of the city
council this evening it is probable that the
proposition made by Mr.. r. Frank Colds
borough Of New York in the the interest
OF syndicate of that city, heretofore
mentioned in The Star, will be presented.
The terms on which the syndicate wished
to secure the Alexandria property were
outlined last evening by the agent before
the joint council committees on light and
finance. It was stated that the personnel
of the company desiring to negotiate would
be withheld until the proceedings had
reached a more advanced stage.
City Engineers Salary.
At the regular semi monthly meeting Of
the city council this evening, Corporation
Attorney Gardner L. Boothe will submit
an opinion In response to resolution Of
fered by Alderman Hill at the last meet
ing Of the council, asking whether the sal
ary Of the city engineer might lawfully he
increased during his present term of office.
The corporation attorney holds that coun-
Gil has the right to increase the salary
In question In his opinion. Mr.. Boothe
states that the provision in the city char
ter pertaining to the increase or decrease
Of salaries Of city officials applies only to
the officials created by the charter, such
as the office of mayor. auditor and others,
and that the Office Of city engineer, bav-
city council, might be abolished by action
Of the city council. For the same reason
the salary attaching thereto might be in
creased or diminished at the pleasure Of
council.
General Matters.
The friends and relatives of Miss Cath
crime Critcher. daughter of the late Judge
Critcher Of this place, are much gratified at
the report from Paris, France, that she re-
ceived third honorable mention at the an
nual exhibition Of the Julian School Of Art.
A series Of gospel lectures on the prophe
cies of the Bible will be given at No. 921
King street, beginning tomorrow evening.
The services will be conducted by Evan
gelist G. w. Lewis.
In the police court this morning Mayor
Simpson fined Josephine Lee, colored s. on
the charge of being drunk and disorderly.
On the charge of vagrancy Otto Ferson was
given twenty days on the gang.
Lieutenant Smith this morning reported
to the mayor that the police department
had been considerably annoyed recently by
the large number of tramps seeking lodg-
ing at the station house. Mayor Simpson
instructed the officer to see that any tramps
found in the city, after having been enter
ta1ned once at the station house. were
locked up. They will then be sent to the
chain gang.