Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-06-03
LOCAL NEWS.
[ceting Of the Board of Aldermen.

An adjourned meeting of the Board of Alder
n,,n was held last night, all the members being
present but one.
Directly after the reading of the minutes the
Revenue bill was taken up.
DIR. johnson was of the opinion that the bill
should have been presented 10 detail, and not
a mere re enac;ing of the former bill. The bill
in it's present. foru he could not vote for
DIR. French said that the bill was identical
with last year bill. but he had no objection to
having the former bill read and acted upon.
MIR. Latham would prefer to have the for
mcr bill read and each item acted upon sepa-
rately.
The clerk then read, by SECTIONS, last years
Revenue bill.
Mr. Latham asked why the tax of per cent
on commission aud forwarding merchants and
ship brokers was stricken out of the new bill.
The President said it was probably on &C
count of the tax imposed by the Legislature
Mr. Latham thought this would be dscrini-
mating, and did not see the necessity OF strik
ing out this specific tax unless it was an addi-
tonal burden.
MIR. Lawson thought this change was made
in Difference to the wishes of the merchants
VINO were already so heavily taxed by the State
Mr. Lltham expressed himself satisfied, and
was willing to DO what he could to relieve the
merchants
DR.. johnson moved to increase the tax on
gift concerts from $50 to 500 for the first per
foruance He considered them demora izing,
besides being Injurious to the resident merch
ants, and they should not be tolerated
Mr. Latham thought DR.. johnson was en-.
tirey mistaken In his premises; the clause did
not refer to the class OF persons that DIR. j. was
aiming at He Mr. l. } was 10 favor of amuse-
mcnts, and would rather cut down the tax. 1t
would be better for the city if there were more
amusements. The clause referred to such shows
as Wymau's, and be was opposed to doing any
thing to keep such exhibitions away. The
"swindiog shops referred to by DR.. j., that
come in contact with the merchants, were not
reached by this clause. Under the provisions
of the State law circuses would not come into
the State again, and he was sorry for it. Such
an Increase OF tax would drive away amuse-
mcnts aud force our people to Washington for
Enjoyment He moved to reduce the tax to
SIS.
DR.. johnson thought MIR. Latham mad fallen
ing these gift concerts 70 practice deception.
He was for making these parties pay to the
corporation part Of their ill-gotten gains.
DR.. French thought this question Of reVe-
nue.. The tax should be fixed SO as to obtain
the greatest amount of revenue.
Mr. L,thaw said fifty or one hundred dollars
would be prohibiory. He wished to realize
revenue as we'll as foster amusemeus.
The question being on reducing the tax to
s25, it was lost. and the question recurring up
on the motion to Increasing the tax to SlU0, it
was also lost.
The original tax of $50 was then agreed to.
The tax for selling liquor on the premises,
reduced by the Committee on Finance from
500 to $50, was advocated by DR.. johnson,
who said that it had been found impossible to
collect the $50.
Mr. Latham was surprised that the authori-
ties could not collect the tax, and wanted to
know what was the use of having council to
fix the taxes if they could not be collected
DR.. Freuch explained the difficulty in collect
ing, on account of the discrimination made be.
tween those who sold liquor and those who
sold it on the premises to be drunk; so that the
Finance Committee had thought it best to
make the tax equal.
MIR. Latham expressed his surprise that the
officers should not have carried out the law
lie was opposed to the $50, but wanted to be
consistent and reasonable. lie did not see the
discrimination.
The President explained that the tax was
unequal and that it could not be collected, the
May or taking the responsibility under the ad-
to $50.
DR.. johnson made an explanation 10 refer
ence to the passage Of the former act. The tax
was not uniform and consequently the retailers
refused to pay the additional tax. He was 10
favor Of $50.
Mr.. Latham said he was mistaken in one
particular, but he was astonished that DIR.
Johnson should be opposed to exhibitions; but
in favor of rum mills" He was, however,
satisfied, and $50 was agreed to.
Dr. johnson did not believe the tax on green
groccrs could be collected, and moved to strike
our the clause, but the motion was lost.
Mr.. Latham moved to strike out 80 days
within which tax payers should be allowed TO
pay their taxes, aud insert 80 days
DR.. French opposed the motion. 1t Was
necessary provision. The Council was willing
to spend but not to collect.
MIR. Latham thought thirty days would be
oppressive to the poor man. lie was willing
to advance the taxes if necessary, but be want
ed more time than thirty days, and 1t would be
unjust to add the 10 perez. He did not beate
the "bloated bondholders,' but was III favor OF
taxing all bonds.
DR.. johnson reiterated his views on the
finances of the city, asserting that the people
could not pay the taxes and advocated an lad
justment" with the bondhoders, allowing
them interest on the actual amount paid Tor
the bonds. He was for the bondholders COM
ing forward and laying their bonds 90 the altar
of the city as sacrifice to the common veal,
when smile would again illumine the face OF
affairs here.
Mr. Latham stated that he was 90 repuda-
tor, and that the city ought to pay every cent
of it's debt just as soon as it was able, and he
could not See why the question OF reputation
should be raised, aud hoped the City Couuc!l
would never come to the conclusion to repudl-
ate the debt His notions were old fashioned,
but be thought that every endeavor should be
made by the city to meet its engagements,
though heavily taxed for the purpose.
Mr.. Janooy, (Mr. Lawson in the chalr,)
thought Mr.. Latham's amendment would EN-,
barrass the Corporation He moved to amend
by making the penalty % per ct. for non pay
meut within 80 days, per ct. within 6O days,
and 10 per Ct within three moths