Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-03-23
LOCAL NEWS.

tors were present ID that CHAMBER.
In the Common Council the lst and 2nd
wards were we'll represented, but only two
members we're present from the Bird ward, and
one only from the 18th. About fifty spectators
were without the bar.
MIR. Masscv,in the absence of the President,
presided.
None Of the committees reporting, and II
being announced that no business WAS before
the board.
Mr.. Shirley moved to adjourn, but
The chair would not ent9rtall ti1 rIi";!on,
and presented Il resolution authorizing the
Mayor to offer IA reward Of $500 Tor Che arrest
and conviction of any incendlary.
Messrs. Shirley and Moran both stated that
hey had seen by the Gazette that the Mayor
had already offered Il reward OF 5000.
The chair was aware Of that, but thought
$500 a more appropriate reward, aud his re@o
luton was adopted "nem con.
A petition from K. Kemper, President OF the
Alexandria Library Company, asking lor the
free use of gas in the rooms Of that Com pany,
vas read and granted, the chair making a lew
remarks in its favor.
The chair took Up from his Ic.k a COM
municalion from the Mayor with reference to
the reward he had offered for the arrest OF in.
cendiaries, and stated that he did not know 1t
was there when he had offered his resolution
on the subject, but as $500 was u more ett2c-
| tive reward, he did not think it was necessary
to alter that resolution.
A petition of the Friendship Fire Company
| was read, but
Mr.. Baker said that the Council had acted
| on it at the last meeting; and slcii was The
case. :,
Mr.. Turner offered the f~Jllosing preamble
and resolution:
"Whereas it is provided BIZ the new crnslltu
ton Of the State Of Virginia, that TAXATION
| whether imposed b. the State, county, or cor,
| poratc bodies shall be equal and unlIorm' and
all property, both rcat aud p%e'sonai, shall ce
| taxed in proportion to it, value. II be a>cer-
tanned as prescribed by law, aud that no one
species Of property from which 4 tax may be
collected shali be taxed higher than other
species of property Of equal value Therefore
be it
Resolved that a committee be appointed by
the chairman, whose duty il shall be to eX-
anime and report 10 this Council The pum9er
Of railroad COMPANIES usiug the streets Tor
TRANSFORMATION purposes the value OF the reai
and personal property owned by such railroad
companies; and the amount OF taxes paid py
said railroad companies to the cltycorporatlon.
W hich being again. read It tue request CT
Mr.. Martin,
That gentleman asked why the city assessors
did not DO what the resolution wanted 4 $pcciai
COMMITTED to do. 1t a speclai committee 81
the Council was required to assess railroad
| property, why not to make a general rea'se5'
mcnt: for his part he thought q general rcaa-
sessment ought to be made. The assessors
| we're in du,y boun 20 assess properly railroad
as well az I'LL other sorts Of property.
Mr.. Turner said he was mu:h surprised a
short time since to learn that the Alexandria
and Washington railroad paid NJ corporation
tax When the subject Of imposing a tax OF l
cent Tor each passenger carried ever this road
was before the Council, he had opposed the
measure, but he did not kno" that the railroad
was 50 favored that il paid 10 cay tax. 'hcrG
seemed to have been q neglect 90 the part oi
the assessors to 30 heir duty ID tins %"aEticu-
lar. Taxation should be made 20 conform 10
Il G new constitution, and there was etrtaln!Y
something wrong IN a system by "u'cH !hc
property Of some was exempted IRON iaXa"oh
while upon similar property OF o'i'er7 '"' ''"'S
were collected. ii
Sir. Marten said that it the gentlamal would
! examine the subject thoroughly h" thongiit
/ he would find that the railroad was !"%cd.
MIR. Turner said he had obtalned his 'u'or'
nation from MIR. Stevens.
The debate was continued Tor Il quarter oI
| an hour longer by Messrs. Turner, Baker and
! Harmon in favor Of the resolution anu MeaSTS'
|! Shirley and Martin in opposition 10 II, Mr..
| Shirley stating that the reason the road was nnt
! taxed was that none of tic only properly
! it roscsscd, its rolling stock, was &tationary III
| the city, when it was adopted, aad hcsSr7'
Turner, Baker, Harmon anu 'i"'''' ap!o'"'
| cd under if,
MIR, Martin asked to be excused, Sitting
| that il would be impossible for hiEi to 'r run
ning about the country :o!IoWlns moY'"I taH-
| road trains in order to do What the 'eSo'3'l""
required, but
The chair said the committee had been ap'
| noiptcd and was composed OF Z member from
| each ward, and could not be changed. Inc
| peutIcmaa could bring in 4 minority report II
| he could not agree with the other blenders:
a petition of Mis- Mary NJ lr~;" S iHI rG" mni"n
of taxes on warehouse No. . oouth Union
1 street, and lots Oh Dast slic Vi a'.i o|t",IH