The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-17
CITY GOVERNMENT.

OmciRI Proceedings of Council.
Savannah, Ga. March 16. 1S99-Councn
met this day at 4:3O p. m. pursuant TO the
call Of the Mayor. Present, the Hon. Her
man Myers, Mayor, presiding. Alderman
j. p. Williams. vice-ehairman of Council,
and Aldermen Haas, Dixon, Bacon, Thorn
as, Wells, Schwarz and Doyle.
ORDINANCES.
The following ordinance on it's first read
Ing was referred to the committee of the
whole:
BY Alderman Thomas
An ordinance to create a board of tax
assessors for the city of Savannah, and
TO provide for their powers and duties,
Section /. Be it ordained by the Mayor
and aldermen of the city Of Savannah, in
Council assembled. that at the next regu-
lar meeting of Council there shall be elect
ed three 90 freeholders, residing In the
city of Savannah, as tax assessors for the
city of Savannah who shall value and
assess all the property within said city
liable for taxation as hereinafter stated
and who shall begin 20 discharge their du-
ties as said board on the first day of April
1899
NJ AAiN Ndth regular HlSttitiEs lIit 0OuHtU
OF the city of Savannah shall elect one of
the three assessors as the chairman and
ex-officio clerk of the said board who
shall be paid a salary a the rate Of eigh-
teen hundred q 5000 dollars per annum in
monthly installments and the said chair
man and ex-officio clerk ,and the two as
ISOLATE assessors shall hold their Office I'M
I'll the next regular election for other
city officers, and shall be thereafter elect
ed bennialy.
Sec. 2. BE II further ordained, That, In
order 10 qualify. the said assessors shall
take and subscribe before the Mayor of
the city of Savannah an oath of office to
the effect that he will well and truly per-
form all Of the duties appertaning to his
office, as prescribed by law, which oath
shall be filed in the office of the clerk of
Council, and the chairman of said board
shall give a bond in the penal sum of
three thousand 5000 dollars, and his two
associate assessors shall each give bond
in the sum of two thousand 1000 dol
lars payable to the Mayor and aldermen
of the city of Savannah. conditioned for
the faithful performance and dis
charge of all his duties as said
tax assessor and IN addition TO this, the
bond of the chairman and ex-officio clerk
shall be conditioned for the faithful per-
formance and discharge of all of HIS
duties, not only as tax assessor, but also
as the chairman and clerk.
Sec. g. Be ii further ordained, That the
said two associate assessors shall receive
as compensation the sum of dollars
per annum, payable in equal monthly in
stalments out of the treasury of the city
of Savannah.
Sec A. Be 1t further ordained, That the
said tax assessors shall have an office in
the city exchange, and It shall be the
duty of the chairman and ex-officio clerk
TO be at the said office every day, Sundays
and holidays excepted, from a. mr. to
p. m. and from p. m. to p. m except
when his absence from the said Office may
be required by his official duties.
IL shall be the duty OF the said two as
sociate assessors to be at the said office.
or in the discharge of their official duties,
five 90 hours a day. Sundays and holidays
excepted during the months of November,
December, January and February, and to
give such other time to the discharge of
their duties as they may be called upon to
give by the said chairman.
Sec. s. Be II further ordained, That the
clerk of the said board shall keep a cor
rect record Of the proceedings OF the said
board. which shall always be subject TO
the inspection of the Mayor or any alder
man of the city, and shall perform such
other duties as may hereafter be imposed
upon him by ordinance or by the lawful
rules and regulations of said board.
Sec. 6. Be it further ordained, That
ID shall be the duty Of the said assessors
to value and assess all real estate and
improvements within the city of Savan-
nah liable for taxation, and also all per-
sonal property liable for taxation, but said
personal property shall be returned to the
said assessor as hereinafter required by
the owners thereof, under oath, and after
the said return. the said assessors may
accept the same or may increase the same
as hereinafter stated.
In cases of failure 10 return personal
property for taxation, or of failure 10
make a true return, or of attempt at fraud
in returning the same, the said assessors
shall assess the value Of said personal
property for taxation, and shall have pow
er In this connection to subpoena before
them persons making returns for taxation
and 20 cause them to produce before them
for inspection their books, policies of IN
surance and other papers, TO subpoena and
examine witnesses and TO take all other
steps necessary in the Judgment of tho
said assessors in the premises in order 10
obtain true and correct returns.
(a) They shall require all returns OF
uersonal property subject TO taxation and
held or owned on the first day of January
of each year TO be made before them at
their Office upon such form as they may
prescribe or approve by the
10Th day of January of each
wear. and the following oath
or affirmation shall be administered TO
each and every person making returns
for taxation of personal property, to wit.
You do solemnly swear (or affirm that
the returns which you are about 10 make
shall be a just and true statement Of all