Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-06-14
COMMON COUNCIL.

for rebate oftaxation on tie old iron
works property.
NIr. Uhler explained that the papers
sent in had been filed with the finance
committee and Mr.. Moody had appeared
before the committee and made his
statement. The committee had a. ICED
unanimously to report adversely on the
application, and the report was agreed
to by the board.
When the finance committee report
ed in favor of q tax OF 81 upon each tel
egraph pole in the city,
The chair asked if the committee
were able to state the number of poles.
Mr.. Uhier responded that he was
not.
Mr. Strider had been requested to
make a statement. He read an eX-
tract from a letter received from Supt.
Tree, of the Western Union Telegraph
Company, in which he said that his
company was willing to pay fair as
sessmcnt on their business and their
property here. Their Alexandria re-
ccipts were $933.S5 and they were will
ing to pay per cent. on that and to
pay as now $50 on their property here.
The chair was opposed to any undue
assessments on the telegraph compa-
MES, but he thought that they should
pay the same taxes for doing business
as other people.
Mr.. Uhler said that the Western
Union Telegraph Company and the
Postal Company had formerly been
paying tax Of 800; and they got be-
hind the interstate commerce laws and
refused to pay one cent as license tax.
They return personal property valued
at about $1,000, paying only about $35
per annum. They had paid no more
than this since 1890.
The chair thought the Telegraph
Company should pay at least 500 as
the Telephone Company did.
The subject was laid over.
The annual appropriation bill was
then taken up.
Mr.. Fisher asked why an addition
had been made to the appropriation for
interest on the public debt.
Mr.. Uhler explained that the atten-
ton of the finance committee had been
called to the increase of $500 in the ap-
preparation for payment of in terest on
the public debt, and that it had been
done to cover interest which had not
been called for, but which was due last
year.
Mr.. Fisher was satisfied.
Mr.. Uhler called attention to the
fact that these appropriations are based
on an assessme mt ca 81, SIS 573 and this,
if all the taxes were collected, would
produce 500, 57l.26 This with fines,
licenses, rents, &C., would raise SlO6,-
97l.4G. but this would be diminished by
discounts, collectors percentages &c. to
about SOL 600, leaving an apparent
surplus of some $4,000. If any addition
al appropriations were to be made they
should be made now, in order that the
whole financial system might be COM
pleted.
The bill passed unanimously.
Mr.. Mushbach from the special COM
mittee to arrange for more convenient
shelves. &c. at the Corporation Court
clerks office, made report favoring a
contract with the Office Special Com
pany, of Washington, at SAG for the
placing of the roller shelves system IN
that office, aud the renewal of the in
dexes on the Campbell system.
The chair favored the roller shelf i'm
provement and also the Campbell sys-
tenn of indexing but thought that as to
the indexing some contract should be
made fixing the cost.
Mr.. Fisher asked if the city did not
order this work to be done would the
order be made by the Court.
II was conceded that tbs might be
done.
The Chair-That is stronger reason
for contract.
After further discussion so much O
the report as related to the roller shelves
&c. was concurred in, and that portion
relative to the new index, &c, was re
committed to the committee to ascer
tain its cost.
An adverse report of the Corporation
Attorney en- the claim of City Sergeant
smith for fuel used at the jail was reac
and referred to the committee on claims
Mr.. Mushbach introduced an ordi
ance amending the act granting the
right of way to Mr.. L. w. Spear anc
his associates for an electric road, to bt
begun within six months.
The amendment provides that The
company shall give a bond of SIC, 900 tt
commence an electric road in this city
within sixty days after Congress shall
have granted them the right of way fol
a bridge or ferry across the Potomac
cor if Congress refuses to grant suct
franchise within twelve months from
the massage of this amended ordinance
the said bond shall be void; then th'
said Spear shall have twelve months
from July 25, 1898, to commence ant
eighteen months from that date to com
Mote Mt least three miles'of the track o
soid railway" The act also authorize
the transfer of the franchise to thu
Rosslyn. Arlington, Alexandria, ant
Mt Vernon r. r. Co.
Mr. Mushhach asked that the ordi
nonce he referred to the committee Oh
streets, which was done.
Mr.. Uhler presented an order for
Guarantee deed to the purchaser of tn
Cooper shop property at the foot Q
Mr. Mushbach ard Mr.. Jnler agree
tbat there was no need of reference
ana the order wos unanimously agree'
w. MIR. Fisher called up the report il
favor of opening Wythe street to Pitt
and moved to add section open
inc Wvthe to ROYAL street. 1t wa