Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-06-12

not more than six persons attended outside dur
ing the session. IN
The Conference Committee Oh the Salary bill
reported that no inal report could be maze un'
til the next meeting.
An application for leave to move frame ,
building from the south to the north sue OF
Wolfe street, within fire limits, was read
MIR. Mckenzie said the woman's house mao
been ten days 10 the middle OF the street: Inc
house was merely being moved from one SIDE OF
the street to the other Nobody objected but his
friend Geutzoerger and he would not be lnJur-
ed. Perhaps the objection was that there was
school there.
The subject was referred to the Committee
on Streets with power TO act.
MIR. Hopkins explained that the 81 oiS charg
ed in the accounts Of Of the city read at last
meeting, expended in fitting up the Court
room. was used not alone in tina, room, but for
fitting up aud furoishiug complete the record
room, clerks Office, Jury rooms, &c.
The Revenue bill was then taken up, and
the amendment levying and appropriatIog ~
cts. for the improvement fund OF the Board OF
Public Works, called up,
The President ruled the amendment out OF
order. as no tax could be levied that did not
apply equally to real and personal property.
Mr.. Mckenzie begged the Council not to
drive the people to the wall by excessive taxes,
Already onethird of meu incomes was swallow
ed up by taxation. He hoped it would not be-
pressed, and he was sure it would have a bad
effect upon the town.
The amendment was lost The bill was then
passed. r..
An act to grade Columbus street from King,
to Montgomery street reported by the Board OF
Public Works, was read.
President Smoot of the Board OF Public
Works appeared and by consent explained the
bill. He said that Columbus street was the
back bone OF the city; it was 3S feet above TIDE
water a, King street and 40 feet above TIDE
water a Montgomery street. The ascent Was
gradual. The cuts nor fills would not exceed
u feet anywhere, the cut being greatest at
Cameron street. 1t ascends at grade OF four
inches to the square, and the Improvement
there would pay better and show more than
anywhere else 10 the city. The streets running
to the river can be graded so that the water
cen be carried to the river by surface drainage;
50 on the west side the water could all be shed
direct from Columbus street.
Mr.. MckcLzle-What will be the COST
MIR. Smoot--The city's portion will be about
three thousand dollars.
The bill was passed.
MIR. Beach modified his amendment submit
ted at the last meeting so as to make the gen.
era tax 2lO cts on real and personal property
Mr.. Eichberg was opposed to making 2lO
cts tax when 50 would be Amply sufficient.
Mr.. Beach thought that as the Corporation
Attorney had decided that the cotton factory
could be exempted aud that such exemption
did not violate the principle Of uniformity, if
one portion of property could be exempted,
another portion might, but now the Attorney
decides that real property cannot be taxed un-
less personal property is equally taxed. There
seemed 10 be some contradiction here. tie
doubted whether if tax Of ten per ct. were
imposed and used to improve the city it would
not pay by increasing the value of real estate to
a far greater amount than the tax.
Mr.. Shiun opposed the amendment; review
ed the creation of the Board of Public Works
and The failure Of its powers, but was not going
to stultify himself by voting to appropriate
money to Board which the Commonwealth tn
Attorney had decided was without any legal
power. He would vote for tax Of 2lO for the
general fluid aud leave the appropriation to the
future. ,.n
The amendment was rejected and the bill
passed.
The Board then ad journed.