The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-18
privilege OF hiring the money when It


the proper time TO refer the matter t1
the committee on finance will be wher
the city council is called upon 10 ap'
propriate the money. He said the May
session OF the legislature would opef
on May 20. and action should be taker
| at once. ..
Councilman Sisson said the legsa-
tnre VIII meet for special session IN
June to elect a United states senator
which Will be ample time for the leg
islation referred TO. He said the reso.
luton came without notice and should
| be referred.
Councilman Angel remarked that
past history showed that II authorlty
was granted TO borrow money tnat
money would be spent. He said the
most important business in IL was the
central fire station. He had been told
by one OF the fire commissioners tna'
this could not be built this year, De-
cause the plans are not matured. lie
opposed passing the resolution at once.
After some further general debate
the resolution was referred 10 the COM
mittee on finance.
From the board OF aldermen came
joint resolution accepting the gift OF a
collection from James Angus; passed
in concurrence.
Also a joint resolution authorizing
the inspector OF public buildings TO re-
pair school buildings during the sum
mer vacation. Passed in concurrence.
Also the joint resolution passed at the
last meeting making the tax rate Si.oo'
with an amendment from the aldermen
making the amount SLIGO.
TAX RATE DISCUSSED.
Councilman Cooke wanted this reso-
luton also sent TO the committee on n
nance. He said that N was well known
that in 1898 and 1899, with a tax rate OF
$l.65, the city had been obliged TO ap-
ply to the general assembly for au-
thority TO hire money, because the rate
of income from taxation was insufficient
10 pay current expenses. with these
expenses increasing, instead of decreas-
ing. he believed II folly, he said. 10 re-
duce the tax rate at this time.
Councilman Angel said it was indis-
pensable that this matter be settled at
once. as the tax assessors must report
by July j. He said the city was in a
strange position. having for the first
time approached the limit of per cent.
OF its valuation general expenses. He
said Alderman Reynolds. who has
spent much time in examining this
matter had found II would be illegal
to assess Sl.65. The city auditor had
Just told him that sl.60 would fall
about $l50000 short of expenses, while
Alderman Reynolds said IL would give
100000 surplus.
Councilman Cooke asked Councilman
Angel If he would say that tax of
$3.50 would be sufficient for current ex-
penses.
Councilman Angel said he was afraid
hat il would not be sufficient.
on motion of Councilman Grimwood,
Alderman Reynolds was invited to ad-
dress the common council and he re-
peated substantially what he had al
ready said in the board OF aldermen.
There was discussion on the ques-
ton. and many questions were asked
by Councilmen Cooke and Sisson and
were answered by Alderman Reynolds.
CITY SOLICITORS REMARKS.
City Solicitor Colwell was then in
vited ITO address the common council,
and he said, that 1t was all question
Of Judgment and OF good faith, and any
surplus that might exist could. If nee
essary, be transferred 10 another
fund by special act. Regarding the
legality of tax, he said 1t was
matter of good faith, the taxpayers ex-
pecting that reasonable assessment
sufficient for expenses would be raised.
He had always believed that limit
OF per cent of the assessed valuation
was imposed by statute, but he had just
heard Councilman Cooke raise the
point that this l per cent limit applied
only TO towns having no debt outside
of the regular Indebtedness TO pay. and
did not apply In this case. This view,
he said. was new to him, and he was
not prepared TO state how he regarded
il.
Councilman Cooke moved that the
common council adjourn TO Monday
next, at 4 D. m, to allow the city solici-
tor time to look into the law. This was
not seconded.
The discussion was continued Tor
few minutes, and then the question
came on concurrence with the board or
aldermen In the amendment making the
tax rate $1.60, and the resolution. as
amended. was passed in concurrence.
From the board OF aldermen came
resolution to print 1000 copies OF the re-
port of the commissioners on the North
Burial ground Passed in concurrence.
Councilman Burdick introduced the
report OF the board Of FIRE commission
ers for April.
Councilman Trask introduced petit
lions of Annie J. Lynch for payment for
damages to her property, OF Patrick
McDonough for remission OF wer as
sessment. Referred TO the committee
on claims.
Councilman Root introduced a reso-
luton TO lay out Farragut avenue. Re-
ferred TO the committee on highways.
At 5:45 o'clock the common council on
motion of Councilman Angel ad-
journed.