El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-02-12

| OAdo oo10lOIy w. ~
Star stables. 81 On
| Bills allowed.
| On motion of Mr.. Clifford, for the
taxation committee, the report of the
assessor and collector was approved.
Chairman Stewart submitted the fol
| lowing report:
| THE finance committee to whom
was referred at the regular meeting oi
| the 4th inst, the question of funding
the city's debt, beg leave to report
First. that we do not consider it the
proper thing to do at this time for the
reason that the city has several cases
now in court against delinquent tax
payers, and which will be brought to
trial and decided before long, and if
decided in the city's favor, then in all
probability there will be quite an
amount of delinquent taxes paid to the
city soon thereafter, and If such should
be the case the city would have enough
money to meet its urgent demands, and
1T would not be necessary to fund the
debt as contemplated.
''TherefOre your committee wonders
why bonds should be issued at pres
ent.''
Judge Coldwell said in the way of
comment, that this seemed like count
ing on birds in the bush. The tax
question could not come up in court
before May, and nothing b ad been done
as yet. When the cases did come up
they would be taken up to the appellate
courts, so that it would be eight months
before anything could be expected.
The matter would 10 doubt go to the
court, and there was not
judge on any district bench who could
foresee just how the upper judges would
view the question: and the speaker
could say this without at all rejecting
h< ~f l.
the upper courts had passed on the
natter, it would have to be tried over
again in this district. In the mean
time the city was going from bad to
worse. Under ordinary circumstances
he would oppose funding the indebted
ness, as it tended toward extravaganza:
but under the existing condition of the
city's finance he would favor funding
the Indebtedness. The judge called
special attention to the necessity of the
city's paying the debt it owed to the
schools. He had been informed that
salaries for the last term had not yet
been paid. Our tax conditions are not
good, and the city cannot even now
make good it's general expenses. The
Judge hoped for the best but feared the
worst.
Mr.. Robertsebelieved in funding the
city's Indebtedness principally because
Vi Iue uedNy ulSCouuI dt present On CITY
scrip. Which amounted to about %
per cent on the city's debts. Judge
Coldwell moved that the matter be re-
ferred back to the finance committee to
report plan to compromise and fund
the Indebtedness of the city. AS the
vote was tie, to 4, the mayor cast
the deciding vote, and it was aye. So
the matter was referred back to the
finance committee.
nioo h0
bell Real Estate Co., was read, protest
ing against allowing squatters to take
charge of the streets that had been
donated to the city; referred to the
street and grade committee in conjunc
lion with the city engineer. 1t was
stated that the trouble was mostly on
South Oregon street, Seventh street,
and between the Santa Fe tracks and
jhe river.
Mr.. Stewart offered an ordinance
the ordinance levying taxes
'or 1896. The amendment provides
hat no levy shall be made for the
water works bonds for 1896, but the
failure to make such levy in no way
nvalidates the bonds.
Judge Coldwell suggested the ordi-
nance be carefully studied before being
adopted. 1t looked like safe measure
out he thought it should be first in
Vestigated. The ordinance was finally
aid over for one week.
Authorizing the use of the old hose
or renting wagon while
the new wagon is being painted was
to the fire and water commit
lee with power to act.
Mr.. Stewart said he was opposed to
selling the fire horse Badger" He
rather preferred selling the black
team. The matter was referred to the |
mayor and the chief of the fire depart
nent.
Mayor Campbell was granted leave |
Of abse nee for thirty days,
Adjourned.