The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-22
CITY FATHERS
INCREASE TAXES
Under Authority GlFen by Birmingham
Amendment.
PARKER CHOSEN ALDERMAN
Defeated Lazarus by a Secret Vote oil
9 to 0.
FEW CHANGES INLICENSE SCHEDULE
Parkers Effort to Cut Down the Street
Tax Failed-Tax Collector Gam
bills Salary Reduced
About l,4Oo.
FEW CHANGES IN LICENSE SCHEDULE


portant work at Their regular meeting last
night.
In the first place resolution was passed
authorizing the tax collector to collect a
1 per cent. ad valorem tax on all property
In the city, a power given the city under
the constitutional amendment voted for in
the general election last August. In other
words, city taxes next year will be just
double what they were in 1898.
Tom F. Parker was selected by the board
as alderman from the Second ward, to sue
coed t. t. Ashford resigned.
The license schedule for 1899 was reported
and adopted.
A fight to reduce the street tax from So
to 81 was defeated.
Tax Collector Gambflrs salary and COM
missions were reduced about s1.4OO per
annum.
Down to Work
The board met at o'clock and worked for
two hours and half, Aldermen Altman
and Ashford, resigned, being the only men,
bers absent.
Chairman Gray, of the finance committee,
reported the various bills against the city,
and recommended their payment.
Chairman Graham, of the street COM
mittee, had a petition from the people on
Fourth avenue, between Twenty-fourth and
Twenty-sixth streets, asking that those
two blocks be graded and macadamized,
with curbing and pavements put on the
sidewalks. He was instructed to have an
ordinance prepared covering the case.
Alderman Moore had the word east in
serted instead of west in a resolution
passed some time ago, authorizing the
Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham
railroad to construct certain tracks on
Ninth avenue. These words refer to the To-
cation of a switch on Twenty-fourth street
and Ninth avenue, North.
Alderman Kerr moved that the chairman
of the street committee, aldermen of the
Third ward and city attorney meet with the
citizens in the neighborhood of Nineteenth
street and Huntsville avenue to confer with
regard to distractions in street.
The case of refunding David Jennings
poll and street tax was referred to the
mayor.
N. A. richards license petition was con-
CURED in.
Chairman Drennen of the light committee
reported favorably on putting an electric
light at the corner of Fifth avenue ana
Twenty-second street, but unfavorably on
the lights at Eight avenue and Twenty
sixth street, and Eleventh avenue and
Twelfth street. The board, however, laid
the report over until next time
Engineer Kendrick was authorized to
prepare an ordinance for repairing the
storm sewer on Highland avenue, near
Ash street Cost about $500, adjoining
property owners to pay same.
Alderman Harrington spoke on an old
hobby of his-the rolling mill pond
which he said was in most iourishing
condition. The board didn't decide to drain
it, however.
Election of Alderman
The board then went into executive ses-
sion to elect an alderman from the Second
ward Alderman Lynagh nominated Tom
Parker and Alderman RAINBOW nominated
Lew Lazarus. The ballot was a secret one
and resulted 9 to in favor of Parker
Aldermen Lynagh and Rainbow were APP
pointed a committee to invite their new
brother in, but he couldn't be be found.
Changes In License Schedule
When the open session of the board was
resumed, Chairman Moore of the Tniscel-
laneous committee reported the schedule
of business licenses for 1899 Most of them
will remain the same as 1898, the following
being the changes:
Bicycle dealers, reduced from 500 to $50.
Blacksmith shops. $3.50 per forge for all
over two FORCES.
Board houses, reduced from s25 to $10
Buggy and carriage stores and repair
shops, where whole business is less than
81 ,OO0 reduced from $40 to So.
Debenture companies, 800 (new).
Kitson lights, 500 (new)
The licenses on the private infirmarles
were removed because of the great amount
of work which all of them do.
Millinery establishments with one to five
employees, S.; five to ten employees, SIS; over
ten employees $25.
Sign painters who are not regular con-
tractors, $40.
Stock. bond or money brokers, reduced
from 800 to 525.
Long distance telephones, 5000. This does
not apply TO the Walker county long time
line. ITS not worth $780," said Mr.. Gray.
Also 81 tax on each telephone operated
in the city.
Mr.. Graham wanted $25 license on street
sprinklers, but Mayor Evans said it was an
which should be encouraged.
Mr.. Graham withdrew.
The ordinance was placed on its second
and third reading and then passed. 1t will
be published in full in day or two.
Alderman Drennen was the only member
voting against the ordinance, as he said
afterward, because he thought a number
of the licenses were entirely too high.
Next Years Taxes
& Mayor Evans then offered the following
resolution with regard to next years
taxes.
Be 1t Resolved by the Mayor and AL
dermen of Birmingham, That an ad
valorem tax of one-half of per cent IS
hereby levied on all the real and per-
sonal property in the city of Birmng-
ham for the year 1899 for general pur-
poses, and an ad yalorem tax of one
half of per cent Is hereby levied on
said property for the payment of inter-
est on the bonds of said city and for
establishing sinking fund for the pay
ment of said bonds at maturity.
Alderman Drennen said II was serious
thing to- double the city's taxes, and offered
a substitute thai .he resolution be referred
to the iuaieiary committee.
Mr.. Evans said that II the resolution was
NOT passed at once 1t could not take effect