Daily Republican., 1883-06-19

the Auditors books to more than pa
all the back debts. He was ia favor {
the rate mentioned, AZ he could not Sc
~ how anyone could pay IA bill OF S5 wit
l. 81 90. he felt sure that the people, ir
/ respective of party, would sustain Coul
II Gil in fixing tbs rate at figures high
J. enough to enable them to "pay as W
Il 60"
Il The only way out of the trouble wa
to take the bull by the horns.
t Mr.. Farrell said he had no doubt tha
: the Finance Committee had given thi
matter due consideration before making
; their report, but he thought there mus
I be something radically wrong, when /
: was found necessary to raise the taa
vote TO these figures. Something mus
> be wrong when the tax vote in Viii
mington was greater than that of oul
wealthy neighbor, Philadelphia, that
has so many things which we have not
He did not blame Council; he ha,
never known Council but what had
been honest and done their duty. He
could not blame Council, but thought il
was the fault of the people. They were
not satisfied when Council revised the
assessments and wanted Board OF
Revision, and he was crrdibly in,
formed that some men in this city were
only paying 80 cents on the hundred
dollars according to the true valuation
OF their property, while other men were
made to pay the full Sl.Gj, on each SlOO
Of their property. He thought some
; thing should be done and that without
delay.
The city has been growing and in.
rreaslng for many years, and yet the
assessed value Of property was growing
less. Last year there were nearly SEVEN
hundred houses built, and yet the as
seHscd value OF the property in this city
Is lower than II was in 1876. This he
thought was the fault Of the Board of
revision, and the sooner a change was
made the better it would be for the peo-
pie.
lie gave the following figures in sup
port Of what he had said in reference to
tlle assessments for the past eight years ::
lA.5 WI, 5,64S,OO 1879 - s., ,OO0, 900
1876 - 26,6l6,0O0 1880 - %, l0O, 900
lhn - 25,406,0o0 1881 - 2",tN, 900
1919 - 22,SlSooo 1882 - "a, ,4O5, 900
| Mr.. Taylor said that he had no desire
TO censure Council or the Finance Com
lnlttee, as he believed they had done
the best they could under the circum-
stances. He thought the fault was
| with the Board of Revision and he had
been credably informed of one case
where they struck twenty-five thousand
dollars from the assessment on one
mans property. He thought it high
time something was done to remedy
tins evil, as 1t was outrageous with the
growth this city had made in the past
ten years, that the valuation Of proper
W was not as great this year as it was
IN 1873. He was in favor of burning
the books OF the Board of Revision, and
having a new assessment made, which
he lelt sure would show that the prop
erty OF thlsc.fyeXceeded thirty mlliCns
OF dollars.
Mr.. Plckels said the tax per capita
was less IN TINS city than in either New
YORK or Philadelphia. On motion the
inrther consideration OF the matter was
nos1poned un'll the regular meeting on
Inursuay evening.
Inc Following resolution was offered
ny Mr.. plckels and passed by party
vote, with the exception OF Mr. Mention,
who voted with the RcpublicanS !
Resolved, That the Registrar Of the
Water Department be and he is hereby
'llrected to deposit i'll the Union Ma
tlOnal Bank to the credit of the city i,
any money IN his hands received by i
NJ I'M us water rents. $
On motion OF Mr.. johnson, 100 copies |
u t'le appropriations tor next year were d
10 De printed, and the Clerk
was Instructed to send copy to each '
member, /
Communication was received from
ne n.ard OF iradt, ealing attention to t
.he Dill passed by the last Legislature t
for Board or Port Wardens
ana submitting the names from which II
Jouhcli VIII select the members. The T.
COMMUNICATION was referred to the p
Cominmittee on Navigation. William ii
;. FOUNTAIN complained Of the condi- Il
ION OF the gutter IN front of the nited $
states Hottl, ana sad that whenever it Il
aimed, the water flowed over his steps p
md prevented people entering. 1t was 5
'e1erred to the Street Committee. b
Mr.. Farrell offered resolution, that Il
he Street Commissioner be instructed il
o advertise for proposals to sprinkle II
tonrth and French streets. ,r. Men 81
on offered to amend, by inserting ST
'front.' street to Monroe, and MARYLAND il
venue TO Beach street b
Mr.. Blake was in favor of the motion Il
0 sprinkle Fourth and Fruch streets. a
IS he thought it was the flnt of Co,,n- "
il in maradamiZing those streets that il
hey were 50 dusty. Mr.. Newell thought q
hat Maryland avenue needed sprink- +
ing lust as much AS auy other street in :.
his city. When the weather was dry.
he dust was intolerable, and caused the e,
reatest annoyance to everyone on the g,
treet. a
ny any of the streets at the exp4nse of f
ne taxpayers. If people wanted the lo
treets sprinkled let them do it them. D;
elves. T
vi L. hl g, | 50