Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-02-27
City Council.

osition which originated IN the Com-
mon Council for the city to expend $500
in experimenting with gas stoves was de-
feated in hat board. Mayor Psii sent
10 a corrected bill of the Pinkerton
Detective Agency for services in connec-
tion with the investigation of the Curtin
murder. The last bill shows diff renee
of about 800 in favor of the agency.
The Mayor was authorized to turn over
the city's electric plant to the Alexan-
dria Electric Company upon the pay
ment- OF So, 500.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Vice President Curtin presided 10 the
Aldermen. No business originated 10
the board and the action OF the Common
Council on all papers sent in was con-
Cured in by unanimous votes and with
out discussion.
COMMON COUNCIL.
It 7:45 the president called the board
to order and the minutes we're read.
The board passed an ordinance pass
ed by the Aldermen at the lSst meet
ing requiring every person, firm, or
corporation dealing in secondhand goods
to keep book giving the description OF
each article purchased and the name,
ADDRESS, color, and general description
OF the person from whom the purchas'
| Is made, and to furnish police head
quarters with report Of the previous
DAYS purchases before II O'Clock each
week day; The book to be open to inspec-
ton by the police at all times. Penal
ties are provided for failure to compl.
with the ordinance.
A Communication from the Mayor,
to which was attached an itemized bill
of the National PInkerton Detective
Agency, for services in connection With
the Curtin murder more than year
ago, was received and referred to the
committee on finance and general laws,
as was also the communication of the
| Mayor received from the Aldermen al
the last meeting, but no action WAS
taken upon it at that time.
A communication was received from
Mayor Psff, inclosing notices signed b.,
f e. Vaudeville, to the effect that the
lAiexsndria Electric Company is now
ready to furnish electricity for Lighting
the streets Of Alexandra, and is pre-.
pared 10 carry out its agreement TO take
over the old plant and pay to the city
the sum of SO, 800.
A resoluuou offered by Mr.. Uhler au-
thorizing the Mayor to complete the
transaction with the officers OF The Alex
anlris Electric Company was adopted.
The sun Of 5000 was appropriated 10
buy flag stones.
Tae committee on light did not report
on Mr.. BmrelPs resolution to appro-
pirate $500 to install gas stoves 10 houses
in different sections of the city for the
purpose of demonstrating the superiority
Of gas as a fuel, but submitted an opinion
oy the Corporation Attorney, in the lat
ters reference to the MISTER. The
opinion was to the effect that the city
has the right to engage in such business
IN order to exhibit the advantages Of gas
consumption, but that 1t is without
power to conduct general business in
Yolving the sale Of stoves for profit.
Mr.. Biuell contended that there would
be decrease in the receipts from the gas
works, due to the introduction of cleo
tricity for lighting purposes, and argued
that to encourage the use of gas as fuel
would help the plumbers Of the city and
would harm no one.
Mr.. Spinks took the same view.
Mr.. Birrell moved that the resolution
to purchase the stoves be passed. After
more debate the resolution was defeated,
but four members voting for 1t.
Mr. Birrell then served notice that he
would ask for an injunction the first time
that it came to bis notice that the city
| is entering into competition with private
enterprise 10 any particular aud the chair
informed him that he would have thai
privilege.
A petition bearing the signatures Of
all the members of the Alexandria po-
lice force and the Endorsement OF the
board of police commissioners, asking
tor an increase In salaries, was presented.
The paper set forth that under the new
rules the men are required to wear uui'
forms suitable to each season of the year;
that the cost of clothing and living has
advanced in recent years between TWEEN
ty.fve and fifty per cent that rents have
been advanced 10 Alexandra; that ssls'
ries have been increased In other lines,
aud that more money could be made In
private employment.
The Chair referred the matter 10 the
committee on finance, but Mr.. Spinks
called attention to the fact that there is
also q committee on police, and said
that 1t should be referred TO the joint
committees. The Chair stated that as
the petition concerned only the question
of salary he had, under the rules, referred
it to the finance committee, but that
Council could refer it to both committees
if it felt so disposed. The petition
upon motion of Mr.. Spinks was referred
10 the committees on finance and police.
An order for the erection Of an arc light
on Washington street near Cameron,
offered by Mr.. Strauss, was referred.
A communication WAS received from
the commissioners of the sinking fund
announcing the cancellation and destruc-
ton of the last OF the bonds Of the issue
of 1872, amounting to $S5, 500. A brief
sketch, reviewing the history Of the debt
and its settlement, was read by President
5nowden who said:
On July 1, 1902, the bonds Of the issue Of
ia-0 ,rhfnh n,afnred On thai day and were