The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-05
PAVING TAX ASSESSMENT
DEBATED BY ALDERMEN

raised by Alderman Kohn and vote
man May that the ordinance go over
until the next meeting.
The motion was adopted and no actioh
was taken.
Paving Tax Question.
The Council got busy on the paving tax
assessment, in view Of recent decisions
by the courts against the city on paving
assessment but no final action was taken
at the meeting.
First of all communication from
Mary p. Crane of Highland Falls. N. r.,
requesting the Council to refund to her.
with interest, the amount Of paving tax,
which she had paid on three lots In Mont
gomery.
The Aldermen evidently expected other
demands would be made upon the city.
To meet the emergency two ordinances
were introduced both of which had been
drawn by the City Attorney. The first
OF these provided for a blank issue OF
bonds under the provisions Of a special
act 81 the Legislaturc-for the paving OF
the streets Of the city.
BY consent and without debate this or
dinance went over until the next meet
ing Of the Council
The second ordinance was, however, the
subject Of an interesting debate. 1t in
structed the City Engineer. the Mayor
and the City Attorney to make careful
estimate of the cost Of all the paving
that had been done in Montgomery. In
the debate 1t was explained that the or
dinance was the first step towards max
ing a new assessment on paving. It was
designed further to prevent the refunding
by the city OF paving taxes which had
been paid into the city treasury.
Alderman Mcintyre explained that the
ordinance was part of plan by which
the decisions of the courts. which had
been against the city. could be met. The
city under the old ordinance. had as
sessed property per front foot with
out regard to the benefits con-
fcrred by the paving Under the new
plan the paying tax would he assessed
according to the benefits conferred upon
the property.
Alderman Hudson advanced the idea
that some mistakes had been made in the
paving tax and its collection and he
thought the city should go slow in its
new tax.
This seemed to be the opinion of the
other aldermen and the ordinance went
over until the next meeting of the Coun-
ell.
The Council adopted a resolution au-
thorizing the public works and the schoo!
committees to consult with architects and
have plans submitted for the improve
ment of the Chiffon College building on
Sayre Street and the Transforming of the
Billing residence on Clayton Street into a
school house.
The wording of the resolution, pre-
sented by Alderman Gunter committed
the Council to the improvement Of the
hut he rOt, IN
present estimates before a definite decis-
ion is made on the proposed change in
the Billing residence.
The petition of DR.. Damn of Chicago,
who. asking for a telephone franchise
was referred back to the Council by the
franchise committee without action.
The Council instructed the mayor to
investigate the responsibility of the APP
plicant
A resolution introduced by Alderman
Cheney, calling attention to the splendid
water furnished by the city of Montgom-
cry and providing for the erection of a
drinking fountain at the union depot or
namented by signs appropriately setting
forth the healthfulness and purity OF
Montgomery water, was Unanimously
adopted.
An ordinance forbidding the storing of
boxes in back yards Or alleys within the
fire limits of the city, was adopted. In
Its original form the ordinance provided
that the Chief of the Fire Department
might give this permission but objection
to this was raised.
Fire Chief Browdar was called before
tho Council. He told the aldermen that
this provision was of no special import
ance and he did not care whether 1t was
left in the ordinance. 1t was cut out
and thus amended the ordinance was
adopted.