Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-05-20
CITY COUNCIL.
An adjourned meeting of the City Council
was held last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

when the Aldermen were chiIeu W oiuei'
only FIVE members being present and 1t re-
curing six TO pass the ordinances WhiCn
mad come in from the Common Council, on
the frat night of their introduction. 1t was
finally determined to call the board TO order,
have the bills read for the trst time and lay
them over for action at subsequent meet
ing, when bare quorum could pass tnem.
After the reading of tine minutes of the
last meeting the ordinances were read.
They differ bat little from those of last year.
The cIe,k was interrupted but little while
reading them, and the queries p.opOunded
were promptly explained by Mr. Burke, d
member of the Finance Committee, and
others.
At balf-past ten the board adjourned.
In the report of the proceedings OF the
meeting of the board last Tuesday night the
reporter made mistake in crediting MIR.
Bryant with secondiDg MIR. McKenzie's mo
lion to lsy On the table petition for the
passage of an ordinance prohibiting ducks
and chickens from running at large. Ii
seems Mr. Hinken was the member who
seconded the motion, and not Mr.. Bryant,
slough that gentleman has no OF faction to
what he does say being published
COMMON COUNCIL.
Tho attendance at the hour ofopening the
board was not large, and the first unfinished
business which came up was the tax bill.
The Chair held that the second reading
had been completed at the last meeting, and
after the third reading the vote stood yeas
s, nays 5. Nine votes being required to pass
! the bill,
| Mr.. Snowdsn said he would change his
vots In order to move reconsideration, and
he did 80, snd urged that unless this bill
passed the revenue bill of last year would be
! ia force, and that did not contain the im-
provemsnt on the tax Oh ground rents.
The Chsir-"I'd like to hear from some
of the gentlemen opposed to this BILL" He
hoped they would state their objections.
Mr. Fisher said that the object with which
he had voted against the bill was now cb-
tanned, rs IL was now proposed TO discuss.
He had feared that, the Chair having de-
cided the second reading to be closed, die
cnasion nor amendment would be in order.
The Chair-The matter can't be discuss
Cd. You can vote against the bill.
Mr Fisher said that it was simply in re-
Spouse to the request of the Chair that he
! had risen 10 discuss the matter.
President Sweeney Mr.. Snowdeu in the
chai:) explained the position be had taken
on the subject. He wished discussion that
membs;s who were not present at the last
meeting might be Informed how matters
stood. II this bill fails to pass tc-aight the
only effsct will be that the revenue bill OF
last year will continue in effect. OF 1t may be
that we will have DO tax bill at all.
! Mr.. Aitcheson said ne had voted against
the bill ia order to have reconsideration
and chance for discussing an amendment,
but II thu re- could be % amendment it was
useless to have discussion.
The vote having been reconsidered,
Mr.. Snowden urged the importance OF
passing the bill. Otherwise we may have
the bill of last year or may have no bill al
all. The bill was the best thing we can do,
for if this failed no other bill would be re-
ported. AS to the hyDothecating of TEX
bills with the banks, 40 had been suggested,
that is impossible.
Mr.. Fisher said that all he meant to cay
at the last meeting ss to the hypothecation
| of tax bill 8 was that the CITY with $50. 600
tag bills in It's possession in Jolly would be
| better able to borrow money than wnen it
had few or no taxes due in February. He
had no idea Of putting the tax bills into
bank es collatera! security.
Rlr. Aitcheson said that if it was true the
tax is only 81 so, it would be better for the
city if that fact were made plain, but IL
seemed now as If the bill made the tax 200
| cents.
mfr. Snowden appealed to the Council not
| to defeat the bill The majority was In its
favor Gnd he felt sure Mr. Fisher did not
wish to stand in the way of majority rule.
| He is a good democrat and ia willing to ~
| low the majority to rule
Mr. Fisher suggested 100 cents and per
cent discount. He was willing to compro-
mise.
This Mr.. Snowden contended would be q
small increase oftexstiop and would be i'm
polite.
Mr.. Ubler said that four-Eflhs ofihe prop.
| erly owners, many Ct them paying less than
ten dollars, took advantage of the discount
ana it would be unfair 10 raise the tax Oh
them.
The bill was then pssaeG-yeas IS. nays 1.
The vote will be found in the official pre-
ceedlngs.
The appropriation bill then came up and
was read the second time, no amendments
being offered.
Mr.. SnowGen explained that the total
amount of appropriations were S91 ,567 30,
and the receipts would be only about SSS-
600 but he S97 900 included the payment
of $40, 900 due the banks. This amount could
be paid In July or August. and like sum
borrowed next april 10 carry tne CITY
through the year. Next year he thought
wholesome Increase in the tax values would
be evident.
The appropriation bill wac unanimously
adopted.
When the license bill came up it was e1
aiained by the chairman of the Finance
Com mit!es that the only increase was in
the tax on in'urance companies and Cd
spants FIR euch compauies The first
tax. only ivs dollars. was very slight
we'll justified Increase snd as some one had
asid the crowd of Insurance drummers sent
more money from the city than did po'-
icy playing. He thought an increase
OF revenue might De gotten from that source.
Mr.. Fisher deprecated increase of insui
ance taxes TIE rate CT insurance was low
or here than il any other city.
President SYaapeY thonght that the rate