Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-29
City Council.
The regular semi monthly meeting of the
City Council was held last night.
ROARD OF ALDERMEN.

| City Council was held last nlght.
RoARD OF ALDERMEN.
This Board met at $40 o'clock With six
| members present.
A large number Of bills petitions &C., re
disposed of without debate.
Mr.. Strsus, offered resolution permitting
all persons who were 10 arrears for taxes prior
to the year 1877 to settle the same at fifty psr
cent. if paid 10 current funds before July st.
He said that he understood there were some
$50 600 or SIC. 900 CT back tax bills 10 the
! hands Of the Collectors, aud be thought that
considerable money might be realised Is the
proposed reduction. He thought this action
| especially proper 10 view Of the tact that the
city was t:ylog to compromise own debt at
| the same rate.
MIR. Armstrong favored the resolution, but
| wanted the time extended to January lst, AMI
the bills for 1877 included.
MIR. Smoot thought tie resolution most
important one, and moved to refer 1t TO the
tlnsocc Committee. Carried.
| Mr. Smoot moved to take up the resolution
| for the Improvement Of franklin street.
Mr.. Downham moved to increase the appro
| priation from $500 to $500, to be expended by
/ the Committee 90 Streets.
| MIR. Armstrong did not think $500 would be
enough to do the work properly. The pre-.
| posed cuiyert should extend across the entire
street.
Mr.. Smoot said the cu;vert as originally pro-
| posed would accomplish all purposes aud afford
! passageWsy.
! The resolution was passed.
The Revenue bill came in from the Common
Council, with the tax fixed at 81 with dis
count Of l23 per ceut. for prompt payment 10
| current fluids, and no discount when paid 10
coupons. ~
Mr.. Downham said that this placed the bill
| essentially as reported from the committee.
They bad expended much time and trouble on
it, aud he hoped it would be passed: The
| amount named was the least that could posi-
bly, be done with. The Corporation, besides
its running expenses. had claim OF $l5OOO
Or. Fairfsx's) which they werein honor bouad
to pay, and some provision must be made:
Mr.. Armstrong would like to agree With the
Finance Committee, but did not believe that
81 would pay the expenses and pay Interest.
The working expenses were $50 600 per year.
He believed that the city would do as we'll with
$l.5O as with So. The officers, U.s.. would take
scrip so long as it could b used aud no longer.
lie moved to uon,conrur with the Common
Uouccil. LOST.
TIE aooa OF The Common Council was then
coucurred 10, aud the bill passe .-ayes 5, noes
l-NIr. Armstrong.
The Board then adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
There was an unusually large Attendance at
The regular meeting Of the Com non CouncH
last night.
After considerable amount OF routine busl.
ness transacted without debate,
The revenue bill came III from the Board OF
Aldermen. amended 80 a. to make the tax for
1883 81. 50 instead OF 50.
MIR. Latham moved to non co0oar, and said
thst the action of the Board of Aldermen had
pIgc,d the Common Council ia very disagree
abla situation. The report Of the financial
officers ,howed that So Was the lowest sum with
which the Corporation can bs carried on next
year. There would naturally be large number
of coupons rendered. He hoped that they
Bould meet The crisis ss mon Of nerve. Hs
must tell this Board that nothing less than two
per cent. could possibly pay the needfal ex.
psnso; of the city asd provide for its obllga.
ttious uader the compromise. We must try to
iift the cloud that weighs upon us. Some think
that they already discern the silver lining to
the cloud, but there would be no silver !lulng
If the city had 90 silver to pay Its expenses.
Some provision must be made by which the city
could get cash, not coupons, and at the tax
rate DFOpoSeu Luis WUui1 UO lLupoooApto' hAo
moccd to adhere to the former aotIon-S2.
Mr. Evans thought Council must recede 10
order to amend the bill so as to secure sufficient
cash TO carry on the government He favored
an amendment authorizing the collectors to sell
coupcps 10 tax payers for the purpose OF pay
inc taxes at discount of 25 per cent.
Council reoeded from the vote passing the
nil. and it came up for amendment.
Mr.. Latham said there was no law under
which the collectors could sell coupons.
Mr. Evans-It is true that there Is no law
ow them to sell coupons. but it is also
trus that there is now no law to authorlz; them
to collect taxes thisyear We have yet to pass
that law, and we can give them both powers.
Ills ou!y otjcct Was to get the Finance Com
Ipittee cut of the swamp in which they were
laboriDg. Ilo was not tenacious OF this plan.
The amendnen was lost and Council struck
out 81. 50 and replaced So in the BILL
MIR. Latham moved an amendmeot au!horz
ing the collectors to make discount OF l2s
psr cent. 90 all taxes paid 10 currency before
the first Of August, but no discount on coupons
paid 10 for taxes. a.,
Mr.. Nails moved to amend by mak'ps the
discount 20 per ct. lie did not think that l2s
per Ct. would bring 10 cash enouig D..
MIR. Latham said that even With l25 per ct.
dednrtiop the revenue would not be sufficient
~ make it greater would be to make it impos
sibIe to carry on the oily government.
After somo other minor amendments he bill
was repassed.
A resolution authorizing persons OWING taxes
nrevicus to 1877 10 settle their bills OF 81 cts. on
the dollar, coming 10 from the Board OF Al
dermeu. :,
81 That while W. only offered -! oeDts dis
count for paymeut Of taxes within thirty days,
~ tbose who delay the payment for year or
two. 49, ,,,,,,;.r on1
,,aod III At there were some 100000 outstAnd'
irg, and by this means those outstanding taxes as
would be paid 10 VasS fo' beu out the year. in
cash. =. n;,u ~ tbo
The r resolution was referred to the Finance