Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-04-15

OF the col dillon OF SAID street anu eA-
pressed the hope that the committee
would act immediately.
A petition to erect q 9 inch wall for
the second story of building now in
course Of erection on south Royal street
was granted Mr.. R)birs>n Moncure.
A bill from the Bosrd of Health for
$22. 80 for pay of q man for watching q
house on south Washington street, which
had been q1srsntined, was referred to
the finance committee.
The resolution authorizing the re-
funding of $745, 900 of coupon bonds,
the city's bonded debt, Wss referred to
the finance committee aud resolution
was adopted for special meeting of
Council Tuesd W. April 81.
A request OF Mr.. Lloyd E. Splt,le 10
erect two six room frame houss on the
north side of Ddke s.ree! near the corner
OF Patrick, was referred to the committee
on streets.
A petition of O. E. Roberts asking
permission to extend bay window 10
inches beyond the building line to BIS
premis 500 Queen street, which had
been granted by the Aldermen was re-
ferred to the committee on streets after
heated debate.
Mr.. Lesdbeater was opposed to grant
ing such perInissiOn without reference
to the proper committees.
Mr.. Spinks said be did not know who
presented the request and did not care.
What he would say was in reference to
measures--nOt men. He spoke Of the
erection Of an air shaft 10 the Fairfax
Apartments without permission and said
that nothing was known of it until the
work had been done. he took occasion
to say that the methods used by the
assistant Of the chief engineer were
Wrong--:hat bis helpmste went around
the town with gum shoes on aud re-
voleer In his hip pocket; be slsO said
that the assistant had wsded 10 manure
up to his arkles in order TO lind plank
off some ones fence; that under this
assistants ruling man could not tske
an old plank out of his house and put
a new one in.
He spoke Of the police fore, which
he characterized as chaotic mass
without head or resp )nsibility. The
ficers would not report anything for,
il they did, they stood a good chance
of being insulted, especially In the Of
fees in the City Hall. He also wanted
to known who employed these gum shoe
artists. He further stated that there
was more expense inside the Office Of
the City Engineer than there was out
| side, aud no MISTER when one called,
there were three or four of these same
fellows there.
He cited tse seeming indifference to
the building laws when the matter of q
large building, in which there was much
money interested, was in course Of eTec-
tlon, and the red tape attached to the
same laws when poor man, with sill
be had invested in frame house, want
ed to improve same. He again said
the methods employed we're wrong.
Mr.. Brill and Mr. Monroe favored
the granting OF Mr.. Roberts petition
as did also Mr.. Birrell, who spoke Of
the condition The building would be
left ia If the petition was not granted.
Mr.. Leadbeater still insisted that such
matters should take proper course other
wise there would he msEy openings for
violations OF the building regulations.
Mr.. Spinks asked Mr.. Lesdbester If
be did not know that the erection OF the
air shaft on the building in which he
was interested was violation Of building
regulations.
Mr.. Leadbester replied that he had
mentioned the matter in council at the
time and was not 10 favor of such pro-
cednre, but he wanted II understood that
be was only owner Of said building TO
| the extent of one-one-hundredth part
and that such interest had not Influenced
him in his action as a c1uucilolsn.
Mr.. Spinks said be did not mean his
remarks as an attack on the chairman
of the committee on streets, but be
wanted to show the methods employed
Nj. Evans wanted TO know why it was
useless for the police to report violations
of the law and what was the remedy.
Mr.. Spinks-A Lexow committee
should be appointed to Investigate.
The Chair said be did not know the
gentleman who presented the petition
for improvements, bat he thought 1t
ought to go to the proper committee; II
was a matter 10 conflict with existing
laws and a change Of the law would re-
quire three-fourths vJte on the night
| Of lis introduction.
Mr.. Burke was in favor of the petition
going TO the street committee; the gen.
eral law on the subject was a protection
to small property owners.
Mr.. Uhler said that when Mr.. Roberts
had asked permission at q previous meet
ing to improve his property he only
wanted 10 extend his building over the
slleywaY and no reference was made to a
bay window. de, too, was 10 favor OF
the matter being referred to the commit
tee ON streets.
The first motion to no1con cur with
the Aldermen and refer the mater to
the street committee was lOst--Ayts. 7;
noes 8.
A motion to concur with the Aldermen
was also lost. The matter was finally re-
ferred to the street committee aftes q
tangle.
Dir. Evans called attention to the con-
dition OF an iron pipe at the intersection
of Gibbon and Patrick streets.
The Chair expressed the hope that the
committee on streets would take the mat