Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-10-25
BOARD OF ALDERMEN

! BOARD OF ALDERMEN
After the Aldermen had been called
TO order (at ten minutes to S o'clock
Mr.. Burke called up the resolution
for the sale Of property upon which Ger,
tain taxes were due. He said it was
the same resolution that formerly passed
Council every year. 1t had been agreed
by the finance committee and the tax
collectors that such sales were benef,
cial, as they cleared the books OF
bills that otherwise might remain on
them for years.
Mr.. Carlin asked how often these
sales were made
Mr. Burke replied that for about five
years they had been made annually.
Mr. Carlin thought these sales should
be made under the supervision of the
Corporation Attorney instead of the
Auditor, so that everything could be
conducted legally.
Mr.. Burke thought it best to allow
The sales to be made as formerly-uuder
the supervision of the Auditor that
the custom had prevailed ever since ne
had been a member of the finance COM
mittee, and he saw no good reason for
change at this time, everything
having passed off satisfactorily hereto
fore.
The clerk read the resolution again
which provides that the sale shall be of
property upon which taxes were due
June l, 1898, and which had been re-
turned delinquent-the sale to take
place on Tuesday, November q, 1898.
Mr.. Carlin again argued that the
slles should be made under the diret-
ton of the Corporation Attorney, allee-
ing that such step was necessary in
order that legal titles could be convey
ed. When one piece Of property was
transferred legal proceedings were ne
cessary, and surely should be when
$4,000 worth had to be sold. These
figures, however, are erroneous as the
Auditors books show that the total
amount of unpaid city tax bills for
which sale of the delinquent property
is to take place aggregates only about
s., 300.
Mr.. Hinken referred to the manner
in which these sales had formerly been
made, and agreed with Mr.. Burke that
there was no need of new departure
from the established rule.
Mr. Carlin again gave his reasons for
the proposed change from his stand
point. If the property were bou5 ht by
the city the taxes on it must in the ma
ture of the case cease, as the corpora
ton couldn't tax its own property. He
saw nothing that would be gained by
the sale, especially at this time, any
way.
Mr.. Burke said many people when
they saw their property advertised
came forward and paid their bills. 1t
was no benefit to most people to allow
their taxes TO accumulate, and the
sooner thep were paid the better it
would be for both them and the city.
Mr.. Sweeney said this resolution was
a yearly thing. He had been member
of Council for some years and this reso-
luton had been passed yearly and had
heretofore proved satisfactory. Should
search be made ofthe records of the
clerks Office it would be seen that but
few sales were made of property delin-
quent for taxes to outside parties-the
city generally bought it, aud the prop
erly was almost invariably redeemed.
So far as the legality of the sale was
concerned, it would be impossible for
the holders of such property to trans
fer the same without the city getting
the taxes due. He saw no reason for a
departure from the old custom.
Mr.. Carlin moved that Auditor"
be strckel from the resolution and
Corporation Attorney" inserted, but
finally withdrew the motion. Another
objection urged however, by the
speaker against the adoption of the res
olution was the depression of the times.
A large percentage of the bills were
due by the working classes. Many of
them had no money with which to pay
their taxes. 1t would be hard to expose
their homes for sale at the beginning of
winter. He moved that the sale be
postponed until the 23d of January.
Mr.. Hinken saw no reason why peo-
pie would be better able to pay iii Janua-
ry than in November. These taxes, he
said, had accumulated during good
times. Many of the bills held by the
collectors were against people who
could pay. The poorer classes general
IL paid in July and saved the 0per
cent. discount. He bad no inclination
to press the poor, and did not believe
the resolution would do them any in
jury.
Mr.. Leadbeater said taxes were a
burden at all times, and he believed in
the city forcing delinquents to settle.
Some people to his certain knowledge
let taxes accumulate unnecessarily, He
hoped the resolution would pass.
Mr.. Carlin did not want to be mis-
understood. He wanted to be lenient
to all, but repeated that many working
people were out of employment and
should they be sold out it would put an
additional burden upon the householder
III the way of expenses of sale. Give
such people time; they would get en-
ployment sooner or later and then
would settle their obligations with the
city. If he was voted down in the
board it would be on record that he
spoke and voted against the resolution.
MIR. Burke said the finance commit
tee had calmly considered this matter,
and had done so for years. Did Mr..
Carlin profess to know more than they
did in regard to the subject?
Mr.. Carlin replied that he did not
profess to know any more about the
matter than the committee, but be-