Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-03-27
City Council.

Board OF Aldermen pissed the ordinance
providing for continuation of the
King street improvement from Fsyette
TO Peyton street. The ordinance wss
passed by the Common Council on the
10th Of last July. The Aldermen also
concurred in the action of the lover
board on the report Of the committees on
finance and public property spproprlat-
Ing 81, 800 for Improvements in the
Corporation Court Home.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Vice President Curtin again presided
in the Board Of Aldermen in the sb-
sence Of President Sweeney.
The Vice President announced that
he had transferred Mr.. Simpson from
the committee on public property TO the
finance committee; that also he had as
signed DIR. Brill TO the committees on
public property, police and claims.
Mr. ". Fl. Sweeney from the finance
committee. presented favorable report
on q resolution sppropriating $3.50 for
disbursement by the Cooperative Char
tiles Association. The report WAS adopted.
He also reported fsvorably on petit
ton of the Alexandria Athletic Associa-
ton for relief from license tax for one
week of carnival company which pro.
poses TO exhibit 10 this city for the bene-
fit Of the association.
Dir. Simpson said he was sorry he
would be compelled to demur to the &C
ton OF the committee, which was COM
posed of able and discreet gentlemen,
but he regarded this as q dangerous
precedent. Council should consider well
any movement which would tend to the
elimination OF license taxes, as 1t was
questionable with him whether such q
course was justifable, and before he
could vote to approve the action of the
committee he desired more light on the
matter.
Mr.. Sweeney said the committee had
inquired into the nature of the petition
and had carefully considered the charac-
ter OF the proposed show. The license
tax would be s. for one week, and he
saw no serious departure in granting the
petition. Beeides Council could at any
time regulate the matter.
Mr. Hill favored the report of the
committee. The performances were to be
for the benefit Of q home association,
and there had been many similar cases
where no licenses had been required
when exhibitions had been given for
Alexandria institutions, such as churches
&c. He had on one occasion consulted
the Corporation Attorney In regard to
the matter, aud had been told that there
was no improperly in such procedures.
Mr. Simpson was not opposed to aid
ing 10 q lawful manner any such OBJ
jects, and he appreciated all that had
been ssid by the other speakers, but he
failed TO see any parallel in the cases
cited. In regard 10 performances for
the benefit of churches and other organ
jzations Council had not been asked to
remit the license tax. The parties hav-
Ing such entertainments in charge had
conducted the same without requesting
any favors from Council and nothing
consequently hadbeen said; bnt in the Gaze
under consideration petition had been
presented asking that law be set aside
in order that baseball club might be
enabled tn purchase snits. Jnshna com
manded the sun 10 stand still and 1t
obeyed him, but it was mooted ques'
lion whether or not Council should com.
msud the law to stand aside In the case
under consideration.
Mr.. Curtin suggested that the law had
on other occasions been set aside when
performances had been given for the
benefit OF certain organizations.
Mr.. Hill called attention TO the fact
that the Athletic Association conducted
baseball games du-ing the summer, and
that no charge was made for witnessing
such performances, which we're virtually
for the benefit Of the people.
Dir. Simpson still thought the pro-
cedure was wrong
The report was finally adopted.
Mr. Balleuger introduced resolution
which was referred to the committee on
streets providing for the resurfacing Of
Oronoco street between Pitt and BIT.
Asapb.
The report Of the committee on streets
on the petition Of W. A. Smoot, jr.,
for the narrowing of Cameron street.
between Lee and Union, the petitioner
agreeing to lay granolithic sidewalks on
both sides of the street provided the
request was granted, was received from
the Common Council.
Considerable interchange OF opinion
followed between all the members con-
corning the proposition. bnt the action
Of tho lower board was finally concurred
In by O unanimous vote.
The action of the Common Council
on ell the other papers which we're sent
in was also concurred In.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The board was called 10 order at 1850
O'Clock.
The chairman of the committee on
streets (Mr. Leadbeater submitted q re-
port of that committee on petition OF
the Mutual Ice Company for a spur
track on Union between Cameron and
Queen streets with O recommendation
that the request be granted.
Mr. Birrell said he Was in favor OF
giving every facility to the business
people, but he was opposed to granting
the night 10 that company to occupy the
street within FIVE feet Of the building
line. He believed the company to be q
monopolY. as L bad furnished ice Of an