Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-10-23
CITY COUNCIL.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

in the Board of Aldermen last night.
The only business which caused de-
bate was the resolution offered by MIR.
Ballenger in regard to advertising the
DELINQUENT taxlist in both of the city
papers.
When the report of the finance COM
mittee. adverse to the publication of
the delinquent tax list in two papers,
because of the unnecessary expense In.
yolved, was received from the Council
MIR. Ballenger offered the following
resolution
"Whereas, it is important that the
sale of real estate, delinquent for taxes,
should take place at as little cost as pos
sible, therefore be it ordered that the
collector of city taxes shall cause notices
of sucn sale to be published in such one
daily newspaper published in this city
as shall contract to publish the same
according to law at the lowest price,"
Mr.. Sweeney wanted to know
whether there existed law that speci-
fed a contract with any paper in the
city.
Mr.. Burke said that the finance COM
mittee went over the records in the
auditors Office but found no written
contract. They did find, however, that
in 1862, when the Local NeaUS was pub
lished in this city by the same parties
who before and now published the GA
zETTE, a resolution was offered in
Council by Mr.. Robert Bell authorizing
the publishing of the delinquent taxes
in said Local Neaos as per contract. The
committee also found another resolu-
ton which, in 1876, when DR.. Johnson
was Mayor, ordered contract with the
GAZETTE for publishing delinquent
taxes, &c.
Mr.. Ballenger said that he was un-
der the impression that if there was
contract made by one Council that
contract died with that Council, and
that new contract would have to be
made with new Council.
Mr.. Burke said that the members of
the finance committee had visited the
tax collector and that he had shown
them notice that he sent to delin-
quent tax payers. This notice, as a
general thing, was all that was neces-
sary, he thought. The tax collector
said that it brought a large number of
people to his Office to pay their taxes.
He, Mr.. Burke, thought it was useless
to have it published i'll but one paper.
He said Washington and Baltimore
published their delinquent taxes in only
one paper, and that the GAZETTE was a
part of the history and official record
of Alexandria and had been for nearly
hundred years.
Mr.. Sweeney said that it was not
known whether they needed to adver-
tise the delinquent taxes in any paper.
1t depended on the amount collected by
the collector. If he collected two-thirds
of the delinquent taxes neither paper
would be required. The notice that
the tax collector gave was, in his opin-
ion, sufficient. If the Times wanted to
get other printing they should send in
a specified bid. The GAZETTE was the
official record of the city and had been
for years.
Mr.. Ballenger said he was aware of
that fact.
Mr.. Sweeney said that it should be
remembered that the cost of advertis-
ing would fall on the delinquent tax
payers.
Mr.. Burke in speaking of the short
lives of various papers which had been
started in this city said that if the city
printing was given to the Times and
that paper existed for few years and
then discontinued publication Council
would have again to fall back on the
GAZETTE to publish the official pro-
ceedings, and he thought that would
be very awkward position on the part
of Council.
The resolution was finally voted on,
and on motion of Mr.. Burke it was laid
on the table by vote of 5 to 1.
The action of the lower board adj
verse to publishing the delinquent tax
list in two papers was then concur
red in.
When the ordinance to increase the
salaries of the captain, lieutenant and
privates of the police force came up for
consideration,
1 Mr.. Burke moved that it be laid over
until the next meeting, which was
adopted.
It was the impression that the report
of the finance committee concurring in
the recommendation of the Police Com
missioners for an increase of the police
force would be presented, but the re-
port having been voted down by the
lower board it, of course, did not reach
the Aldermen.
The other business transacted will
be found in the official proceedings.
COMMON COUNCIL.
About the only matter which elected
debate in the Common Council was the
report of the finance committee on the
communication of the Police Commits
sioners asking Council to empower
them to elect four additional police
men. The petition of the commission.
ers had been approved by the commit
tee, and Mr.. Uhler, the chairman, in
presenting it said the committee had
had a consultation with the commits
sioners and had deemed it proper to
accede to the request which had been
urgently made, Council could at any
time reduce the force If it thought
proper as had been done on another &C.
casion.
Mr.. McCuen moved the adoption of
the report.
Mr.. Cation said he had for some time
favored an increase in the salary of the
policemen, and if he were confronted
with the issue to increase the force or
increase the pay he would incline to
the latter procedure. Besides, he had
not been convinced that an increase in
the force was necessary. He had, how
ever, at one time thought so, and had
prepared bill looking to that end, but