The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-16
By the Aldermen at Last Even
ing's Meeting.
STREET FAIR is PROPOSED
Movement to Increase the Fire Depart
ment-Insurence Men and Proper
ty Holders Are Urging
More Fire Stations

| ~
from 50 to 50.
It was done after quite contest, and the
vote stood II Ito 10.
Other matters of importance transacted
were an appropriation of $4,000 to pay the
city teachers and tine proposition to in
crease the fire department.
The fire department matter is being urged
by citizens of the southside especially, and
will be pushed.
| Detailed Proceedings
| The finance committee recommended the
| payment of $500 to Mrs. Epstein on account
of the removal of her house for the purpose
of widening Nineteenth street.
The finance committee reported adversely
on the resolution introduced at previous
| meeting abolishing THE street tax, and rec
| commended that the tax remain as ait pres
| ent.
Alderman Moore moved THAT the street
| tax be fixed at 50, the same as the road tax
| throughout THE country.
Mr. Gray moved to lay Alderman Moores
| motion on The table. The motion to lay on
THE table was lost, the vote being a tie
Alderman Gray moved as a substitute
| for all motions before the house that the
street tax be fixed at 81.
| Alderman Moore moved as a substitute
| that the tax be fixed at ST. Alderman Gray
| accepted Alderman Moore's substitute.
Alderman Gray said: 81 hope the motion
| to fix the street tax at 81 will be adopted.
| During the VanHoose administration the
| street tax was raised to SO. Great pressure
| has been brought upon THE members of this
| board to reduce it. 1t should not be higher
| than the road tax in the country. The last
| legislature adopted law doubling the tax
| ON all property. Birmingham and Atlanta
| are the only cities claiming to be first-class
towns THAT collect street taxes. 1 am will
ing to accept the compromise and let the
| tax be fixed at 81"
| Alderman Kerr urged a postponement of
action on the matter until the next meet
ing, claiming that that would be time
| enough.
| Alderman Moore opposed postponement,
saying the matter had been before the
| board for more than month.
Alderman Camp said before any action
was taken, he wanted to impress upon the
board the fact that all the street tax col
lected is appropriated for keeping up and
improving the streets. He thought the
streets would suffer if the tax was abol-
| ished.
Alderman Kerr moved to table Alderman
Meores motion to reduce the street tax to
ST. The motion to table was lost, the vote
| standing II to H.
Alderman Moore renewed his motion to
reduce the street tax from So to 50 for the
year 1900.
Alderman Kerr: at is claimed we ought
not to keep the street tax at S. l would
like to make it the lowest possible. 1t is
always pleasant to get on the liberal side
of any question: but 1 am sure not an al
derman here can show any reduction of
expenses DIN any department. During the
| VanHoose and Evans administrations,
everybody will agree. were the hardest
times, and the street tax was placed at
So then"
Alderman Moore-Is 1t not a fact that the
receipts have increased in every depart
ment?
Alderman Kerr-No, 1t is not fact that
receipts increased in every department.
Alderman Graham-I will state that re-
ceipts increased $4,000 last year.
Alderman Moore-Alderman Kerr has not
answered my question. I asked If it was
not a fact that where there had been an
increase in any department there had also
been an increase in expenses Is that not
fact?
| Alderman KeTr-No.
Alderman Kerr asked the mayor II he
had not received a report from the board
of education relative to an appropriation
for school purposes.
| The mayor said he had.
| Alderman Heidi asked If it was not a
fact that the board had been forced to re-
fuse appropriations for a new school build
ing and for the fire department. An af-
frmative answer was given.
| Other matters respecting appropriations,
increase of taxation, ETC., were referred to
by several aldermen, whereupon Alderman
Moore rose to point of order, stating that
these questions were not german to the
question before the board. He said the
street tax could only be used for street
purposes and not for schools or other city
| expenses.
Alderman Kerr said IL this tax was re-
duced an appropriation would be called for
to keep up the streets
, The treasurer was asked to state what
was the increase in tax valuations for 1899
over 1898.
Treasurer Eustis stated that the increase
was about 100000.
Several questions covering interest
charges, amounts held over each year and
other matters respecting income and ex-
penditures were fired at Treasurer Eustis
| in rapid succession.
These questions and answers brought out
| a statement to the effect that expenditures
had increased in a greater ratio than re-
! ceipts, that the city was running behind
| at the rate of 100000 a year, also that the
taxes for 1899 would be $4,000 more than in
1898.
Alderman Gray stated that failure to col
lect certain assessments for street and 9TH
er improvements had been to certain ex-
| tent responsible for the great deficit.
! Alderman Kerr read a letter f~em Super
intendent Phillips of the city schools, stat
ing that children were being turned away