Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-06-29
CITY COUNCIL.

| Council were devoid OF special interest
and attracted but few outsiders to the
chamber of either board. There SEEM
ed to be q desire on the part of the
members to expedite business and es-
cape the heat and glare of the gas jets.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
The board was called to order at
twenty-five minutes past eight o'clock
with five members present.
Mr.. Hinken, from the committee on
light, presented the annual statement
of the operation of the light
department for the year end
ing May 81, 1898, together with
summary of the operations of that de-
partment since 1864. He moved that
the Common Council be asked to have
Joint session in order to hear Mr.. Jas.
Bayne, who has recently been en-
ployed in arranging the books of the
gas office, read and explain the same.
This motion was adopted.
The reports of the Auditor and City
Treasurer for the past year were re-
ceived from the Common Council and
their action concurred in, and the same
disposition was made of some routine
business which also came in from the
other board, after which the Aldermen
proceeded to the chamber of the Com
mon Council.
Upon their return some other minor
business from the Common Council was
received and their action concurred in.
None of the business presented
caused debate and the board at 9:45 adj
journed.
COMMON COUNCIL.
While the lightning flashed and the
thunder rolled the Common Council
met last night.
The finance committee by Mr.. Uhler,
its chairman, submitted the annual re-
port, which will be published in the
Gazette. Mr.. Unler, in submitting the
following summary of the finances,
urged that as the appropriations for
the present year exceeded the estimat
ed receipts Ivy $4,000 the utmost care
should be taken to make no unneces-
sary expenditures. He hoped that in
this way an advance could be made to-
ward the time when the city tax could
be reduced. Mr.. Uhler's statement was
as follows: An examination of the
Auditors statement of the re-
ceipts and expenditures for the fiscal
year ending May 81, 1897, shows bal
ance to the credit of the general fund of
81, 209.35. The statement presented to-
eight gives a balance of S2,953.44, or
S744 09 in excess OF 1897. | have ex-
.mined statement published in the
Gazette, made by myself, in presenting
the appropriation bill for 1928, in
which said the city's expenses would
be, from the estimates presented, about
$1l 600 more than the receipts, the re-
ceipts as given in the estimate being
Sl02, 700. and the Expenditures as stated
in the appropriation bill S1l3.650. The
statement presented tonight gives
As receipts from all sources during the
year exclusive of balance S2,20935)
the sum of 1928, 1885. While it is i'm
possible at times to approximate re-
ceipts even to within thousands of dol
lars, yet the sources from which the es-
Inmates are made and receipts expected
it is surprisingly close as will be shown.
estimated from taxes $50, 342. received
SS6,037.54; Mayors fines estimated
1000, received S1,9S0.05; licenses es.
timated 900, received $10,7S235;
night soil contract $500, received
1920 &c; fish wharf estimated $500, re-
ceived $40; electric light $725, re-
ceived $712.50; dog licenses estimated
5000, received $727.50; notes payable to
City Council Sl,96G, received 81 1852 40.
To recapiulate, STOP, 1888 estimated and
SOB, 05260 received, a difference Of
1919 60; receipts from temporary loan,
S14 500; direct tax, So 0SS; sewers, $500;
building permits, surveys, &C., $3.50,
and the much looked for, hoped for and
long deferred $4,000, from gas fund
closes the gap between the $l2S, l5S
given in receipts and tine Sl02,7 200 esti-
mated. That money can be expended
much easier than collected is fact as
patent to one person as another. The
appropriation bill 1S97-9S carried sums
aggregating S113, $50, the expenditures
during the year as shown in statement
amount to 1927 IA 26, additional appro-
priations were, as is well known to the |
members of council, frequently made,
most of them, however, being in no |
great amounts. The amounts provided |
for in the appropriation bill and the |
amounts expended in excess are, poor, |
5000; fire department, $3.50; law ex-
penses, $3.50; streets and street work,
S. 600; registered stock, 1S59-54-59,
81, ITS; new building Hydrauliou Engne
Co., 81 $50; courts, 5000, OF course fixed |
charges, such as salaries, police force,
public schools, Alexandria Infrmary,
interest on public debt, &C., are as ap.
propriated. One charge, the chain
gang, which for years has been on the
increase and has required additional
appropriations each year, this year
has greatly decreased, an sppropria'
lion of 81 200 was made and 81 ,063 ex-
pended. During the fiscal year ending
May 81, 1897, $1,7S1.25 was used. The
average monthly payments for board
of chain gang prisoners, year ending
May 81, 1897, was $l43 per month;
during last year for similar purposes,
500 per month. The fines collected
during these TWO years were almost
the same, average Sill and Sl72 per
month respectively. Members of
Council well know that the year just
begun does not hold out the prospect
that il will be a very prosperous one,
and as the appropriations exceed the
estimated receipts by more than 81 900
we should be as frugal as possible.
JOINT MEETING.
At the request of the Aldermen a