The record-union., 1899-09-03

Mr.. Devlin asked that 1t be placeu
upon the minutes that the board Will
improve the Twenty eighth street plaza
from the general fund
Kent called attention to the fact that
the law says the tax must be levied on
or before the first Monday in Septem-
Der and an adjournment till Tuesday
might invalidate the levy.
Mr.. Devlin said it was a question
among lawyers as to whether or not
Monday was a legal holiday for State
purposes. He knew the Supreme Court
would set on Monday
Corporation Counsel Devine advised
the Board not to delay fixing the levy.
DeVine favored the motion of Doug
las. Mckay said every man in his
ward wanted the taxes reduced to S1.23
if possible.
Tebbets said the Water Works is the
goose that lays the golden egg-the only
profitable part of the city government.
The people are beggins for more water
and the Water Works are handicapped
by poor machinery. 1t is necessary to
raise $4,000 for new machinery and
the people will hold responsible those
who vote against granting it, if a con-
flagration occurs
Kent said the charter prohibits the
purchase of anything costing over $780,
600 without submitting the proposition
to the people, Those who wish to re-
tain their seats in the Board must vote
to keep down the tax rate.
Mayor Land said there are more
pumps now in the Water Works than
there are mains to carry the water they
can pump into them. The talk of the
need of pumps is all rot. for the pumps
for the next three years will pump all
the mains can carry. We do not yet
know from what source the city will be
supplied with water If from wells or
the North Fork, no more pumps will
be needed. He had done all he could
during his term of office to reduce the
taxes and he wanted the people to get
the benefit of it. There is no need of
more pumps until we have water
mains. The charter does not allow an
expenditure of $4,000 without the con-
sent of the people.
Tebbets said that was true, but the
Water Works are in bad condition and
the people want water. The Board
should therefore make haste to place
the proposition of pumps and mains be-
fore the people.
Douglas denied that there were three
pumps in condition. The Holly pump
needs $4,000 of repairs and if it breaks
down the city can have very little wat
er. He withdrew his motion
Devine renewed it and Douglas Sec
onded it.
Devine gave a long dissertation on the
bond question and Mayor Land replied;
after half an, hours argument, the wat
er question was returned to and Devine
said that the purchase of a pump was
a matter of emergency and the Board
could act
Chairman Mckay declared the motion
out of order, as it was in contravention
of the charter.
Brown moved that the estimate of
IS cents for the Bond Redemption
Fund be reduced ) cents. thus equaliz-
ing the cents raise for the Sewer
Fund. He believed that it would leave
plenty of money to meet probable calls
for redemption of bonds.
Mayor Land thought it would leave
enough.
Kent thought if the Water Works
petent engineers. it would save the city
Browns motion was carried unani-
mously leaving the levy 13 cents.
lsle General Fund levy was fixed at
81 cents; the Fire Department Fund at
is cents; the Police Department Fund
at II cents; the High School Fund at
8 cents.
Devine moved that the Library Fund
be fixed at cents. but the motion was
lost and it was fixed ate6 cents.
The Sprinkling Fund was fixed at 10
cents, the Sewer Fund at 13 cents, the
Levee Fund at 1 cent. the Bond Re-
demption Fund at 13 cents, the Immi-
grafton Fund at . cents, making the
tax levy S1.30 This is in accordance
with the report of the Board of Esti-
mates, except that the Sewer Fund is
increased D cents and the Bond Re
demptiOn Fund decreased cents.
The necessary ordinances to that eff
feet were passed and the Board ad-
journed.