Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-02-03
COMMITTED AT WORK
Amendments to the Charter
Agreed Upon.
TO INCREASE REVENUE
Plan by Which 1t is Proposed to Collect
100000 More in Taxes Changes
ia the Board OF Com
missiOners

meeting. and tihuSe present were Colnn-
c.lmen w. &. Willce J. +. Hughes c.
r. Via, Commemorative Attorney j.
X. NJ. Newton. Commissioner of t,hc
Revenue MaSruder B. Jones and Mr.. A.
y. Moss.
A batch of amendments that had
been submitted TO 1.-THE council We're
.akels up and considered
Chairman BuNto'n Stated that a re-
as. eslSlnent was needed. and he thou ghi
the committee should take some. action
IN reference to THE matter. He then
REQUESTED the commissioner of revenue.
to produce his land books SO that the
comnL'>tee might go over them. The
books We're closely examined and
among the facts brought out Was that
valuable lots in the city We're assessed
by i'ht- acre, and mot by the lot, uhe as
Sc =s!ntnt having been made before the
city was Incorporated. 1t was also
shown THAT ~'nany lots We're assessed
far below their actual value. AS an
'.ii:a,ar,ce it wlas pointed ou.t that u Ger
ain III. Cm Washing cn avenue was
valued AT 1000, and it lis known shat
lie owner recently refused an offer of
ST. 600 for 1T. After discussing the mat
ter ait length 1.-THE cGmmitltee agreed to
recommend the following amendment
to THE Charter:
Il. Whereas the city of Newport
News was a part of the county of War
wick at 'the regular general 4saseStsmanl
vi itilfi%S. dlltl "I!Cfelss the C.lN mas IlDt
had an assessment since its in<Clpp-
:nt.ar as a city: therefore be it enacted
;h,it tine said xljty shah 'have power TO
l. ,seS,s Ill lands i'm her borders. and
Said assessment Ito hold good until the
l+Nt regular general assessment as
provided for by the statutes ...
-. All lands located Tn the city of
Newport News, Virginia. where streets
me cut through shall be assessed as
city fbt:s, as shown on map of said city
made by city engineer and filed with
She city clerk, and where lands are 10
lated wi:thin the clty limits, wac ;'htr
streets are cut through Ut not. such
lands SHALL be assessed according to
the size Of the other hes ,.Ls shown on
s'he city map, after allowing for the
continuation of streets NOW adjoining
au,JI laIIsl,s z
%. There shall be itinr'Fe aSases:st4rs APP
pointed by the judge of the Corpora
'tit2n Court as soon as possible after THE
passage of tlfis act who, if a.ecep;a bic
10 the council. shall be confirmed by
Ehs'm. They shall commence and as
Sess AL lands as provided for in this
aC,, and have same completed for THE
lax years lS9S-1S99. Said assessors
s.IaE be paid by the city and shall re-
cc.ve the same rate of compensation
as is allowed by the State
TT is estimated that if the General
Assembly enactS THE foregoing the
;N.yis revenue Will be Increased to the
extent of at least $4,000 a year, and
his is quite an item.
The amendment first provided that
the mayor should have THE power to
Ippo:r!, SHE slsisessors but it was ar
Sued that in the coming nraypIulty
contest an eff:trt would be made to
control THE appoin;msnt of The apprias-
trs. and nGr ;hat reason the appoint
ing power was delegated TO THE judge
If the Ccrporativm Court, though the
must be, confirmed DE
.iiIt. council.
POLICE COMMISSIONERS.
The next amendment considered was
the one providing fU:, new regulations
for the police department.. Under the
p,'estr: law 1T seems thsrt the City has
NO conllo! over THE police department.
except 20 fix SALARIES. No .nyestisra-
lions INTO the affairs of 'lhe department
an be held and no ~me, 1t seems, can
De held accountable. Ito the ca;y for THE
acts If ire present board of police
cImmf s!oners:: Various plans We're
sugges ted. and the following amend
mont was finally adopted:
"A b.li to amend and re-enict Sec
L'Cn G2. chapter a. of the charter Of
The city Of Viewpoint News, Virginia.
acts of Assembly of 1856. by s.rkn
out down 10 ard including the words:
Their successors f"r terms of three
Years eaIIa.' ana substituting THE fol-
lowing.
The police department. of the city of
Newport News shall be under tbs. gem
eral control and mama cement of 6he
BGGrd of Police Commissioners. who
j:.all consist OF three dlscreet crtlzens.
quaHIiled voters, wv" Oh "AGin Silsiri pe
appointed by the mayor and confirmed
by 'th'e council as soon as may be after
me paSs'se HH tnle. act, WAC siiall, VIII
ne mayor as e'lS " tonS'p'' e.te ut'e
hcii" 81 f".!os Winnings s toi!siA Aoi uiie
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two ve,a,s' beginning AUGUST / 1885,
II was IN nv. ,slrsgesl;%nn of Com