Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-05-29

better of. Conditions hsd been different
10 Strasburg. The junction was ] minis
| from the city, and there had been no
electric roads, no cabs and no conven-
fences. The police could not attend to
all the trains passing through the city
and see if the hagmen we're in their
places.
Mr.. EysnF-"If police would stay
ia the city aud run outside 10 Hunt
log creek and not scross the canal after
crap shooters ne would have better pro-
teciiOD."
The resolution gas 60slly passed.
The annual appropriation bill for the
fiscal year commencing June ], 1907,
and ending May 81. 1908, was read and
laid over under the rule. The sppr0pri-
atoms amount to $l3l, 900, or 50, 900 ever
last year.
A resolution providing for the draft
Jog ofsn ordinance requiring the W.,
A. * Mt. V. Railway Co. 10 tqlip its
cars with wheel tenders was referred 10
the committees on streets aud general
laws.
The finance and general law commit
tees reported on the bill of 1913 % from
the PiDkerton Detective Agency for ser
vices in connection with the effort TO
solve the Curtin murder mystery. with
the recommendation tha, the bill be
paid. The report stated that the
bill had been created by The Mayor with
out authority, but that it would be to
the city, interest TO pay it. The COM
mittee said they hoped a similar case
would not happen again, and that the
payment in this instance might not serve
as precedent.
Mr.. Williams said the report of the
committee cast a reflection on The Mayor
He declared that Council, had ex-
pressed surprise when the Mayor and
the Commonwealth Attorney had only
asked for 500 to be used in the Curtin
csse, and that when Cspt. Bryan, then
chairman of the committee on finance,
had explained that his committee stood
ready 10 approve additional sppropria-
lions within reason, Council had given
its assent. He declared that be could not
vote to accept the report until the stric
lures on the Mayor had been eliminated.
Mr. Brill charged that the committee
had taken advantage of the Mayors abb
seuce from the city to bring in report
Gliding him for his conduct.
Mr.. Burke of the committee, said that
Mr.. BrilPs statement wss "nOt so, and
further deOied that the committee had
made a covert attack on the Mayor,
as some one had suggested. He then
explained that the members of the COM
mittee believed that the Mayor had act
ed with the best intention, but asserted
that the comment in the report was
necessary to guard sgainst future danger
10 that line.
Mr. Evans said the Mayor had vetoed
an appropriation of $500, as a reward in
another case, oD the grounds that the
constitution limited Council to an apprO-
priation of 500 in such cases, and by
paying a bill for S37S.2S had placed
himself in a very awkward position. be
said if the Mayor could spend $500 OF
the city's money be coul1 spend SO, 600.
Council was the only body that could
make appropriations and as the Mayor
bad paid the money he should rot ask
Council to reimburse him. The Mayor
had vetoed the action OF Council for pass
ing unconstitutional measures and now
wanted Council to pay bill which had
been contracted uncOnstitutionslly by
the Mayor, who was now in "fX."
Mr.. Williams said Mr.. Evans must
discriminate between money spprOpri-
aled as reward and money appropriated
far police expenses.
Mr.. Birrell said he was of the opinion
hat the committee did not intend to cast
reflection on the Mayor, but on his
usurping authority. He was satisfied
that the Mayor bad done what he thought
was best, but would not vote for the re-
port.
Mr.. Williams said the police of the
city could not do detective work when
some of its citizens we're suspected, and
said that the Mayor should not be criti-
cized for during his duty.
Mr. Burke said he thought Council
should have been first asked concerning
the matter.
Several members declared that they
would not vote for the report while it
contained what they considered severe
structures on the mayor.
After further heated discussion by
several of the members, and after motion
to postpone actions sc had been lost, 3
motion to concur ia the action of the
Board of Aldermen and pay the bill was
lost by vote of 7, to s, not constiIu-
tional majority.
Several motions were then made con-
corning the bill, but the chairman declared
that the report of the committee had
been defeated and that there was moth
iug before council. Mr.. Evans then
moved to adjourn and no one dissenting
the meeting was declared adjourned.
Official.