The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-08-27
CITY AFFAIRS.
Special Meeting Of the City Council.

0peCldl MS0tlHB OF Ine ClIy COUNCIL.
A special meeting of the City Council was
called last evening in reference to reduction
of the appropriation bill.
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN.
Request of George G. Frye, apothecary, to
run stationary steam engine at his store No.
800 Congress street, was referred.
The Mayor read a letter from City Treasurer
Hersey to Assistant Treasurer George FL. Lib
by, dated West Auburn, Aug. 25th, in which
Mr.. Hersey says:
81 am very glad to learn of the great in
crease in the valuation of personal estate but
for that the assessors may have to make many
attachments on account of taxes to wrong per-
sons OF pianos, &c, returned by the assistant
assessors. l am somewhat surprised at the de-
crease of valuation of real estate as l supposed
that the valuation of new buildings
and improvements would more than
offset the reduction of last year. 1 hope
that the rate of taxation may not exceed
that of last year (S25 per $1,000, to accomplish
which it will be necessary to reduce the appro-
priations which 1 think can be done by post
poning the building of the new school-house
until next year. My impression is that the ap-
preparation for land, building, &C., was $24,-
900, from which deduct the amount to be paid
IOr -GoOJU-leaVeS
The sum Of ..........., ~ =. 500 400
TO which add amount of OVERLAPPING, accord
ing to your figures -. ................. 1876
Gives total for OVERLAPPING. . S35, $50
which would be quite satisfactory. l do not
know OF any ,other appropriation that could
be reduced unless it is that for the reduction
of the city debt" which should prefer should
not be done if it can possibly be avoided.
Unless such reduction should be made l do
not see but that the rate must be $3.50.
Say $3.50 on $3o,996,0O0 valuation
Add the S5o5 polls at SD each S55i5
Amount of appropriation bill per your
statement. .....-.. ......... 1874, 500
Leaving for OVERLAPPING .....,............ $50, $50
which may possibly answer our purpose in an
tcipation of an increased amount next YEAR
1 trust however that the Council may see fit to
reduce the appropriation as suggested and
make the tax 81. so per $1.00.
hardly think it would be safe for the asses
sors to make up the tax at $3.50 without first
being authorized by the City Council to reduce
the amount to be raised by doing away wit h
the school-house appropriation or some other
as suggested. If a meeting of the Council can
not be had in time they had better 90 on with
the S2.55 rate, in my judgment, as it is i'm
portant that we should have the tax list as
soon as possible.
The Mayor then read the following message:
To the City Council:
conference.-the assessors have made nm
their estimates for the rate of taxation and
lind that with our appropriation, the rate will
be $3.50 on the $1,000. This is to be regretted
1t is important to our credit and earnestly de-
manded by our tax payers that the rate of tax
alton should not exceed $25 on the $1,000, the
same as it was the last municipal year. Our
appropriations are low consistent with a wise
economy, but with your approval they can be
reduced to the desired point. There is an an
preparation for school-house on North street
OF $4,000 The committee on public build
lngs having this matter ain charge have been
unavoidably delayed in the selection of lot
and in perfecting plans and estimates until it
is SO late IN the season to contract that the
house cannot be finished before spring. / rec
ommend therefore the postponement of the
erection of the school-house until the coming
spring thereby bringing the cost of the same
into the next years appropriations. The lot is
purchased and the erection will be simply de-
layed few months. And therefore offer the
accompanying order. Respectfully,
VIM. SENTER, Mayor.
Ordered, That in the annual appropriation
Bill bill for the year 1880 and 81 passed May 8,
$780, the appropriation of twenty thousand
dollars (S20,00W for school house Munioy
be and hereby is rescinded and that said
amount be not appropriated for said purpose
and that the sum of 1854, 5O9.27 be raised and
assessed on the polls and estates of the inhab-
itants OF said city of Portland and on the es-
tates of nonresident proprietors of said city
instead of the sum of 1874 ,5O9.27, as provided
in said appropriation bill.
The message of the Mayor was accepted and
the order had passage. After the passage Of
the order as the members of the board from
wards one, two and three, were absent, Mr..
Andrews, of ward four. suggested that as the
present case, that of resembling part of the
appropriation bill, was an entirely new case,
without precedent, that such an order ought
to be passed by two-thirds vote Mr. Chap
man, OF ward seven, and also the Mayor
thought the point we'll taken, and on motion
of Mr.. Andrews the vote was reconsidered and
the order laid on the table for the present. It
was explained that this order was not a trans
fer of any appropriation, or an order to raise
money, and this made the case exceptional.
There is an amount always, intended to be
considered, that of oyerlayings which usually
amounts to about 900. With the taxes at
$3.50, and no school-house, that amount of
overlayings could be calculated ION for abate-
ment OF taxes, non-payment of taxes etc.
Withs the school-house, then the taxes would
have to be S2.55 to make the OVERLAPPING that
sum.
Louis Eagles petition to erect carpenter
shop on Cumberland street was referred with
power.
IN COMMON COUNCIL.
In the absence of President Fisk, Mr.. Alb
bolt, of ward three, was appointed. No bust
ness was transacted.
Both boards adjourned until p M tonight
Friday.