Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-06-02
FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
THE SPECIAL. TAX ON DEADLY
WEAPONS.
Meeting of the Board of Alder
men For the Revision of the
Speclal Tax I.lst-ElectrIc Light
Ing Companies.

Ing Companies.
When Alderman ]. NJ. Gudgcr entered
the council chamber yesterday afternoon
to attend meeting of the Board of Al
dermcn every Individual made up hisl
mind that there would be more to get
tickled over than there had been for
several weeks. And they were correct.
Tor the little Alderman-at-largc inter |
jcctcd into the proceedings funny say
ings that even caused his honor the
Mayor to virtually suspend the rules !
and indulge in an audible smile. Others
present at the meeting were Aldermen
Cosby, Starnes, ii. l.. Gudger and
Wcstall. Alderman Jones came i'll during
the session, but had just gotten to Ashe'
vile from. Murphy, and as he was
greatly fatigued he WAS excused and
went home.
The prize winner with which the
Board struggled for three hours was
the city's special tax list for '93-'94. and
before it was completed everybody felt
wcaried. But business is business with
the Reformcrs and they stuck to the work
as bravely as the two Straight out men,
bcrs. In opening, however, there was
some discussion as to the exact date OF
the election OF city officers. Mcssrs.
Wcstall and Starncs, who were on OPP
posite sides of the fence in the late May
unpleasantness," gave each other several
nuts to crack. MIR. Starnes argued that
as the officials were elected under the
old law, and the law reading "hold office
during the term of the Aldermen" they
would, therefore, hold for four years. He
was not agreed with, however, and on
motion of MIR. Cosby the election was
set Tor this (Friday) afternoon at 4
O'Clock, which time was also fixed for
the choosing OF a board OF health.
Special Taxes.
The special tax list was then taken up
and waded through item by item, from
top to bottom. The real and personal
. property tax was left at last years
figure, 81 OH the 500, and $3 poll. The
merchants purchase tax of 5 cents on
each $1OO worth was stricken out by
motion of ]. NJ. Gudgcr, and the mcr'
chants here will put a small sized star in
his crown. MIR. Gudger also proposed
apparently seriously. though really ir
iun, to put a tax on bicycles, which
proposition was shicd at by some of the
members who have been looking at &
bicycle with longing i'll their eyes. Whcr
tho paragraph referring to the tax or
railroads was reached Mr. Cosby moved
to raise the figure from $50 to 500
and it was done. The Ashevillc Stree
: railway was put down for 5000 specia
tax, and ]. M. Gudger moved to knoci
it down to $3.50 on account oil its bein;
such a large enterprise, but the other
on the Board couldn't sec it that way
- and he withdrew his motion. Mr.
= GuGger also moved to strike out the So
Il tax on the dummy line, but his motiol
received no second.
Hotel Tax.
When the list of hotels was reached
the names of the st. Johns, tho Europca
and the Ashcvillc were added, each taXc
for $40. Two classes of restaurant
q. M. Gudgcr pronounced it restaurant
which showed that he is up to date
were created in the list, the first bcin
taxed for SIS, and the second for SIC
MIR. Starncs said he had never seen
frst-class re seaurant, while Mr.. Wcsta
said he had never been able to find on
that called itself second-class. The lis
was amended SO as to tax each re-
taurant $40.
The liquor license was left at ST 900
year, to be paid dsemi-annually i'll advanc
No mercy was shown the circus, for tt
tax was lett at 500 tor each exhibition
and this can be collected even thouG
the show should pitch it's tents within
mile of the city limits.
From this down some distance in Il
column things were left as they we
found until the item regarding the ph
tosraphcrs' tax was reached. Then Il
price was lowered from SIS to 81
because, as ]. NJ. Gudger said, they hi
to depend for living on taking Il
pictures of such men as his friend, tt
CITIZEN. Friends got between and n
body was hurt-unless Mr.. Gudger hu
himself laughing.
These new taxes were levied: On ca
manufacturer of plug or smoking
bacco, $40; on each manufactured OF
sars, $40; on each manufacturer
cigarettes, $25. J. NJ. Gudger remark
that the cigarettes were "killing @
boys"
Cost $500 To Sell I'VE G pins "
The boarding house tax was discuss
- and it was at last decided that the
. of SIS and So should remain. The ST
. section taxing brewers $50 was stricl
out. When the paragraph relating
dealers in bowie knives, pistols, etc.
M. Gudgcr startled the Boar and eve
] body else present by SAYING: 81 n'
that that tax of $50 be increased
, $500" The motion was put and c
. ried, and Mayor Patton said he thoui
the action just taken was the best tn
!, the Board had done.
, Every commission merchant is raj
from $40 to $25, each ice dealer m
pay a tax of $25, a raise of $5, w
lob printing establishments are m
pay $40 instead of So. BARRIERS
made pay So. so for each chair.
The electric light companies recei
no very small amount of attention,
instead of paying $50 as heretof
those wholly in the city will pay 81
cool each arc light and % cents for each
candescent light; those only partly in
city must paw 81. so for each arc and
cents for each incandcscent. 1t t
49, some time to get this item framed, al
''' was only done after ]. M. Gudger
made a motion that some man fran
motion to 'ketch en-
statement wanted.
:, The question of levying the school
y was deferred to Friday, June 0, and
Y motion of Mr.. Starncs the clerk