Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-10-09

repairs at The Aims House was referred
to tie committee on poor.
A petition was received from Mr.. w.
H. May and number of property own
ers Directing to the erection by Mr.. P.
I. Harrington of a livery stable on St.
Assph street, between King and Cam
eron streets. The petitioners state that
the street would be blocked by vehicles
and horses; that in summer foul odors
would arise and that the place would be
breeding place for rats and insects.
They asked that the matter be fully in
yestigated.
A member objected to the reading OF
the paper on the ground that Council
bad nothing to do with the matter as
Mr. Harrington had complied with the
building regulations.
The Chair held that the citizens had the
right to petition, and after the paper had
been read it was referred to the commit
tees on streets and general laws.
Reports from the committee on finance
on the petitions of the three FIRE COM
panits asking for 800 each to help de-
fray the expenses of the company to
Newport News was received from the
Alderman. Thu committee on finance
had recommended that the Reliance
Fire Eugine Company be given S75; the
Columbia $75, and the Relief $50.
This recommendation had been adopted
by the Aldermen.
Mr.. Williams argued in favor of giving
the fire companies the money asked for;
the committee had told them to go
ahead and council would make the sp-
preparation. This was a parallel case
With that of the Mayor and the Pinker-
ton Detective Agency. The money had
been expended and the full amount
shou d he paid them.
Dir. Burke said he could see no par
sllel. The committee bsd only told
them they would recommend the spprc
priation.
Mr.. Williams insisted that it was q
parallel case and said he could not see
where ii was not.
Mr.. Burke said the committee had not
contracted any debt.
After further debate between Messrs.
Williams ard Burke, Mr.. Ubler read
the letter addressed 10 the fire companies,
stating that The commite, would recon-
mend the appropriation.
Dir. Williams insisted that the last
clause of the letter intimated that ooun-
Gil would give the money. Al err further
argument by Messrs, Spinks, Strauss
snd Brill, the latter moved that the sp-
preparation for the Relief Hook and
Ladder Company be made s75, which
motion Was lost. Finally the action Of
the Board of Aldermen in adopting the
committees report was concurred 10.
A proposition WIS received from
Tbomss Atkinson to repair the steeple
and ysne of the City Hall for 800.
The matter was referred to the commit
tee on public property.
Mr.. Uhler asked what bad become of
the proposition to paint the gas Office
which had been referred to the Sinking
Fund Commissioners. The chair stated
that as council had taken vacation The
commissioners had done likewise. A
resolution asking for an additional sp-
preparation of 5000 for fire plugs, the
old appropriation having been exhausted
was passed.
The report of the finance committee
recommending the appropriation OF
1878. % TO pay the bill of the Pinkerton
Detective Agency, was received from the
Alderman.
The report was the same as made by
the committee when it previously re-
ported on the matter. la the report
recommending payment, the joint com
mittee On finance and general laws used
pointed language ia criticising the action
of the mayor in incurriDg the expense
II was declared that the procedure was
"Tilhout any authority or precedent"
and the hope was expressed that such
on incident nigh, never occur again.
In explaining why The bill created in
an irregular manner" was irdorsed, 1t
vas stated 10 the report that the COM
mittee wished to support the "well-
meant actious OF the executive" The
assertion was added, however, that the
recommendation was not Influenced in
the slightest degree by any sppreheu-
sion that the city might be held legally
responsible for the amount.
Though the report was adopted as it
came from The joint committee, the
Mayors cause was defended by Messrs.
Williams and Spinks, who stated that he
had acted entirely within his authority
in the matter. Mr.. Williams asserted
that the city's executive wss absolutely
cor ident of the legal correctness of his
position, but that he had expressed him
self as willing to accept censure rather
than subject the city to law suit in
which be felt sure it would lose.
Mr.. Spinks said he would vote to con-
cur with the Aldermen in adopting the
report but that he felt like apologizing
to The Mayor for doing 30.
Mr.. Williams again called the stten-
ton of the council to what he termed ga
striking PARALLEL between the circum-
stances in which the Mayor acted and |
those attending the payment of bills con-
tracted recently by the fire companies on
the quasi sssurance of the finance COM
mittee that the amount would be forth
coming when the council me! after the
summer intermission.
Dir. Evans said no one seemed to
know anything about the bill Of ex-
penses and demanded 8 reading of the