Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-12-27
Council Proce dings.
CITY HALL. December q. Il

Council met III ca'pu hHFt''"S t'es'"'
Mayor VIM. B. Hamlet; Councilman Walk,
Homer. Howell, Kriehn, Russell and Will
liams; Register e. q. Wallace; Marshal
Owen; ttornev Robt. Hicklin.
Bv request of the mayor Mr.. Russell ex-
planned the object OF the meeting, being the
refusal BY certain citizens to pay The Water
tax. Some having conceived the ldes that
greater taxes were levied than were neces-
sarv. The collector therefore desires in
struetions. 1t is well understood that Q
months taxes were levied for the water
works. As the waterworks have been de-
layed by unavoidable contingencies some Of
the moneymay not be needed. Some will. Mr..
Russell moved that Col. Jno. Reid, MI. Jno.
Waddell and Mr.. Robt. Taubman, who are
among those who resist the tax, and who are
large taxpayers and respectable citizens, be
invited to address the council.
Col. Reid said he was surprised to find his
water tax s6s. and the institutions he Is con-
cerned in will have to pay considerably over
5000. The tax is q very onerouR one. If
tar is collected it will be oppressive and
hurtful, and especially to those who are not
SO we'll prepared to pay it. The 1nclemency
VI SuC WShtUCA sukES5tS LIE Aouy Va Az |
citizens of this tow will need all the surplus
money they have saved during the summer
to carry them through the winter. I think
the tax injudicious. 1t seems to me
the waterworks cannot be completed In the
fiscal year, one half of which has now ex-
pired. Do we hear any more promises Of
completion of the works now than We
did last October. I think with due
Difference to the council that they
are anticipating In this matter. 1
know, without knowing anything of water
works, how slowly such things go. l was
but q boy when a monument was
ed, the celebration of whose completion will
take place on the 22d of Fee brusry. Col.
Reid read from the ordinance that OBJ
legation for money only accrues when
streams of water, ETC., shall be thrown.
This has not taken place. II tax Is again
levied in July 1t will make a tax of 80 cents
In IS months, The frost has placed it now
beyond the ken Of mortal man when we
shall receive the water. Will it not be time
enough after the works have been received to
send your worthy collector to your fellow
citizens to ask for money! What are you
going to do with the money il you collect 1t!
Put it In a bank to lie there idle? Or spend
1t for some other purpose? There Is many a
slip between the cup and the lip. There lisa
condition precedent to the levy and collection
of this tax. Col. Reid asked if the test of the
water has yet been made, as per the con-
tract. He SAID 1t had not, and that 1t was the
precedent condition of all. If the water ben
efts anyone 1t would benefit him, as he
would take it in all of his buildings. He said
that there were people in this town who
have property on which taxes must be paid,
but yet have little or no money, and some of
them are even in distress. Hope the coun-
Gil will consider all the different phases OF
this question. I thank you for your atten-
ton.
Mr.. Taubman declined to address the
council.
Mr.. Waddell said that he disliked to say
anything here because he voted against the
waterworks, but now has no animosity, only
differed as to the wisdom of the measure,
but now that 1t is adopted he is friendly 10
the enterprise, and hopes it will succeed and
be OF benefit to the town. I do, however,
think the tax unwke. l believe the council
GClcu III EOOd ldilu III LuhhiuS II lCSss ouiy
that for nine months l believe only 80
cents should have been levied. Icannot see
the good policy of taking this money from the
people. They need it themselves. If they
had the water they would be willing to pay
1t. l would think 1t right to abate the tai
until il is needed to pay the water com
pany. The council is the representative Of
the people, no one wants to Lulldoze the
council, but every citizen has a right to be
/ heard. The tax il judicious when 1t wa:
laid, Is not SO now since the company ha:
failed as to the time of completion. Th'
company has until July TO complete III
works. why collect this money six months IL
advance.
The city attorney, By request OF Mr.. VIII
liams, said he regretted the necessity Of thi
meeting, but as it is called the subject shoult
be carefully considered. II the objection Of
the gentlemen had been urged before any col
, lection had been made the council could have
, reduced the levy. Now one third of tn,
water tax has beer collected. If rebate
' now made we shall have to refund to thos
r who have already paid. Mr.. Hicklin disa
. vowed any suspicion Of wrong motives OF
I; the part of the gentlemen before the council
r But IL the water tax is abated other fund
< will suffer, and severely, and the c~ollecto
, could not collect $500 OH other funds AnL
t the course recommended is taken We shal
be invol, ed In endless litigation. .
Mr.. Waddell said the money ID on han
and would be easy to pay back.
i Mr.. HickliH said the council had the powe
to levy 40 cents. 1t levied s. cents. If tn
money is consumed, when the next levy
made the council will only levy sufficient
. added to the surplus, for the next year. Tn
water company has spent here $40 900 o
$4,000, and will certainly complete its work
The water tax cannot be used for any othe
T purpose. II the works are not accepted the
r the money will, of course, be paid back I
= the people.
nj Mr.. Russell said, a lew can only be mad
In September. Ifmoney is paid back and til
works are completed In April there will b
a no money to carry out our contract. The
- there Is q legal question as to whether til
council can abate or suspend this tax.
there Is q surplus when the next levy Is mad
= the future levy will be reduced that murl
= Can't see how this council can follow NJ
Waddel's suggestion. The only way to re
+ duce the tax is to abate every Taxpayer
taxes.
:. Mr.. Williams offered the following rssolu
= tion:-
Whereas, the city collector asks the mayo
y and city council for instructions as to the co
lectlon OF water tax. Therefore be it
Resolved, That councilmen are elected b
= the ctlizens to transact the business of tn
- city; it becomes their duty every year to lev
q tax to meet the expenses of the ADMINISTERS
ton. AT the last time for making The lev,
the council desiring to impose only %suf1cier
tax to meet expenses, after due and Garrett
9 consideration the levy was made, the tn
books made out and placed in the hand of til
N collector; and we hereby instruct him to col
20 lecf all the taxes placed on said book. as
= whole. As u matter of course, if there Is
IN surplus left over from water tax or any funC
in making the next levy only a sufficient >ur
will be levied and collected, which added I
: said surplus will be needed to meet the e,
d. penses of said fund. We desire at all TIM
Ii TO Impose as light a burden of taxes as posi-
ble-only enough to meet the demands of q
administration that will practice economy j
q the ~strictest sense.
Mr.. Russell offered the following resolu
tom
Va Moved to amend ~ follows: That all WI