The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-04-21
COUNCIL IN A QUANDARy.
They Have a White Elephant on
Their Hands
In thu Tax Bni-A Called Meeting Last
Night Wrestiod with the iSubject for
AN Hour and Half Another Meet
Ink WIN bs Held Tonight.

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considering tho tax ordinance recently
adopted by the Council, and to correct
any irregularities that may have oc-
curred in the adoption OF the ordinance,
or to modify it in any partic ular that
Council should see proper. Also for
tho purpose OF passing an ordinance or
resolution establishing a voting pre-
cinct in the second ward, and to receive
and act upon report from the commit
tee on public property in regard to the
sale or lease OF the old Rorer Hill prop
erty. Also to receive and act upon any
communications that might come before
the body
The following memb ers answered to
tho roll call: Messrs. Andrews, Boehm,
Clingenpeel, Davies, Dickerson, Dug
gan, Fackenthall, Graves, McClelland,
Moomaw, Pattie, Stevenson, Strickland,
had read the call the president stated
first.
a letter from ]. G. johnson, council
man from the Second ward, WAS read,
rendering his resignation as a member
OF the body. He thanked the president
and mem bers for the uniform courtesy
he had received, and stated as his
reasons for resigning that he had con-
ferred with the city solicitor, and found
1t WAS illegal to hold tbs office OF cou ncil.
man and tho Federal Office he occupies
On motion of Mr.. Patio, tho resigna-
tion was accepted. The president stated
that Mr.. Johnson's successor could not
be elected as it WAS not stated in the
call.
The tax bill then came up for action
Tho city solicitor explained az the
reason why it should be TO enacted was
tbs st IL could not BIZ passed without
having received IL votes, and as Mr.
Johnson and Mr.. Fackentball, who has
moved from the Third to tho First ward,
voted In the all mhtive and tho bill re-
ceived 10 votes, the vote Of Mr.. FAcken-
thall made ii in his opinion legal, but
that parties on whom the bill imposed
license taxes might take advantage OF
tho question having been raised and re-
fuse 10 pay their taxes, thus throwing
the matter into the courts, and causing
litigation. which might extend for an
indefinite time, and cause the city con-
siderable trouble and expense.
MIR. Dickerson moved to reconsider
the passage Of the bill. which motion
was lost by the following vote
Ayes-Dickerson, Drggan. Graves,
McClelland, Pattie. Stevenson Strick-
land, Terry and Buckner-9
Noes-Andrews Boehm, Clingenpeel,
Davies and Moomaw-5
1t requires q two-thirds vote to re-
consider.
MIR. Fackenthal asked to be passed, as
he thought it would not be proper for
him to vote. At the same time he hoped
Council would reconsider and pass the
tax bill in q way to place it beyond the
possibility of causing litigation.
Mr.. Terry offered resolution that
the room in the addition to tho court
house formerly used as tho office of the
clerk Of Council be made the polling
place OF the Second ward. This was
unanimously adopted.
Mr.. Pattie made q report from the
committee on public property, which
contained an offer from G G. Taliaferro,
agent, for the purchase Of the old Rorer
Hall property for 5000 one-third cash
and the residue in two equal annual
instruments.
On motion of Mr.. McCelland, Council
unanimously declined to accept the
offer. The report contained resolution
empowering the committee to rent the
property for use as a carpenter shop,
the tenant to yaca;e at any time after
thirty days notice, for Sa.33 per month,
which was after some discussion
adopted.
Mr.. Fackenthall made personal ex-
PLANTATION to the effect that when he re-
moved from the Third to the First ward
he thought he was no longer membe
OF Council, but was told by different
members and the city solicitor that his
removal did not ffec5 tho legality OF
his holding the Office. He was anxious
to resign but held that if his removal
vacsted his seat, he WAS no longer a
Councilman and could not resign, but it
did not vacate his seat, he was o nom.
ber aud the tax bill was valid.
Mr.. Andrews explained his negative
vote. He believed after the bill had
been sent to the mayor il had passed
entirely out of the hands of Council and
no action could be taken on 1t by that
body until the mayor had signifed
either his approval or dlSapproval.
Mayor Trout, who was present, OK
planned why he had not signed the bill,
which was because the question as to
the legality OF its passage had arisen
and he thought Council would recon.
slider and pass it. He then returned
the bill with his veto attached. No
further action could be taken on the
bill as the all only provided its recon
sideration and modification.
A motion made by Mr.. Pattie to ad-
J )urn was lost, as there was some COM
munlcations on the clerks desk that
mem ers were anxious to have disposed
OF
IT, was then found that in the call the
subject OF considering commune atoms
had afterwaid been inserted with pen
Gil and had not been seen by all the
m Z bers, and no legal action could be
taken on anything under that head.
This Will mako the acceptance OF Mr.