Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-05-22
CITY COUNCIL.

There was q protracted meeting o.
the CITY Council last night, and coDsid'
erable routine business was transacted
The license Law as reported by the Fl
nance committee was passed with but
one alieratlon-that making the license
tax on bucket shops $3.50 instead o.
$3.50, as heretofore. An ordinance o.
lowing the Washington, Alexandrif
and Mount Vernon Railway Company
to furnish electric power for fans, &c.
for period OF one year was also passed
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
All the Aldermen were present.
After the reading OF the Mayors
communication calling Council together
Monday night instead of Tuesday, the
ordinance providing for levying a IL
cense tax was read, it having been laid
over at the last meeting.
Mr.. Hill moved that the license tax or
bucket shops be placed at 800 instead
of $3.50, as reported from the commit
tee. The tax was 500 in Richmond
and less 10 other Virginia cities. In
fact it was higher in Alexandris than in
any other city in the United States
| There had been no such business here
in the past eight years, and he did mol
know that any one purposed coming
here and engaging 10 such an occups'
ton; but If one did there were plenty OF
empty stores here, and II some one
opened up 10 A exandria an unoccupied
store would be rented, clerks employed
and other expenses incurred; hence the
city would be benefited that much.
Besides, il any one here desired to spec
ulate in this way-and some dot was
an easy matter to 60 to Washington
and lake the risks there. AS a citizen
he desired to bring people here, and
such prohibitive license taxes did moi
SAVIOR of good judgment. MIR. Beck
ham, when Mayor, had been instru'
mental in having this exor liant taz
placed 10 the ordinance, and it had It.
NAMED there ever since. The operat.
ors 10 their business only got PEI
cent, and if any person did conclude to
start business here 1t would keep money
in Alexandria that now goes to Wash'
ingtoD.
Mr.. Doble moved the adoption OF the
amendment.
Mr.. J. II. Sweeney asked what was
the amount exacted by the State from
such people.
Mr.. Hill said the State tax was nom
inal compared with that of the city.
The amendment was adopted and
the ordinance passed by unanimous
vote.
The ordinance was subsequently re-
turned by the Common Council, who
adhered to their action and asked for 6
committee OF conference and Messrs
J w. II. Sweeney and Curtin were ap'
pointed on the part of the Aldermen
The ordinance later reappeared In the
board, the Common Council still adj
herring to their action in making tht
tax $3.50.
/ Mr.. Hill moved a non-concurrenct
and that $3.50 be substituted, Messrs
Hill and J. t. Sweeney were appointed
on the second conference committee,
and they 10 conjunction with commit.
Zee from the Common Council recon-
mended placing the tax at $3.50. The
board adopted their report, which was
subsequently, concurred 10 by the lower
board.
Mr.. Hill, from the committee on
streets, subm,tte repor of that com
mittee on the communications OF the
Mayor and Auditor in response to the
resolution of Council asking by wbsI
authority the former signed pay rolls
and the latter drew warrants for street
work while the Office of City Engineer
was vacant. TIE opinion OF City Attor-
ney Boothe to the effect that no one
hal authority to sign the rolls and
draw the warrants under the circum-
stances was made part of tne commi
tees report. The committee in their
communication took the ground that
the action of the Mayor and Auditor
was unlawful, and recommended that
the Corporation Attorney be instructed
to prepare an ordinance defining the
status of the committee 10 case of va
cancy in the office of City Engineer
and prescribing severe penalties upon
| any who shall in the future assume the
responsibility of ordering street work
aud paying for the same In an unwsr-
rantsble manner.
In submitting the report Mr.. Hill
said he desired to correct an impression,
| which had become current, to the ell
| feet that there was any feeling on
| the part OF the committee against the
Mayor. There was none whatever,
and should Council relegate the power
to any one else beside the committee to
act ad interim when a City Engineer
res; ,ned they would be perfectly satis-
| fed. The committee merely. wanted
the matter settled once and Tor all
time. Neither the Mayor nor Auditor
had answered the resolution OF Council
They had referred to what had been
done a year ago, sad net to their pro.
| cedure this year, after Mr.. Dunn Lad
resigned the second time, as had been
requested by the resolution.
Mr.. J, T. Sweeney said he had no
objection to the report, but it had al
ways been customary for committees
TO make their report through their
! chairman, Hence If the chairman OF
committee was q member of the Board
of Aldermen he submitted the report to
that body and vice versa. rms pro-
cedure on the part Of the street COM
mittee seemed to be departure from
rule or custom.
Mr.. Hill said he had presented the
report to the Aldermen for the reason
chat he had introduced the resolution
of inquiry in this board, and he believ.
ed the report should be brought to the
Aldermen.
Mr.. Sweeney still insisted that the
committee was inaugurating a new de-