Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-04-13
City Council.


1 A large volume of routine business
was transacted at the regular meeting o.
the City Council last night. An ordi-
nance providing for the installation o.
an electric light and power plant in this
city was passed, with single negative vote
in each board. The special committee,
consisting Of the Mayor, Presidents Of
the two boards of Council and the Cor
poration Attorney, 10 whom was re-
ferred the matter of redistricting the
city, submitted their report which was
to the effect that they had nothing to
suggest, although they referred to GER
tain propositions which had been made,
one extending the ward limits, and an
other to form new ward. The law
imposing taxes on persons, &C., was re-
ported by the finance committee and
passed. There is no change in the law
from last year. An ordinance to amend
an ordinance to secure the repair Of
streets was also passed. The official
proceedings will be found elsewhere.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Seven Aldermen we're present. The
action OF the Common Council was con-
CURED in on all papers sent in.
The report of the special committee,
consisting of the Mayor, the Presidents
of the two boards of Council and the
Corporation Attorney, appointed to re-
port plan for rearanging the wards
Of the city, submitted their report.
An interchange of opinion followed
which was participated in by Mr.. Boothe,
who was present. He explained the
different plans which had been suggested,
and explained 10 detail the committees
reasons for declining to report a mode
of procedure.
The report was received and referred
TO the committee on general laws.
Mr.. Marbury introduced an ordinance
to provide for the proper protection of
oil tanks within the city's limits. The
ordinance provides that wherever over
one hundred gallons of oil, naptha or
other inhammable products are stored
the tanks shall be surrounded by walls
of sufficient height to prevent the spread
of fire should the same become ignited.
The ordinance was passed.
Mr.. Burke submitted a petition from
number of merchants protesting
against the use of trade stamps, and sug-
gesting license tax of 5000 upon stamp
companies and $50 upon merchants who
distribute stamps. The signers of the
petition urge that the use of stamps in
trade is pernicious.
The paper was referred to the finance
committee.
After concurring in the action of the
Common Council on papers sent in from
that board the Aldermen adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The board met shortly after o. clock
with a bare quorum which was increased
later.
The finance committee reported the
tax bill for the fiscal year, imposing a
tax of 100 cents upon real and personal
property. The bill, which makes no
change in last years bill, was passed.
Mr.. Paff asked Capt Bryan if people
doing contract work would be required
to pay double tax. Capt. Bryan ex-
planned that this matter would be taken
up by the finance committee in connec-
ton with the license law.
The ordinance to offer a thirty-year
franchise for using the streets for wires,
&c, designed to be used for electric
light and power was reported favor
ably by the committees on finance and
light. In case of disagreement as to the
value Of the works, arbitrators are to be
named by the parties, and on their dis
agreement an umpire to be appointed by
the Corporation Court. fhis ordinance
was reported in accordance with reso-
luton of Council passed in November
last.
Capt. Bryan explained the ordinance
and its effects.
Mr. SnOwden asked if the State law
allowed this franchise to be sold.
Capt. Bryan said that while one law
forbade it, the new law allowed it.
Mr. Spinks said he would vote against
the ordinance because he was opposed
to granting a public franchise to pri-
vate parties. The newspapers were full
of examples of oppression by private
companies upon citizens municipalities
where they had obtained a monopoly.
The gas works receipts paid interest on
5000, 600.
Capt Bryan replied that the statistics
of municipalities proved that the electric
lights do not hurt gas works. Theinfo
nation Of the committees was not that
the receipts from the gas works would
be increased next year.
Mr.. Snowden understood that this
was mere proposal to afford remedy
for the present bad condition of the
electric light works it committed
council to nothing. Since the intro
duction of the electric light here
the consumption of gas had largely in
creased.
Mr.. Spinks said the increase was the
result of increased population.
Mr.. Snowden regretted that the in
crease in population had been small.
Mr.. Spinks called attention to the
fact that the arc lights now used did
moi compete with gas for private illumi-
nation but the new company might sell
incaudesent light to private parties and
so supersede gas
Mr.. Snowden and Mr.. Bryan urged
that this ordinance did nothing but
obtain information on the subject of
lighting.