The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-11
NEWS SUMMARY.
CITY Ani,Lrs.

proceedings was in proportion. This was the bust
ness done
Select Branch.-President stokley was in the
chair.
communication was received from the COM
missioners of South street bridge asking $4,000 for
incidental expenses. This referred to the Com
mittee on Finance.
ward. number of persons purpOrting to be clti
zens of that locality ask that the Hill property in
that ward be purchased as site for house of cor
rection. This referred.
A number of petitions for and remonstrances
against the sailing OF the track of the Germantown
Passenger Railway were presented and referred
Bills from Common Council were now taken up
and considered
cash Immediately all warrants drawn on account of
children or adults supported in the Almshouse at
the expense of parties outside was agreed to.
An ordinance authorizing the Chief Engineer and
Surveyor to recall sewer assessment bills for work
Christian street and Washington avenue, was re-
ferred TO the Committee on Surveys
A response TO a resolution of inquiry now
ceived from the Trustees of the Gas Works
This body say that they have expended in laying
mains about S166,OOO. This, they say, was done
before calling upon individuals to prepay the
amount involved. They have received from private
sources for mains and service-ppe S65,979, all of
which has been expended in the operations of the
Trust. Should there be "A sufficient consumption of
gas to warrant it, this amount will be returned to
the parties paying it when Councils pass loan for
that purpose.
note was received from the City Treasurer,
vindicating himself from certain vague but indi-
rect censure on the part Of certain members OF the
Chamber.
The communication was referred TO the Commit
tee on Finance.
The ordinance providing for extension of the
buildings of the county prison was debated at
length and then Indefinitely postponed.
The appropriation bill OF $2l ,i5O for the law de-
partment for 1869 was passed.
The Common Council now announced that 1t
could not concur with this Chamber in fixing the
rate of taxation at 81 per hundred.
Select Council then receded, and passed the tax
rate at 81 so, as fixed by Common Council
A motion was made to reconsider the vote on the
For want of two-thirds vote it was lost.
The Water Loan bill met with like fate
The Chair then announced that hereafter he
would be obliged to declare as out of order any
further motion to suspend the rules to reconsider
any vote on the Loan bill.
Mr.. Page protested to the Chamber that he now
washed his hands from the soil of any attempt to
defeat the Park Loan and the League Island bill.
MT Fage saiu tmaI uitL TI TuiS t h %'
He had just received telegram from Washington
to that effect and unless this appropriation is
made, the naval depot will be located in Connecti-
cut. Let it be done, and the government will at
once accept League Island, and begin upon it the
work of converting it into a naval depot.
The motion to take the required fund out of
loan to be hereafter created passed by vote of 23
The ordinance then passed finally. Adjourned.
Common Branch-President Joseph f. Marcer
was in:the chair.
communication was received from the commits
soners of the South street bridge asking an appro-
priation of $4,000.
The usual batch of petitions and communications
upon various subjects were received and appropri-
ately referred.
A message was received from his Honor, the
Mayor announcing his approval of certain bills.
The Common Council bill fixing the tax rate for
the year 1869 was received from the Select Coun-
cil with an amendment substituting 81 instead of
81 so as such rate.
Mr.. Evans moved concurrence in the amend
ment. A long and animated debate followed.
Mr.. Harper discussed the question with great
clearness in favor of the rate fixed by the majority
In the course of his remarks he presented the fol-
lowing statement:
Valuation of property furnished by Board of ReYi
c.l, .-S4, mn GOO m
y" suburban rate, q, 24,2562s6 90
" farm rate, \, 21,7i26i2 90
Amount required to be raised by tax
alton, as per statement of City
In which is included for extension of ~''0-0 ~ "
For purchase Of League Island, 425,OoO 90
For City Ice Boat, 100000 90
81 1895 900 90
Deduct these amounts, which should be paid out
of loans and which it was agreed by the votes of
both parties should be taken from loans hereafter
to be created, and the amount then necessary to
raise by taxation would be 81 ,227 726 II
Amount at 81 so on $416029 500, 7,48S, 1874 5S
" 1 20 on 2i,256,2sG, 29l,O75 43
coon 2l772,642, 195953 7S
s7,975,563 70
Deduct amount required to be ooz 7oo -
leaves q margin of $147, ,SS7 O2
which will be largely increased by reductions in
the appropTiation bills, and by the allowance of
nine per cent. instead OF twelve for prompt pay
ment of taxes.
duced the amount asked for by the department
S90, ,O00 The Committee on Gas-works have re-
duced the amount asked for over S6O,OOO. The bill
for public schools has been largely reduced and
the other bills will undoubtedly be reduced more or
less. 1t is calculated that the saving IN the reduc
ton from twelve to nine per cent in the discount
will 100000, that it can be safely calcu-
lated that if the loans are made which should be
made there will be margin at tax rate of $50 of
over a million of dollars.
After some further discussion, the previous ques-
ton was moved and carried-yeas 20, nays 8.
The amendment was then disagreed to-yeas II,
nays %.
x communication was received from the City
Treasurer, justifying his in relation to the
payment of warrants. Referred to the Committee
on Finance.
Mr. Harper offered an ordinance supplementary
to an ordinance passed in April 1864, appropriating
Sl2 600 to the Law Department for the payment of
expenses incurred in connection with the purchase
OF League Island Agreed to-
The Chamber then elected Amos Hillburn by
acclamaton to fill the vacancy in the board of d-
rectors of the Wills Hospital caused by the resg-
nation of Mr. John Q. PaTr.
Mr. Wagner offered "A resolution suspending for
the balance of the year 1868 the rule of Councils
requiring the adjournment OF each meeting by
seven O'Clock. Agreed to.
The following bills were received from Select
Council and considered:
An ordinance making transfer in the appro-
priation for supplying the city with water for the
year 1869. Agreed TO.
resolution authorizing certain improvements
in the Sheritis office and the office OF the Clerk of
the Orphans Court. Agreed to-yeas %, nays l6.
An ordinance making an appropriation TO the
10 the Committee on Finance,
Mr. Harper, from the Committee the Gas
Works, made detailed report expressing satisfac-
ton with the condition OF such works. and giving
considerable valuable statistics concerning their Ca
pacity, the amount of gas consumed, &c.
Several resolutions were reported trom the Com
- rnagNf m ~ ina no