Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-04-15
Il. Sweeney and MIR. Presideut-7

4 In6 COmmOD OOuuCli was nOOiuCu nhu
the President declared the Aldermen
adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The Board met soon after O'Clock
with several seat, vacant.
The President announced that this
adjourned meeting was held for the
purpose of considering an ordinance to
submit TO the vote of the people, the
question OF issuing additional city
bonds to the extent OF $780, 900.
The clerk read the opinion OF Cor
poration Attorney Boothe relative TO
the provision OF the code which forbids
the creation OF debt by any city 10
excess of certain percentage OF its
assessment, &c. Mr.. Boothe thinks the
city has full power to issue $50. 900 ad-
dtional bonds after such issue has been
ordered at an election at any time even,
though the special election for this pur-
pose should be held at the same time
with any general election. de Is Of
the opinion that the city may create 30
| additional indett sdness OF $150,900.
The ordinance for submitting to the
1 vote of the people the question Of
issuing $4,000 bonds for improving the
streets aud repairing the city gas works
was then read.
I On motion to put the bill on its pas
sage, discussion occurred.
Mr.. Sac WIDEN said that, as fact, be
bad rot been able since the last meet
| Jog to make q full examination, as fig
ures he had asked for had not been
secured until Sunday, but he did not
ask any delay on bis personal account t.
he then asked the clerk If he had Sc
cured an official copy OF the bill as
passed by the legislature.
The clerk responded that he had not,
but presented letter from Delegate
Cation stating that the copies of the bill
which he enclosed were those printed
before the bill became q law.
Mr.. Snowden asked il the clerk had
complied With the order OF Council t.
obtain certified copy of the law and
was informed that none had been
received.
Mr.. Snowden then said it seem.
ed that the Council was called upon to
act upon a law which had never come
\ before them and bis experience vas
I that changes had often been made 10
bills presented to the legislature.
Mr.. Bryan said that the only ques-
ton tonight was as to submitting the
ordinance to the people. He asked II
: there was any doubt that that bad
passed the Legislature.
Mr.. Snowden said there was no doubt
that the bill had passed the Legislature
| out be wished to see the bill as it was
passed by that body,
Mr.. Snowden presented a number of
points touching the validity of the act.
He ssid be had asked two lawyers
concerning them but they had declined
10 give an off hand opinion, saying that
the points he mad asked about raised
some nice ques tioDs. For this reason
Mr.. Saowden thought Council should
act carefully 10 the matter.
He oontended that the city under the
law had no right to increase it's present
indebtedness ID the ext nt OF $4,000
and read a stItement the main facts 10
which he said bad been concurred in
by prominent lawyer Of this city who
was 10 favor of bonds. Reading from
| the statement be said:
The total assessed property 10 the
city of Alexandria, outside OF railroad
property, ia, real estate, SO S62 $50 90;
personal property, 1898, 1886 90. The
railroad real properly 10 the city is
$50 $40. The amount OF debt thst the
ity can create under the section is
1913. 487 SO or $21, 167 50 over the pres
ent Indebtedness which is sos, 300.
He said that 10 order ID secure basis
on which TO increase the debt ii was
stated that the railroad personal prop
erty 10 the city was given as SS64,0O0
The personal property Of the rail-
roads, ne said, cannct be considered ss
a basis upon which debt can be created,
exceIt 80 far ss 1t lies within the city,
and this amount could not be over
$50 900, upon which the debt could
oUly be $780, making the total in
debtedness which the city, can under
the law, incur over the present debt
$28, 6S7.95. The law contained 10 Sec
1899 of the Code expressly limits the
Indebtedness TO II per cent of the citY's
real estate and 10 per cent OF
its personal property uDder the
State assessment laws The asse's-
ment made upon the personal property
Of railroads by the board of public |
works ia not contemplated by the code. |
1t ia not in the city, aud not subject 10 |
assessment by the city. The sssess.
mert OF personal property OF railroads
for State purposes by the board of pub
Ito works is arbitrarily fixed. and has
nothing 10 the world TO do with the
city assessments. The railroad is re-
quired to make q statement each year
where the principal Office lie, or where
the agency of the company is located in
the State, spd in what county or cor.
poration ts property is located. The
lew practically allows the railroad, cub
ject to the inspection by the board OF
public works, 10 select place where
It's property is to be taxed for State
purposes, and it has long been the prac
tice for the railroads to select such
place as best suits their convenience
aud pocket combined. They eau move
1t, however, from place to place, II
their convenience or rate sof taxation
demands. The statute, in providing
limit for city debts. is undoubtedly
looking to tae property under the con-
troll of the city for its eventual pay
ments, and to prevent cities, which
form 8 part of the governmental fupc
tions Of the State, from being over.
whelmed with debt, and standing the
chance OF at any moment being put 10
the hands of a receiver by the United
States courts. The provisions are wise
and founded upon public safety. The
statute does not contemplate that