The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1899-05-12
City Council.
Tneeday evening, May 0. 1899.

Police, street superintendent, chief engi
neer and councilman Dannals, Sendere
Richards and Graham. Absent Gal
braith and Pfeiffer.
The following nils were ordered paid
B + Purdom so DO, N J Her ton $l7.00
Cost bills $40.
Bill of Telephone Company for 81 O.
not allowed, but recommended that II
be collected at Seattle.
Further time vas granted committee
Ou investigation OF the accounts OF city
officers.
Petition OF C Dannals foe sidewalk
granted.
Matter of improving south end OF Els
worth street vas dropped.
The report OF the rtreet supeFinten-
dent showed work done from April TO
May 8 on streets amounting TO $l06 so.
The veto message OF the Mayor was
read when the same was unanimously
sustained. All members present voting
yes.
Petition OF q w Grey asked for latter
al sew. between 9Th ard 8th streets TN
Ferry. ReferreI.
R'sisnation of J. +. GaIbrailh from
the lst ward Sas read, giving reasons
Tor tue same, ths main one being the
veto OF the license tax law, enlarging
upon his views upon the subjec. of aka
tion. upon motion the resignation Mas
accepted
Following is the resignation:
hereby most respectfully tender my
resignation, as Councilman from the GTst
ward, in the citv OF albany. Oregon, 10
take effect at once. Under the ciTcum-
sianees. deem il due to myself. 10 give
my reasons Tor taking this action et the
present time.
/ was placed on the ticket at the elect
ION 10 1897 without my consent, or with
out even being consulted on the subject,
and MAS elected without any eolicitat-
ION on ny part. After being elected
accepted the position for the simple rea-
sons. that the office being very thank
less one, bot one that has 10 be filled by
ome oae, ] deemed il to be my duty TO
bear my part OF the burdens Ihus placed
upon the citizens of the city.
have endeayored during the time
have occupied the position to discharge
Tue duties incumbent on me.
The Indebtedness OF the city has been
me csEee o! much concern TO the mem
oers OF the city conneii. aud tas been re
Ieired TO by the Mayor ia all his mes-
,AgAs 70 the council since / hay- been a
member thereof. So much stress was
AID on the subject, that alter the neE
'o1ncii we're sworn in tnis year, the sub
eel Nss discussed informally, and at the 4
irsi meeting in February the matter .
a. referred 10 the committee on ways 4
md means 10 devise some plan OF raising 4
more revenue TO meet the demsnds OF /
he ci v. /
Ai's' duly considering the matter the 1
'ommIs;ee on ways and means tiled q
epcrt on the 18th Of February. recon-.
nending the passage oi . Iicense Law,
: means Tor raising more revenue
his report Was on montion referred 10
be committee on ordinances, With in
tFGcti'Es &c report an ordinance in ac-
oFdAnee With the recommendation OF
be committee on wAys and means.
The committee on ordinances, OF
Ehieh ] Eas chairman. took the matter
ndeF consideration aud after much la
or prepared an ordinances which was
uon liied TO q fGii meeting OF all Ihe
nemoers OF the council. aud The advice
I the Ciiy Attorney sas asked by the
ommistes as TO the po4er OF the council
0 PASS any oruinAooe a. all on the sab
ecI and the particular ordinance that
as prepared by the Committee, 8nd
Thieh was reported 10 the council and
iAssed KAs submitted to him, aud his
piuIon ask d As the Legality OF the came
nd 'he power OF the ciGy authorities 10
nloTce IL, and he gave Il As his unquali-
ed opinion that ze had the right TO
.Ass such an ordinance, and thA. the
ariicllAF ordinance prepared By Us vas
q al respects legal and wAs supported
y ali the legal. or best legal aaihosiiies
hs1 ha had consulted on tie subject.
The co1Beil are all aware Of the s'eps
AIKEN ia the passage O. the ordinance
nd Il - no: worth ny while 20 repeat
hem here. Sneice !, TO say the ordiu-
uCe wAs passed. II would be presump-
ion on the part oi the committee 10 say
be ordinance vas perfect. or that il
Ionid give satisfaction io those en- shom
imposed tax. No tax iaw that VAS
yer passed Was perfect, or gave entire
ausia:lI1n. Il ia net according 30 hu-
nan nAtHre - pass a tax lAE that witl
e Satisfactory. But il vas the best
hing ghe committee coald devise, under
he circumstances. 10 be used as a iem-
'orary measure, 20 tile the city over an-
Il something more satisfactory could be
b,AineG
His Honor. the Mayor. has seen ns 10
e.n the ordinance. on the general
rNGrds. that il is unequal, discriminat-
ne, and unconstitutional, noiwilhstsnd-
ng the opinion Of the city attorney 10
he contrary. 10 NOT wish 10 enler luIo
nv constitutional discussion on ths sub
set; but ! Wili say. that If his H0aor is
oTfect Iu his conclusions. ihe council
lad better repeal some ordinance. that
re nos in effect, and which ate being
'ntorced. Il Is certainly very unjust 10
make teAusters and draymen.men who
arm their living bv the sxeat Of their
1row, paw a license tax in order TO be
10 earn such living. and cay
hat bankers. hotel keepers, brewers,
and Others who ste working
10 capital shall not. and cannot be made /
o paw s small tax 10 the city for the pro-
ection they receive thereirUm.
! remember very distinctly Au ordin |
gnee that vas passed last year, that !
Eas unequal, and tha; was discrimi1at- !
ng, refer 10 the tax on insurance aEents,
md which was admitted ty the council. /
nan ShO introduced it, 10 be intended !
% drive email agents uut OF the business, |
and give those who made a speciality vt
The business monopoly OF the same.
When that measure was presented to His
Honor TO be signed. there was nothing
said about its being unequal, discrimin-
atiug, or InconstltutionA 6nt il went
as slick as butter. A eompar.
lson Is made in the message, that the or
diEance taxes a wAtchermaker, and not
The obje:t OF the con- miltee
was TO tax capital, aad not labor. and for
that reason they exempted blacksmiths,
psintert, carpenters, bricklayers, and
such trades from the provisions Of the
ordinance. aud put it on such trades,
lines OF business, and professions as did
not have laoor for the predominating
element.
In conclusion / will say that ! would
have been very willing to act out the re-
mainder of the .erm OF my office, IL any
provision could have been made to meet
kha exnenees of carving on tha sikv Onv-