Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-05-22
FIGHTING ras tax nArn.
City Ceuncti's Finance COMMITTEES
Dee. Not See It's Way 20 Grnnt thc
Street Directors Request for

City Ceuncti's Finance Committee
Does Not See Its way 20 Grant tho
Street Directors Request for
$4,000,
President Joseph L. Carpenter, Jr.,
and Director James Murray Of the Street
and Sewer Department, held conference
last night wesk'siat the city tax otlice with
MessTs. Shea and Chambers OF Councils
finance committee upon the yexed ques-
ton Of the street departments rsquisition
for Nd additional appropriation this year
OF SIS, 900 for the intercepting sewer
work. Chief Engineer George FL. Bough-
man WAS also present.
According to the enactment passed at
the last session Of the Legislature the de-
partmeut was to obtain the sum of
$50, 600 out Of last years city surplus o.
S79, 900. According to the statute the
$50, 900 was to b6 acquired in the two fol
lowing yeara. Now the contest of the street
directors is that they are entitled to ask
for any part OF that amount now. The
rational understanding of the matter &C.
cordiDg to Messrs. Quinn and Chambers
the then representatives OF the finance
committee is that $25, 900 was to be
granted in each OF the two years. But
the demand now is for &35, 900 this year.
II is explained that when the arrange
ment was first being made between the
two public bodies the enactment was
drawn up for the payment OF the $50, 900
in one year. To this the finance committee
objected fearing it would cause On in
crease in the city tax. On conference
with the directors the term Of payment
was made two years. City Solicitor
Turner was ut the meeting. This was the
hnal understanding frou which at the
time 1t WAS made Messts. Quinn and
Chambers understood that the payment
was to be spread equally over two years,
thus accounting for the present stand
made by tue finance committee ia Wow Of
| the street. directors request OF S35, 900
this gear Instead of $4,000. In its
annual estimate this year Council has ep-
propriated $50, 600 for the street direct
4 ors' WORK on the intesoepting sewer.
CITY Councils finance committee pro-
/ tests that If the $35, 900 be granted il
will Sguse tue tax rate to be raised fVe
4 cents per 300; that IL, from 81 40, as il
1 was last yehr, to $1.d City Council
wants sirenuousiy 10 keep the tax down
I 10 81 40.
Councilman Chambers says that at last
might weeks meeting, in justice to the
directors, that while pressing their need
OF funds to carry on the intercepting
sewer work, they deplored the necessity
Of raising the tax rate.
Tho reason why the finance committee
could not see its way clear to recommend
the GirectOts' request is that the Parh
Commissioners 1--we asked for 1856 00I
obey have been allowed 1928, 900 in the
coming years estimate) for the purpose
Of building the park boulevard, the IA,
pFovemepts at hIrkwood Park, &c. The
former WORK must be accomplished b
the Park Commissioners in order to Sc.
cure the land for the city offered undei
certain conditions by William Z. Ban.
croft and Samuel Bancroft, Jr.
Within tho next two weeks OF somI
date previous 10 the passage OF CITY
Counci'a finance estimate there will be {
joint conference Of City Councils finAnct
committee, the Street and Sewer Director
and the PARK Commissioners for snothe
attempt at settlement OF the fnaneia
trouble.