Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-11-29
LOCAL NEWS.

ulcS vi INC pieCCuil'S uieetnE. lie SeNeldl CDi1-
mttees We're called on in their order; when
MIR. Januey, from the Committee on Claims,
presented report recommending reduction
III the assessment OF the property OF l.. Cent?
berger
Mr.. Markell did NOT think the value of the
property III question had been over rated by
the Assessors. The petitioner had founded
his prayer upon the ground that he had not
given as much for the property as it had been
assessed at; but if it had been a present to Mr.
u. it would he 10 just REASON tor being assessed
under its value.
Mr. CorSe was If the same opinion He
cited Cases OF other real estate in the city where
lis valuation HAD been Increased since lis uri4i-
Ia! purchase.
Mr.. Markell sail great deal OF property
within the city limits had increased conSidera-
bly, in value within the past trw years he ia,
vorcd equal taxation
Mr. French said the amount Of taxable prop
erty. reported Dy the AssrsSVrS, WAS always
counted Ln for so much revenue. and by luak
ing these reductions an unsettlemeut ut ali tinan-
cia estimates would be brought about. He
coucurrcd in the views expressed 10y Mt>>rS.
Cor<e aud Markell, and said the Corporation
could not afford So many Reductions.
Mr. Janney said the committee mad eXaluiri-
ed the property of the petitioner carefully. and
had concluded to reduce the assessment. lie
gave minute description of it, and said if
Council did not intend To make these rcduc
tons 1t was Imposing al additional amount of
labor upon the committee. IL Council would
c include TO make no further reductions In
sesslnen,S. it would be good thing; but when
petitions, Of this character wcr" entertained aud
referred to the CouLmittec on Claims, that com
mittee was in duty bound to report what they
thought ri @ht. The property OF Mr.. u.
ne said would not bring much rs 1t Is assess
ed for
Mr. Markell supposed the committee had
acted c0uScieutlOU@iy III the matter they had had
before them: but such course Was uot advisa-
ble, as property holders kept the money for
tner taxes in their pockets rs long as possible.
aud when the time arrived Tor them to pay up.
they would petition this body to make 4 rednc
ton of assessment. thereby holding on to the
money 50 much longer to speculate on, &c
Mr. Worthingtou had d lie Difference for the
committee. and WAS going To move ali adoption
OF their report but from the objections which
had been advanced. he should mnvc that the
matter lie over.
Mr.. Markell WAS not in favor OF such action,
as it would give additional time to hold Oh to
the money.
Mr. Worhiugton then withdrew his motion.
MIR. French thought all such petitions, in
luture should be- voted down. unless prtnta fI,ctc
all error in the assessment had been made -
This, he said, would be Il wise plau.
Mr. Markell moved that the Board non con
cur in the report OF the committee. which WAS
carried
\ petition Of John A. Scaton for a reduction
of the assessment the property OF Lewis
Williams was received from the Common Coun-
eli. the committee having been discharged by
that Board.
Mr. Seaton favored the reduction; dcscrib-
ri the property: termed Ii odd rat box,
&c.
After soue unimporant description of the
,,ronartv Of the petitioner aud Suluc little debate
OF the same character,
On motion OF Mr.. French, the committee
was DISCHARGED from the further consideration
OF the matter.
Some bills for groceries, &C., furnished the
Aims House were then read, and ordered to be
paid; when
Mr., Janney said from conversation he had
had with Mr. Stephenson, the superlnen
dent of that institution. he learned that the
cost of raising pork there was enormouS-lu
fact, as much again as the same could be pur-
chased for There were now twenty five shoatcs
out there and Mr. 5. had put up l2OU lbs. OF
meat this year The ehUates, therefore, SHOULD
he sold. The garbage cart, which WAS sent
around town daily, collected nothing but dish
water and WAS consequently an additional OK.
peuse to the city He thought it advisable
to sell the horse and discharge the driver.
Mr. Worthingtou said the Committee on
the Poor should attend to the subject.
Mr. French was OF the same oplulon, as
Council would endorse any action the commit
tee might take
Mr. Wurthington reiterated that the Com
mittee ON the Poor should attend to the matter
MIR. Janney wanted to know what would hc-
come Of the city garbage should the cart dis
continue its rounds.
AIr. Worthiugtun thought the Superinten-
dent of Police would attend to its removal.
Mr. Markell said all garbage OF any account
whatever was retained BY house-kcepers, and
that of no Use to any one kept for the cart to
remove.
The debate was finally brought to tcrmlna-
ton by the receipt of communication from
the Mayor (n regard to the election OF police
man johnson by Counci) being received from
the Common Council,
Mr.. Markell said if the Mayor had anything
to say in regard to any member of either
Board, he should not indlc 1t aud have 1t read
before Council he did not approve such
course The Mayor should 60 TO the member
personally, and not use such languagc IN Ills
messages to Council.
The action of the Common Council in regard
to the communication was then concurred III.
There being no further business before the
Board,
MIR. Seaton arose. and said at the last meet
ing resolution had been passed ordering the
sale OF property for taxes if not paid 10y the
first of January While he favored the prompt
collection of taxes. he thought such action too
hasty. lie was sorry he had not been present
at the time the resolution WAS presented. \
hard winter was before us, and many people
who owned small house found it very difficult
to make money enough for the bare necessities
of life at this season. Men who had made five
or six thousand dollars by selling rum could
buy up the property at reduced rates. and
thereby enrich themselves. The President
here reminded the member that his language
was inappropriate. The speaker then went
on to say that such action would tend to I'M