The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-10-05
CITY COUNCIL MEETING

The City Council met in regular session
90 Wednesday evening With all members
present except Alderman Carson.
Argus,ent was heard 10 ,he cases Of tbe
city vs.. R. NJ Wallace and the city rs. W..
r. B. Hsynswortb, bank presidents, on sp'
peal from the assessments made upon their
occupat on az bank presidents by Mayor Bos.
sard in the sum OF $75 each.
Col Wallace was represented by K. u.
Lee. Esq who conteuded that Col Wallace,
beiog president Of National Bank was not
eubjec. to taxatioo ss such by the citr, but
chat be would waive his legal rights for the
present aod would consent to pay reasooa-
bic tax
Maj Haynsworta represented hinself BE
objected TO the tax imposed on the ground
that it was excessive and oct Of proportion
10 the ia, imposed on other occupations
% motion of Mr.. Purdy the tax was fixed
at per ceot of the salaries received by the
oank presidents. The tax of Col. Wallace
was accordingly i4ed al $l3 so and that of
Maj Haynsworth at Sl0 This was agreed
TO oy both parties and the cases we.e settled
accordingly,
Mr. G Phelps was before the council by
request to explain why the rate of insurance
on the City Hall is 80 high. He explained
the matter aud made suggestions 10 sefereoce
60 putting in automatic sp,inkIera, casks and
buckets to 6ght Are in the Opera House to the
end that reduction Of the rate may be se.
cured. No acton was taken and the matter
was deferred 10 the oext meeting.
The Fiaance Con mittee made toe following
report in reference to the tax ley for the en-
sung year:
SUMTER, s. C, Sept 2s, 1898.
To City Council -
Gentlemen: Your Committee on Finance
submit herewith statement of valuation OF
property of the present gear, together with
taxes st 10 mills on the dollar to be realized
tberefsom, also income probably to be de.
rived from other sources. In comparison
with this we append list of fixed expenses
for the present year, which must certainly be
met, except, perhaps, the contingent liability
to the s 4 w. r. r. This shows at least IN
apparent deficit Of $!,e56 In view Of this
state OF affairs We cannot hesitate 10 recon-
mend a levy of 10 mills for city expenses.
Particularly is this necessary since there is a
shrinkags of Sl00 900 io valuation of prop.
erty as can be seen by comparing tax book oI
1891 aud 1898 10 order to provide against
probable deficit of more than ST., 1856 it will
be further necessary to adopt. and we recon-
mend the adoption of licease ordinance on
such business or occupation as require police
regulation aud supervision. In our state
ment we have calculated an income of So, 000
from street Communication tax based upon q
per capita levy of $500, which We consider
necessary and ist, as 1t places the barden to
limited extent upon non-property owners,
who eojoy advantages Of citizenship, sod are
subjected to little of its duties aod burdens,
We have considered this matter seriously as
,,s importance demands; but with an extra.
ordinary expense of more than $4,000 occa.
sioped by the epidemic OF smallpox, through
which we have 80 recently passed. tie debts
due for fire hose and drain piping, the shrink
age Of values, all combine TO the adoption ol
these suggestions % inevitabie
We bsvs found it necessary to make levy
of Il mills for interest 90 city bonds. The
former levy OF : mills for SCHOOL bonds will
be suf6cieut. Therefore the total levy for 10.
| terest on bonds will amount t, two mills
Income o. city, Sle,434 90; expeusee,
S2l, lao; apparent deficit, ,e56.
Respectfully submitted,
r. " Hrpar