The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-26
NO REDUCTION
CAN Be GIVEN
Prompt Payment Must be its
Own Reward.
A PREMIUM Is ILLEGAL
THE NATTER INVESTIG ATEJD
BY CITY ATTORNEY.
THE LIGHT DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION
Alderman Mcdonald Explains How he Saved
Part of his Last Years Appropriations
Legal Departments $4,000
Already Spent.
Already Spent.


and Observer of the budget to be recon-
mended by the Finance committee 20 the
Board of Aldermen attracted much al
tention and was the subject of no end
of discussion among the city fathers
Some complained that the appropriation
given their departments was entirely m
adequate, some thought the other fellow
had more than his share, some groWled
a little at the new items on the ball, but
all cbeerfully agreed that they would
rake whatever they could get in the final
roundup at the board meeting next Fri
day night and ,lo what they could to pull
through.
1t is certain that ONE change will be
made in the report before ii is made. The
recommendation to give a discount onl
taxes naid in September and October
will be stricken out The News and
OBSERVERS suggestion THAT the constitu-
tionality of such an ordinance be booked
into was yesterday acted upon, and the
city attorney found that such rule
would be clearly Illegal.
This proposition, it viii be remember
ed, was that one per cent. be DEDUCTED
from all taxes paid during September. \
half of one per cent. off on all taxes for
1899 paid during October. Nothing off
of the taxes for those who settle in No
vember. The city not having the power
to do this it will, of course not be recon-
mended.
1t will be recommended, however, that
the penalty of l per cent. a month ne
enforced against all who fail to pay their
taxes by December l. How much this
means is shown by the following instance
that came to the notice of the writer the
either day. A man was charged with 81
tax on a piece of property III this city
sixteen years ago. He failed to pay it.
1are penalty has been regularly charged
u!g against it, The other day he called
to settle and free the property. He
found tax bill of over $500. Fortunate
~ for him there were mitigating cir
crmnstanees and the city settled for sim
ply the taxes which amounted to $3.50.
thereafter, though, the chairman of the
Finance committee tells me this penalty
will be strictly enforced. And more
those that have failed to list will be
charged with double tax.
THE city must have money" he said.
The only way to get it is by taxes. Part
of the people pay their city taxes and
pay them promptly Others pay them
not at all. This must cease. We are
going to collect them better this yeah
than ever before. Our power to do thE
under the new charter is clearly defined,
and we are going to exercise it.
The reference in yesterdays paper to
the appropriation of $4,000 for the Legal
of
ton. This appropriation is not to pay
for future damage suits and for extra
legal services, but for damage suits and
legal services in the past. The principal
one of these is the Dillon suit
Il notice" said Alderman Mcdonald,
chairman of the Light committee that
You say there is also an increase of $500
in the Light Department made necessary
by two facts.
l. That the appropriation of $500
made last year was not sufficient to pay
fer the contract lights.
> That five new lights have recently
been put in and others will probably
have to be before the end of the year.
This statement needs some explana-
tion. 1t is true that $500 was appro-
~ Aot1h Ia b-hLo Ipl Ait idSl lS1tll ytdl.
OF This amount only $6,974.07 was ex
pended which included the FIVE new
lights referred to above, and every other
light of every department of the city
government. SO the light department
had to its credit $525.93 at the cnd Of
the fiscal year. Why was this thus?
81 LID. 40 was deducted from lights that
we could catch up with-that failed to
burn, it is impossible for the police force
to keep UP with every lamp in his ward
or beat. So ON a rough guess, ! think
the city paid for as much more as was
deducted than was furnished. The Gas
Company and Electric Company send III
bills for every lamp for every night and
every hour, no deductions are made, so
in approving bills we can only depend on
amount reported by the police to the city
clerk which is taken off, We need for
lights now contracted for for the year
ending April l. 1900 $S,23S.56, provided
no deductions are made. So it seems
our Finance committee does not expect
much Improvement in the service which
the city gets from the light companies.
The city is improving and building il.
every direction, new lights are necessary.
Our people have a right to expect them
hight is badly needed in the center Of
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