The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-23
TAX RATE NOT TO BE RAISED.
WILL NE ALLOWED TO REMAIN AT
S1.45 PER 500.

No Tax TO He Imposed Upon Bicycles.
Cuts Made in All the Approprin-
lions to the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
and Fire Cut $4,000 Each
and Water Department ST.
OOO-Par< and Tree Commission
Must Pay old BiIIs-Its Approprin-
ton Not ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Companies Must Pay Tax on Dual
ACCOMPLISHMENTS Can Come in
Now at $3.50 a Day.
The tax rate will remain at S145 per 500
and will not be increased to $50 as was
proposed recently.
The special tax will not be imposed up
on bicycles. The fire department is cut to
$4,000, the police department 10 $4,000 and
the water department to $4,000 a reduc-
ton of 5000 each in the first two, and of
5000 for the last. The park and tree com
mission is to get 1880, the same as for
the present year.
The committee Of the whole of council
met last night and practically completed
the budget and tax ordinance for 1898. The
foregoing are the principal changes.
About the most important change in the
tax ordinance is that imposing a tax upon
dual insurance agencies Every insurance
company having two or more agencies win
have TO pay the insurance tax Of $500 for
each agency. There was some discussion
of the question Of imposing a tax upon
insurance agents also. As the law stands
at present the insurance agents pay no
tax for doing business in the city. the tax
being paid by the companies which they
represent. No action was taken on the
question however
The tax on circuses was reduc-
ed from $50 TO $3.50 a day.
The aldermen hope to see a circus here
soon. The tax on money loan offices was
increased from $3.50 TO $3.50 As for The rest
the tax ordinance remains practically the
same as last year.
The council was in session until after
midnight When the meeting adjourned
IL was understood that the budget and tax
ordinance had been practically settled
upon, though the figures are tentative an
still subject TO change.
The budget foots up about the same as
though all the commissions are reduced
slightly. The police commission is reduced
from $4,000 to $4,000 with separate ap-
preparation of 50 900 for uniforms The sum
of $4,000 is allowed for the Improvement
of the station house, to be expended under
-
The fire commission is reduced from
$4,000 to $4,000, but separate appropria-
ton of $3.50 will be allowed for the de,
ferred annual payment on the new engine
house
The water commission Is cut from $50
900 to $4,000. The commission was cut
last year. The department was formerly
allowed $4,000 per annum.
The commission gets coo for new wa
ter mains, the amount asked for being
$4,000
The park and tree commission gets only
Sl3,500 the same as for this year but the
commission will have TO pay out of this
amount bills amounting to $l.S1O, which
had accumulated against it at the time
1t went into bankruptcy and which are
still unpaid. This will leave the commits
sion just about enough for the regular
maintenance of the parks and squares
without allowing much for new improve
ments
The departments under the commission
er of public works fare fairly Well though
some reductions are made. Streets and
lanes get $4,000 the amount asked for be-
ing $4,000. The scavenger department gets
$4,000 the same as this year. The O. E.
NJ. department gets $3.50. An appropra-
ton of $4,000 more viii be made for. clean
ing out privy vaults if this work be rem
dered necessary by the progress of the
house drainage system.
Inc cfematory gets $6,S40 For paving
streets $4,000 is allowed. This is to cover
the cost to the city of paving Drayton and
Bull streets and some other minor i'm
provements.
Other departments Jared in like manner
The board of health received $4,000 and
the city dispensary $1,000, both the same
as this year The quarantine station
received only $4,000, no allowance being
made for extending the wharves there
The incidental account was cut down
from $500 to $1,000, The rest of the bud
get is practically the same as for this year