Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-21
IN OPEN SESSION.
The Proceedings of the Star
Chamber Session.
SEVERAL OFFICERS LET OUT
Some OF Them Among tho Best ON the
Force-The New Tax Rate Ordinance.
THE Reports of the Different Com
mittees IN Full-Miscelianeous-

Inc cllN council met IN open SeSSAOu
last night 1T ID with Mayor Smith pre-
siding and all the aldermen present except
mir. White. Secretary Burns. City At
-orney Powell, Auditor JohnStone, Eugi-
neer Kerr, Chief Maddox and Assistant Wy
att Were also present The seats on the out
side were all soon filled with spectators and
interested listeners generally, all anxious
20 know the re iult of the star chamber
sessions. The mayor raped for order, and
The roll call was dispensed with, likewise
the minutes of the !lst regular" and the
Introductory proceedings OF the two secret
or executive sessions, all of which were APP
proved and signed.
The first business then coming up was
the report of the finance committee on Il
resolution referred TO them, Mr.. Armstrong
being father of the resolution, that city
scrip be taken, face value, for city taxes.
With the report was an opinion of City At
torney Powell on the subject, in which he
recommended the resolution or report be
not adopted. Mr.. Barter moved the report
OF the committee and its recommendations
be adopted and it was carried. Following
is the resolution, the report and the opin-
ion:
Be it resolved by the city council of the
city Of Fort Worth, that any and all scrip
heretofore issued, or that may be here
after issued, by this city, shall be taken at
its face value in Payment OF any taxes or
other Indebtedness TO this city, and that the
city attorney be instructed to prepare
proper ordinance in the matter
GEO. W. ARMSTRONG.
FORT WORTH, TEX, Oct, o. 1891.
To the Hon. Mayor ard City Council,
We. your committee OF finance, to whom
was referred the accompanying resolution,
offered by Alderman Armstrong, herewith
submit the opinion of the city attorney, I,
= Powell, ESD, to whom the resolution
was also referred, and, in accordance with
said opinion, we recommend that said reSO-
luton oe not adopted Respectfully sub
mitted, THOMAS ?. MARTIN,
JESSE JONES,
GEO T.. MES.
Font " ORTIZ. TEX, O I. 20 1921.
Il P Martin, Chairman Finance Committee OF
lie city Council
DEAR STR--In reply to your request TO
give an opinion upon the question Of the
legality Of receiving lefty scrip in pay
ncnt of city taxes. | submit the following:
Section lO2 of the amended city charter
reads rs follows: The general laws of
the state of Texas in force ut the time re-
lating tn the assessment and collection of
cities and town taxes, rs provided by chap
tiers and Is title Il, Revised Statutes of
Texas. shall govern in the assessment and
collection Of city taxes of said city so lar as
applicable, except where otherwise herein
prescribed; provided, that said city shall
have the power at any time by ordinance to
prescribe full rt.ies and regulations on the
subject"
Article 452, chapter 6, title H. Revised
Statutes of Texas, reads rs follows:
Taxes levied to defray current expenses
of the city government and ali license and
occupation taxes levied, and all fines, for
FIXTURES. penalties and other dues accrUing
to cities, shall be collccta6le Only in current
money."
The state constitution says: Section |.
article $ That all taxes shall be equal
and uniform" II is easy to see how the
recei wing of city scrip 1T this time-some
OF whi, h was purchased 1t Il heavy dis
COunl--would violate the spirit of the said
section.
The ordinances assessing the taxes pro-
vide that the same shall be collcctable in
lawful currency of the United States.
Therefore. | am % the opinion that under
The laws governing the city At this time,
city scri? cannot be received in pay
u!ent Of city taxes. I j. POWELL,
City Attorney.
The report Of the finance committee, 4 re
port that was listened 10 with brea:hlesS
Silence. WAS called Tor Us Secretary Burns
flashed il, and the members OF the
council reared back il their chairs
with peculiarly pleasing expression
on their faces, for they knew
It's contents. and some looked down at the
floor. others looked At the ceiling. while
some tore paper. whit.od-and Alderman
jackson smoked peacefully. Not 50 with
the spectators they leaned forward on
their elbows and lever once took their
eyes off Secretary Burns. The hallway
and rear of the room was filed with
policemen Gt being the hour 10
changed and fremcn all eager TO know what
was in store for them. The report was
read and adopted. The men discharged
will hold on ten days yet, and the cut in
salaries goes into effect on November !.
Following is the report OF the finance
commtte in full:
FoRT WORTH, Ten. Oct. 90. 1891.
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council:
We. your committee on finance. in accord
ance with your Instructions, and the action
had n the last two executive sessions of
your body. held respectfully 10Th and 18th
instants, herewith submit the estimate