The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-02
TAXES RAISED.
Aldermen Stood Five to
Five on Question.
The Deciding Vote Was Cast
by Mayor McGuinnesS.
He FlOpped at the End and Voted for
the Higher Tax Rate.
Our Price.

A tie vote on the tax ordinance was
broken at last nights session Of the
Board of Aldermen by Mayor McGuin-
ness. His deciding vote was in the
affirmative and that put an end TO the
dead lock bewteen the two branches of
the Council, and the tax rate for 1897 will
be s1.65 on the 800.
The special session last night was called
to receive the report of the conference
committee, which was as follows:
To the Honorable the Board E Alder
men--The committee of conference up
ointed by the Poard OF Aldermen on
May %, 1896, upon the proposed amend
ment TO the ordinance providing for the
assessment and collection Of tax upon
the real aud pers onal estate IN the city
OF Providence, respectfully beg leave TO
report: That the tax ordinance, go
called, was passed by the Common Coun-
ell, May 4, 1896, upon the recommended
tion of the committee OF finance and
fixed the rate OF taxation at $500 on
eachslO00. The Board of Aldermen on
May 81, concurred in the passage of said
ordinance with an amendment thereto,
fixing the rate of taxation at Sl6 per
Slo00. The Common Council on May rs,
insisted upon the passage OF said ordin-
ance without an amendment, ana on
May 2S the Board OF Aldermen adhered
to its amendment to said ordinance and
requested tho appointment OF commit
tee of conference and appointed Alder
men Nichols, Winsor and Mccarthy on
its part. The Common Council on May
30 insisted upon the passage OF said
ordinance without an amendment, but
agreed to the appointment OF commit
tee of conference, and appointed Messrs.
Phillips, Sturgess and Sisson conferees
on its part.
The committee thus appointed held a
meeting on June I, at which His Honor
the Mayor and the city auditor were
present. The financial situation OF the
city was carefully examined and it was
the judgement OF majority OF this COM
mittee and the unanimous sentiment of
the conference committee OF the Common
Council that the best interests of the
municipality absolutely required that the
rate of taxation should be fixed at the
sum of s16.E0 on each $1,000 for the cur
rent year, in order that the city may meet
its obligations, maintain its credit and
enable its efficient departments, like tho
public schools, the police and fire depart
ments, 10 be maintained without re-
duction of their forces or curtailment
of the school term. borrowing money to
pay current expenses is fatal Policy
alike for a business man or a corporation,
vet that is the condition that confronts
the Board of Aldermen unless the rate OF
taxation is advanced.
An adjustment OF the differences be.
tween the two branches of the City Coun-
ell having been arrived at as result OF
the meeting cf the conference committee,
a majority OF the committee on the part
of the Board rtconmead that the Board
OF Aldermen recede from it's amendment
TO said ordinance fixing the rate OF taxa
tion at ZIG on each $1,000; and that the
Board of Aldermen concur with the Com
mon Council in the passage of said ordi.
nance without amendment, thus making
the tax rate Sl6.50 per $1,000
This was not an unanimous report,
Aldefmsn Mccarthy declining to sigu Il.
Alder winsor, who previously had
voted against the raise, experienced