Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-05-24

y
ordinance imposing a tax on persons
and property for the coming year were
pa! sed.
BOARD OF ALDERMAN.
Immediately after the Aldermen had
been called to order an invitation was
received from the Common Council to
meet in Joint session to listen to state
ment from Mr.. ID. L: Moody, of the VIr-
ginia Iron Shipbuilding Company, who
desired a rebate in the taxes on the
property they formerly owned in this
city. Upon the return of the Alder
men no business was presented and
recess was declared. 1t was of short
duration, however, as within few min
utes o communication from Mayor
Strauss announcing the fact that he
had appointed c. j. w. Summers to the
position of Dispenser of Medicine to I'LL
vacancy, was received from the Com
mon Council, as was also resolution
appointing the Mayor the representa-
tive of the city in the matter CT the re-
covery of possession of the Sun engine
house, now held by G. E. Price y GO.
The action of the lower board on both
papers was concurred in.
The ordinance imposing taxes on
persons and property, passed by the
Common Council, was received from
that board and their action concurred
in. The appropriation bill, which had
been recommitted to the finance COM
mittee, was also received from the
lower board and their action concur
red in.
The license law then made its APP
pcarance from the Common Council
and their action in passing it was con-
Cured in by the Alderman.
The action of the Common Council
on various other matters was con-
Cured in by the Aldermen, and at 1918
o'clock the board adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The rain made the assemblage of the
members of the board slow and there
were but ten members present during
the evening.
The Board of Alderman were invited
to joint session to hear Mr.. e. Il.
Moody, of Boston, treasurer of the Vir-
ginia Ship Building Company, in refer
ence to the application of that comPa-
ny for refund of taxes paid by the
Virginia Iron Ship Building Co.
Before the Aldermen came in 1eso-
luton appointing the Mayor agent to
notify Price & Co. to vacate the old
Sun engine house, was introduced.
Mr.. Fisher said that Price & Go. arc
willing to pay an increased rent, ifnec-
essary, and he did not think they
should be turned out and the property
rented to Others.
The chair said that Price & Co. had
agreed to vacate ut any time, but had
refused to comply with the agreement
and had taken advantage of every sub
terfuge that they could think of. There
was no intention of renting the build
ing. 1t was needed for police pur-
poses, and badly needed.
The resolution was adopted.
The Aldermen having come in, MIR.
c. Il. Moody was allowed the floor and
spoke for some time.
Mr.. Moody gave narrative OF the re-
latiou of the Virginia Ship Building
Co. to the Archer enterprise to which
and its assigns the city had given GER
tain freedom from taxation, &c., and
showed that he had carried most of the
burdens of the latter company and had
paid out $7755,325. He claimed that
af,cr extensive and frequent advertis-
ing Sc, the property for which
only $4,000 was first offered
sold at last in the judicial sale at
500 1000. The taxes for which the prop
erty was sold rated it at $50, 900, which
was manifcstly more than twice it was
worth. He asked that the difference
between the tax on $50, 900 and SD, 900
be refunded to him.
Mr.. X. Kcmper, attorney for Mr..
Moody, then addressed the council in
support of his claim.
No action was taken and the Alder
men retired.
The tax bill and the license law were
then reported by the finance commit
tee. When the clause taxing ground
rents was reached,
Mr.. Fisher moved that the rate be
changed from - times to Is times the
amount of the rent. A ground rent of
$50 per annum, he said, was now rated
at 500, when in fact it was worth
81 900. and should be taxed at that rate.
Mr.. Uhler said the question had been
discussed every year for many years.
The value of real estate worth 81 ,0OO
was represented by an assessment of
not more than 1920, for the assessment
was always below the value.
L., .t,fn1 thnf tt-bnn hn
chairman of the finance committee an
examination showed twelve times the
amount to be the proper rate.
Mr.. Fishers amendment was re-
jccted.
When a separate tax on real estate
agents was proposed,
Mr.. Uhler said the object was to sep
arate the business of real estate agent
from that of general auctioneer, as both
had been carried on together hereto
fore and the city derived no revenue
from persons who came here to sell
goods by auction.
When the clause taxing photograph
ers SIS came up,
Mr.. Fisher suggested that there were
many photographers who came here
from abroad aad made money taking
pictures but paid nothing to the city
and an amendment was adopted cover
ing this case.
when the section relative to grad
uated tax on physicians and lawyers
came up,
DR.. Jones thought that SIS should
be imposed on all physicians and attor-
neys.
Mr.. Kraft moved that the tax be
made $25 on each of them.