The record-union., 1894-02-17

Commissioner.
THE TAX LEVY.
Then came the wrestle with the ques-
ton of tax lew.
City Attorney Brown said he concurred
almost entirely with the communication
OF the Mayor on the subject. The levy
should be made in September for the en-
suing year. TO make it tor the present
nscal year would be clearly inconsistent.
In other places in the charter il says "en-
suing year," and. as the Mayor says, in
order that the city may not have to go
without funds, 1t is necessary that they
should be levied for nine months. The
! state Constitution states that no taxes
levied Tor next year can be used for this
! year, therefore new ordinance should be
passed, levying taxes to support the city
| government for nine months. If the levy
| is made now for SIX months, the board
may have to make a special levy for the
other three months, which will necessi-
| tate two-thirds vote of the people.
Auditor Dung, being requested to give
his opinion. said that six months levy
might possibly do, but it would be much
safer to make a nine months levy, get
plenty OF money and pay off all the debts
now due. In response to question from
Trustee Devine, he said that the city had
been for years receiving money from
licenses and water rates, but would now
suffer more than in the past two years.
The bOndholders had for two years al
lowed the city to use the surplus from
saloon licenses for extending the water
pipes and fixing the pumps. While it
would not collect more money for IL
censes, ETC., than in the past, it will not
get as much by $4,000 in future and not
| have as much money.
! Trustee ToZer could not see why, if the
! taxes were collected in October, they
| could not be used before January lst.
| Trustee Devine said he had the opinion
of competent lawyer who differed from
| the City Attorney on this question.
Trustee Leonard said the Mayor and
! City Attorney had investigated this ques-
ton. He had not much faith in street
opinions. He had one himself, from a
prominent lawyer, that nine months
! levy would not be necessary, but when
| he came TO consult with Auditor Young
he very soon satisfied himself that it
would be necessary, as there was no
money.
Trustee Kent moved that an ordinance
! be adopted levying a tax for nine months,
and it was so ordered.
THE RATE FIXED.
When the levy of the Fire Department
was considered, Chief Guthrie stated that
! il would take $50, 1000 TO run it for nine
months. This city has run with one
! hoOk-and-ladder truck since the fifties.
although he had asked for another time
and again. La the business portion oI
| the city are some four-story buildings
that one truck could not handle in case o1
| fire. There is liable to be disastrous
contlagraton down town, with the only
| truck in the city at another fire up town.
Trustee Devine was utterly opposed to
raising such an amount. There was no
need Of it.
| Trustee Leonard said that if the money
was not needed he did not want it raised
but if it is he should vote for it. With a
fire in big building and some lives lost
the board would never hear the last OF
| their false economy.
In response to request by President
LaWton, Chief Guthrie stated that the in
surance companies paid losses last year
to the amount of $4,000, and the year be-
I fore $4,000. The total losses last year
were about S300,000
Trustee Davis moved that the rate be
! fixed at u cents. but the motion was de-
feated by to 4.
Trustee Wachhorst moved that it be
! fixed at % cents, which was carried
! Davis, Tozer and Devine voting no.
Trustee Devine denounced it as id
outrage, and the President mildly called
| him TO order, saying that his vote had
sufficiently indicated his opinion, and
such language was unnecessary in order
to emphasize it.
Devine also thought the appropriation
| in the police fund could be cut down by
/ doing away with the Chief of Police and
saving his salary. but the board did moi
| concur.
In discussing the sewer tax Auditor
| Young said he should advise a large
raise. The city owes for three months
pumping now, and the company that is
doing the pumping states that ii is losing
about $500 per month, as the water is
not let out through the canal any more
| The city will want enough money to pro-
vide for heavy winter, and not run the
danger of being flooded up to . street. II
has been nice, open winter so far. 1t is
better to pay up as we go and not carry g
debt.
President Lawton said that if the re-
suit OF the special election should be the
defeat of the proposed new sewer, the
city would have to buy new pumping
plant Immediately, at a cost OF seVera
| thousand dollars.
The ordinance was then passed, fixing
the rate levied as follows: General fund
70 cents; sprinkling fund, L cents; street
repair fund, 10 cents; fire department
fund, % cents: high school fund, 3 cents
police fund, Is cents; library fund, 4!
cents; sewer fund, 1t cents; street i'm
! DTOF6iu6uL DOUu 1uDu, CEulS, l6NSt
| bond fund, II cents. Total, 81 10.
MUST HAVE ROOMS.
Auditor Young called attention to the
| fact that the time was at hand when be
must extend the tax roll and if the tax
was not levied by certain time it would
| be void. lie must commence assessing
on March 1st, and if the roll was not ex-
tended by April 1st the city will get nc
money The board must either hire hin
proper room and furnish it, or he mus
throw the responsibility of failure to levy
the tax on their shoulders.
Trustee Bragg said lease had beer
drawn up, but the City Attorney decided
| it not valid.
President Lawton said the board mus
come next Monday prepared to give the
Auditor and Assessor good rooms.
NO MONEY FOR CONCERTS.
The President called attention to tina
part of the Mayors communication rec
! ommending tax to raise money fol
celebrating Fourth of July and Decora
ton Day and for free concerts.
ToZer, Devine and Davis opposed th,
concerts 1t was decided that the genera
fund rate was sufficient to provide fol
Fourth of July and Decoration Day.
THE POLICE ovERHAULED.
Trustee Bragg said he had been in
formed on good authority that some
mem bers of the police force were in thu
habit of telephoning down to the station
to the iailer to have them reported OF
duty, instead of reporting there person
ally according to the rules, which re
ouired that they should report at s A. NJ
and p. NJ.
Trustee Leonard thought the board
should formulate rules for the govern
ment of the police force and enforce then
stringently. 1t should also require th,
Chief to furnish the Mayor and eacE
member of the board with copy of th,
detail each month, so they could keep al
-. =, ,l,o n fl oorS aud 500 if thew artanGa aC