Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-03-14
City Council.

winch came up IN less tnhu ihal INV
but the Aldermen were not so quick in
disposing of the matters which were in
trodnced in that board
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
All the members of the board we're
present. The action of the lower board
on all the papers sent in last night was
concurred in.
An ordinance providing for the paving
with vitried brick of Lee street from
King to Prince. laid over at the last
meeting, WAS read the third time and
passed.
A recommendation from the committee
on streets that 81 500 be appropriated
for the purchase of a stone c,usher, laid
over at the last meeting, was read.
Mr.. Bsllenger made inquiry as to the
utility of such machine, and Mr.. Mar
bury explaised its usefulness in street
work. among other things he said
gravel and broken stone have advanced
in price. and the city had stone that
could be broken and used in stree. inn
provements. He stated that by so doing
the city could save about one-half the
amount that would be required to pur-
chase material.
Mr.. Ballenger asked what stone was
available.
Mr.. Marbury replied that the city bad
many cobbIe and other stones that could
be broken and used.
Mr.. w. II. Sweeney said City Eu-
gineer Dunn had appeared before the
finance committee aud demonstrated that
the city could save the cost of a crushe,
in short time. Considerable street
work was needed and by procuring a
crusher and using stone belonging to the
city much money could be saved.
The report OF the committee was
adopted
An ordinance TO provide against OBJ
structons over sidewalks and to prevent
the obstruction of streets, received from
the Common Council at the last meeting,
was then read.
Mr. BaIenger opposed the action Of
the lower board in erasing part of section
3 which fprebade the display of chickens
and fish on sidewalks with the consent
of adjoining property owners.
Mr.. Marbury did not see how Council
could make determinations by allowing
one merchant to display his goods aud
lorbidding another
Mr.. BaIlenger said fish and poultry
were obnoxious to some persons occupy
ing adjoining property, and mentioned
certain places where such displays caused
complaint
NJ. Marbury said he had no objec-
tons to urge against reinsertiug the
words the Common Council had erased,
but he desired to know if Council had
the power to make such determinations.
President Sweeney WAS inclined to bs-
lieve all had equal rights in the display
of their goo Is.
Mr.. Ballenger said Corporation At
lorney Fisher had drawn up the ordinance
after that formulated by the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia. II
such an ordinance was suitable for
Washington, he saw 40 reason why it
could not BE- enacted in Alexandria.
Mr.. Simpson saw no constitutional
difficulty in adopting the ordinance.
Council undoubtedly had the right to
provide laws governing the streets of the
city. The object of the proposed law
was to prevent distractions on thorough
fares, and should anything savOring of a
nuisance be placed on the streets, the
parties so offending could be compelled
to remove the same. Poultry and fish,
ordinarily, were no more repugnant than
other things often seen on paVemeHts,
e. G., cabbage 10 an advanced stage Of
decomposition. Should either of sush
products become nuisance the owner
cauld be required to remove the same
from the streets. He favored the OTdi-
nance in the shape in which it had come
from the lower board He thought the
insertion of the words Insisted upon by
Mr.. Balenger would be unjust to some,
Mr.. Burke thought it would be better
i. all distractions were removed from
King street.
Mr.. Hill, who had favored certain
amendments to the ordinance at the last
meeting, said he would vote to pass il
in its present shape. as he had consulted
several King street merchants and they
had told him they had no objection
to it.
Mr.. w. H. Sweeney said he had at
first supposed that the proposed law only
applied to King street, but when 1t had
been read he saw it embraced all
thoroughiares. He, therefore, was op-
posed to it.
After further discussion the ordinance
was recommitted TO the committees on
general laws and streets.
An adverse report of the committee on
lizht on resolution appropriating $500
for the employment of an electrical engi
neer to report plan by which the city
could erect new electric light plant
was received from the Common Council.
Mr.. Ballenger (who bad introduced the
resolution at previous meeting) moved
concurrence with the Common COun- ]
Gil, remarking at the time that the
people could nOw see who want and who
do not want electricity 10 Alexand ia
Mr.. Hill said the committee saw no
reason to spend $500 to get man to !
tell Council what the members knew a..
ready. In time the committee would act
in the matter.
Mr. Ballenger said he knew the mem
bers Of the committee were ayerse to
the resolution.
President Sweeney Vice President