Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1894-01-30
PROBABLY WONT CONTEND
ASSESSED PROPERTY OWN
ERs SEEM sATISFIED.
Committee Of Ten Reports slow
Progress Iu Collecting Funds
For The suit, ana The Mayor
EXPLAINS The Situation.

Last evening was not so balmy
and pleasant as an evening in June and
this fact might have operated to keep
some property owners away from the
meeting called to hear the report of the
Committee of Ten in the court house.
There were about dozen property own.
ers present, nearly all of then from
South Main street. Only two of the
committee. Chairman John II. Nc
Dowell and Treasurer W. 7. Penniman,
were in attendance.
Chairman Mcdowell called the meet.
ing to order and Mr.. Penniman made a
statement Tor the committee. He thought
thats considering the action of the Board
of Aldermen Saturday. in granting an
extenss1n ofSime for the payment of the
first iustailment OF the assessments, it
was probable not many property owners
would want to 60 into the proposed
injunction suit, preferring to compro.
mise on the terms suggested in the Blair
& Co proposition which he read from
The CITIZEN.
Mayor Patton was asked for his views
on the subject. and said that whether
the people approve or dlsapprove what
had been done iu the past. it was all i'm
portant that the expenditures of the city
be cut down to only what is absolutely
nee, ssarv, and for that reason he urged
the people not to go into lawsuit. lie
did not mean for them to give up their
rights, but believed their rights could be
sustained as easily in the Board as in the
Supreme court. Concerning the item of
damages charged as part of the assess
ments he believed the courts would de.
eide against the city, and he would ad.
wise the Board to strike out the damage
item. As to culverts, however, the act
distinctly fixes that item as part of the
street cost. The people all knew it was
NOT the speakers law, but it had b en-
adopted by majority ot the voters and
now that i! was lawit must be carried
out. The question now was. Would the
people rather pay their assessments or
take ad vantage of the extension of time
AS to the provision tor the DESTROYING OF
the unsold bonds he heartily concurred
in it. Whether the next administration
would do so, or would extend the time,
he OF course could not say. But il it did
not. the boz" dhoders were released from
their proposition.
In closing the Mayor said; If there
are errors in your assessment come be-
tore the Board with your proof and
feel sure they will be corrected. l will
give you every assistance in looking over
the books for errors. For the sake OF
the citv, for the sake of avoiding litiga.
ton would be glad to have the prop
erty owners come to this decision and
meet the city half way"
In the general discussion which fol
lowed Treasurer Penniman remarked
that he had about 500 that had been
raised to start the suit and il another
committee were not elected "the thing
was dead" The committee would not
get into any bigger hole. He thought
the reason FOR the small attendance was
thai nearly 'verybo had made up
his mind to pay the per cent. This
committee" said Mr.. Penniman refer
ring to himself, lis quit"
The meeting then adjourned without
taking any action.