Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-11-25
City Council.

INTRO, and L. IL. Oerer, OF INC fOuthn
we're reelected school trustees.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Only one aper wss presented 10 the
B ard Of ildsrm al "a resolution submit
ted by Mr. Hill sppropristing $500 for
the Washington Mouumen. Association.
The resolution Was referred to the COM
mittee on finance and streets
The Aldermen by unanimous votes
and without discussion, concurred In the
action of the Common Council on all
papers seat In from that board.
COMMON COUNCIL.
What the usual observer Of Council
proceedings expected last night was q
short meeting without Incident but 1t
turned out to be quite snimsted al the
evening progressed. There were IA
members present TO transact the business
for which they we're elected.
On the bill OF +. L. Eotaisle Of
1882 for groceries furnished by
him on order OF the health Officer
after the passage Of resolution By
Council July IA refusing to incur a,y
further obligations on this line after said
tate, the committee submitted q report
without recommendation.
In this connection Mr.. Spinks pre-
ser ted a bill from Mr.. Meeks aud asked
for IFS reference Rith the others.
Mr.. Monroe thought the committee
should either report iavorably or unfav-
orably. They we're the people upon
whom the other members of Council
were depending for information. de
said that these grocers had furnished the
goods and should be paid for them by
someone. He asked the chair where
vera the merchants to get their money.
The chair answered, "From the man
who incurred the debt-the health Of
ficer." he referred to the fact that Coun-
ell by order on July IA last bad positive
ly refused to pay any more bills arising
from the so-cslled smallpox scare and
said that the health officer bad ignored
Council and had incurred these debts
without consulting anyone-in other
words, had defed Council aud Ignored
the mandate of that body. He had the
resolution Of July IA read which sub
stantiated what he raid.
Mr.. Smith asked If these bills were
incurred aft the resolution had been
passed.
The chair answered affirmativey.
Mr.. Monroe stated that the men who
furnished these goods we're perhaps ig'
uorant of the action Of Council, aud az
they furnished these groceries they
should be paid for same.
The chair reminded Mr.. Monroe thai
the resolution was published officially
locally, and in every paper which circu'
lates 10 Alexandria.
Mr.. B rrSll ssld that there were mum
erous bills which.Were in the air, a, i
we're and he was of the opiDion that the
whole list should be referred 10 the inanc'
committee with instruction to get TIE
opinion of the corporation t'rney as Il
the city's liability In the matter.
Mr.. Spinks said the body occupied
unique position. The city had hfalti
officer and It refased b honor bis officis
obligations. II the members of Council
did not want 10 uphold the presen
health officer, he said, either aboliah ih'
Office or elect someone else. He referret
10 the Meeks bill and raid that the gen
tleman 10 question had furnished tnes'
goods and should be pSid fer same.
Mr.. Monroe said he thought the health
officer should have obeyed the mandate
of Council.
Mr.. Spinks said he did not want t,
occupy the position Of either condemn
ing or supporting the health officer, Blu
be thought these obligations were honest
the grocers had furoished the goods AIT
some one should pay for them.
Mr.. Leadbeater said thst when III
resolution was presented On July IA b
was the only member who voted aeains
1t, but inasmuch az it passed he coul'
not see how the city could be held liabl
for these obligations. The resolution
was plain and II the grocels did not IN
derstand it he thought the health office
did.
Mr.. Marshsll said he was OF the sam
opinion IS Mr.. Birrell, the lutroducer o
the resolution TO obtain the city attor
ney's views on the subject. He kne'
very little about the matter Of these bills
but did know that council had refused II
July to pay any mtre debts contracts
on account OF smallpox. BE though
that the matter should be referred {
the corporation attorney. He taid b
bad no doubt az to the genuiness OF In
claims. The bills we're contracted an
the business men had delivered the good
aud should be paid for them by someone
Mr.. Brumbsck said he thought ,h
health officer only had authority as IA
as council gave 1t. He was of th
opinion that the city was 10 no va
liable for debts incurred by esid Office
after the resolution passed Jaly IA.
A controversy arose IS to whether To
board of health vas rally In existence
The chair stated that there had bee
practic ally NO board of health for 8 or
years.
All the bills we're referred to the 9
nance and general laws committee wit
instructions to secure the opinion OF ID
city attorney as to the city's liability 70
their payment, but the discussion OF III
matter continued, during which 1t wa
stated that one of the grocers had en-
tered suit against DR.. German for th
amount of bis bill.
A Communication enclosing thre
grocery books was received from NJ
Jas. F. Peyton, signed secretary OF th
board of health, recommending the pay
mant of The hills