Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-07-26

CORPORATION AFFAIRS.

dent, absent) laid before the board communi-
cation from the Mayor, enclosing one from
MIR. George w. Frankland, u. S. N, making
suggestions relative to improving the Wash
lngton canal Mr.. F. says that glance at the
map OF the canal will show that 1t is subject
to the influence Of the tides both at The mouth
Of the Tiber and at its terminus at the Eastern
Branch of the Potomac. The water flowing
In both ways naturally collects the deposits of
offensive material towards the center Of the
canal, and it has not suf eient force at the ebb
OF the tide to throw out the accumulated mat
ter. The plan by which propose to remedy
the dlfhculues will, think, commend itself to
count Of its. economy, simplicity and effective
ness. The waters Of Rock Creek, which is q
never falling stream, flow into the basin little
below the lower bridge, and the surplus passes
into the Potomac through 1oodgate I pro-
pose filling up the point now occupied by the
dam. snd foodgate, thereby throwing ali the
water from the creek into the canal, leaving
the present sboat-leck undisturbed. Change
the boat-lock at 18th street so as to make a
fioodgate there. Construct dam and boat
lock across the mouth of Tiber creek so as to
allow the free passage OF boats. That portion
of the canal from nth street to GEORGETOWN
would contain a head Of water which, by
opening the foodgate at17th street, would force
q body though the remaining portion suffi cient
to sweep away all DISTRACTIONS MIR. Frank
land concludes by expressing the belief that
the above will be as economical and effective
a course as can be adopted. Referred to COM
mittee on canals.
Also communication recommending an ap.
preparation of a sum sufficient to cover the ex-
pense of copying the. correspondence Of the
commissioners appointed to lay out the city, in
order to their better preservation. Referred to
committee on finance
Also, Communication recommending that
some provision be made for secretary to the
Board Of Water Commissioners. Referred to
committee on drainage.
Mr.. Utermehle presented petition OF John
r. cEonin ,in. ana the he members Of the Metropoli-
against the confirmation of the nomination Of
Gilbert L. Giberson, Esq, as police magistrate
OF said ward. The petitioners represent 1st.
Of dollars on account of the dismissal of near
ly all cases upon which fines should be i'm.
posed. I'd. That he has dismissed many cases
of felony and larceny where the evidence was
positive against the parties Sd. That he is
very insulting to persons transactng business
with him. and MT John Lynch has complained
to the Mayor OF the manner in which the busi-
ness OF the Office is conducted. And further,
the petitioners represent that the great amount
Of business at the Fourth Ward station is too
laborious for one ofhls age. Referred to com.
mittee on police
Mr.. Utermehle also presented communica-
ton from J. q. Brent, Esq, representing that
the Mayor was about to compel the Washing
ton National Monument Association to yacate
the rooms occupied by them in the City Hall,
and requested that some action be taken by
Coun ellis in the matter.
A joint resolution authorizing the Monument
Association to occupy the rooms now used by
them, was adopted. ".a
Mr.. Gulick presented the petition of Newman
d Brother in relation to return of license
money paid, and Mr.. Lloyd the petition of
James McCarty, for remission of a fine; both of
which were referred MIR. LLOYD also intro
dnced resolution inquiring OF the Corporation
Attorney whether the act of May 5, 1864, amend :
atory OF the act Of May IS, 1915, gives the Cor.
poration power to lay foot pa vements to grade
and pave caTragsways; to erect and light
expenses of such improvements In equal pro-
portion ON the property benefited The resolu-
tion was adopted.
I Mr. Lloyd, from the committee on finance,
reported back the bill assessing taxes for the
year 1864, with sundry amendments. The first
amendment fixes the rate of taxation for general
and local purposes at 60 cents on the SIOO
instead Of IS cents, as passed by the Board of
Common Council -
Mr.. UtermehIe desired to know what would
be the; aggregate rate of taxation under this
amendment. "a. -. ...
Mr. Lloyd replied loo cents on the slOO
Mr.. Uterynehie. said this was an increase of
the aggregate over last year. He was opposed
to special taxation for any purpose. We were
obliged to pay the revenue to the Government
under the act Of Congress, and in future our
taxes would be increased 10 per cent.
MIR. Lloyd could not understand how
Mr.. Utermehle explained, that the authorities
had added per cent, which for next year
would run individual taxes up to 10 cents.
MIR. Lloyd said that, as he stated before this
would make the aggregate taxation 100 cents on
the $780, as special taxes were imposed for
school and police and purposes OF paying the
~. NJ.
ing debt Of the Corporation is now S225, 600;
$4,000 of which was due the Bank OF Washing
ton, and S25,00O due Jay Cooke &c Co and in
addition to that we had debts amounting to
100000 or Sl20,00O to pay, and no money in
hand to pay it. The items Of special taxation
of 10 per cent for Metropolitan Police pur-
poses, and of 10 per cent. TO pay the internal
revenue tax, were ordered by act Of Congress,
and must be paid. Mr.. Lloyd estimated that
the expenses of the Corporation for the ensuing
year would be something over 800, 600, and to
meet this 1856, ,0O0 could only be collected, at
the present rate, from all sources, estimating
the taxable property at S42, 100000
Mr.. Utermehle desired to know il Mr.. Lloyd
included the moneys to be received from the
Register for licenses, &c.
Mr.. Lloyd replied that he had added Sl3s,0 600
for licenses, and even then the receipts would
hardly reach S4t0,000 for all purposes. He
calculated that the tax of Gu per cent.
would realize $275,00O; licenses S135,OO0;
and special taxes SS5,O80; which would be
S475, ,0O0, and at this rate we would have a def
Of the year. Mr.. Lloyd said he always was
opposed to burdensome taxation.and II the
gentleman could point out any way to have
the taxes decreased he would willingly agree
to 1t, but he could not see how we could get
along with less than 100 cents on the 500.
Mr.. Uterm chile said that he assumed that the
taxable property would amount to S42, ,000, 600.
cent. would realize $1,000 Licenses would
yield $135,O00 and special taxes added would
run the receipts up to $5S5,000. -.
any calculations for the abatement allowed
Mr.. Utermehle said he would allow there
$4,000, and still they would have S500,00O and
over
The amendment was finally adopted by the
following vote: go
Yeas-Messrs. Canfield, Gulick, Lloyd, Plant,
Pepper, Turton and UtermehIe. -
NaYs-Messrs. Barr, Lewis, McCathran and
Noyes. s-.-.z
The third section, which taxes Bankers
Brokers, &c, as per Common Council bill IS
per cent. was amended to make it read go per
cent. in order that 1t might accord with the
first section.
IN the seventh. section an amendment was
adopted allowing the collector per cent on
all personal taxes paid in to his office instead of
five per cent as adopted by the Common
Council. sz .al.7 .7re-f go 20
of Is per cent for the support of public schools,
was reported back as passed by the Board Of
Common Council, and Mr.. Utermehle moved
to amend by inserting 10 instead of u.s. He
thought splaclent amount would be thus
uaar wouId bring the amnnnt nm to the rannira-