Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-05-07

City CoUNCIL.-The City Council held
it's regular meeting on Tuesday evening
last, present Messrs. Abby, Bagby, Bickle,
Burke, Echos. Evans, German, Hoge,
Kayser and Witt.
PETITIONS.
The petition of Henry o. Southers for
relief from a tax was referred; of A. A.
Cone for permission 10 erect a sign, re-
ferred: of Jno. Wayt for permission to
erect a certain frame structure in the fire
limits, referred; of Summerson and others,
laid on the table: of Miller for relief from
water tax, granted; of VIM. Kenney for
the opening of gutter INSTRUCTED by the
city, referred to the Engineer; of A. Cru
bert for the filing in of a sewer, laid on
the table, having been signed by but one
property holder of large number inter-
ested.
THE FIRE STEAMER.
Mr.. Evans moved to vacate the office Of
the City Engineman, as experience had
shown that the steamer. could not be made
to work at fire, and the expense was a
useless one. He said it was the wish of
the firemen. Mr.. Burke said it was the
| opinion of those familiar with the matter
that the fault was in no way attributable
| to the Engineman. He added that the
committee had procured the names of sew
eral parties with whom to correspond with
| a,v1ew to selling the steamer. The matter
was postponed.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The public school accounts amounting
to 1866 for the months of March and April
each were allowed.
Maj. FL. M. Bell, President of the School
Board, appeared to advocate the adoption
by the Council of the suggestion by his
Board that a direct tax of $11, 1913 should
be levied for the schools. He explained
u that the allowance for them made in the
last levy by the Council would not run
them five months. He said that the mo-
ney appropriated by the Council for the
schools does not cost the city ore cent,
and Illustrated it by his own case, as
shown on the tax books. He was taxed
ON $14 600 of real estate, and under the tax
proposed by the School Board he would
have to pay $40. One child of his edu-
Gated elsewhere than at those schools
| would cost great deal more. 1t was a
matter of money saving to the taxpayers.
Mr.. Burke objected to the management
! Of the schools as not economical, and read
from the Journal of Education to show
that tuition cost more per scholar than in
l other cities.
. MI. Bell-That is different question,
4 and If economy has not been practiced the
| Board will gladly receive any suggestion
e from the Council OF private citizens which
may point out a way to reduce the ex-
: pense and yet give us good schools. But
: the main question we are now considering
Y | is whether the schools shall be continued
e or discontinued, for it is impossible to con-
S tinue them on the estimate made by the
Council. If the time is shortened to fit
the appropriation, Dr.. Sears. the agent OF
, the Peabody fund will withdraw his aid
} which has been given with the under
standing that the schools will be run from
nine to ten months. The management of
the schools, we think is economical; the
: number Of teachers employed is as small as
, in other schools and their salaries as small
l that is to say the salaries we promise
them, for we actually pay them nothing
but scrip which they have to get shaved
at from Is to 20 per cent discount.
Gen. Echols urged the adoption of the
: suggestion of the Board The schools
were a moral and material benefit. They
make good citizens and they do more, they
bring good citizens to our city.
After some remarks in opposition to ex-
travagance in the schools by Messrs.
Burke and Bickle, the matter was referred
to the Finance Committee to examine and
: report on change of the tax bill SO as to
carry out the views of the Board.
STAUNTON'S VALLEY R. R. sUBsCRIP-
TIONS.
Mr.. Evans having read the recent speech
of President Garrett, OF the Valley R. r.,
about $4,000 he loaned Staunton and didn't
get back; had read from the record the
resolution passed June 1871 authorizing
the borrowing of 50, 600 from Mr. Garrett,
to pay 2 per cent on her 100000 subscrip-
ton, to make it binding the amount to be
paid out Of the first bonds delivered; also
resolution offered by Gen. Echols, later,
directing the payment of Mr.. CARROTS
money out of the first bonds. Mr. Garrett
got $75, 900 of the bonds and, of course,
could have taken his money out Of it if he
liked. The company could have, at the
same time, gotten the whole of the $780,
600, had not Mr.. Carrot himself telegraph
ed here only to draw the $500
MISCELLANEOUS.
The poor support accounts for April
$137 and $3S were allowed.
The sum of $50 was ordered to be paid
Mr.. VIM. Kayser for his services as COM
missioner in the bridge matter.
On motion of Mr.. German, President of
the Board of health, lime was ordered to
be purchased for distribution among cit
| liens.
The old water ordinance, making the
water repairs collectable by the Superin
tenden@ of water works, was re-enacted.
and the new one repealed.
Adjourned till Monday night.
DEATH OF AN OLD CITIzEN,-Colonel
James NJ. Lilley, one of our oldest and
most esteemed citizens, died on the Sd
inst, at his residence. He was born near
| Greeneville, in this county in 1902, and
| was educated at the old Staunton Academy