The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-13
DISCUSSED FINANCES
CITY COUNCIL DEVOTED TIME
 TO REVENUES,
Changes Made in Licenses to Be Paid
 by Some ConcernS-Increased Taxes from me Annex ed Territory.

The City Council at its regular meeting last night devoted the major portion or
 its long session to the question Of finances.
 1t developed in the nights business that the city would receive $20.0O0 annual in
 crease in revenue from the annexed dis trict, Si0. 900 from licenses and Sl0.O0O from city taxes.
 This will give the city total revenue of S271, ,5S0. The Aldermen also revised the license list. It was found that increases in certain items could be made and they
 were ordered. The most important matter considered perhaps was the ordinance adding a pen
 atty of 10 per cent for payment by the firm or merchant who failed to pay licenses due October 1st by November 1st.
 This ordinance was favorably reported from the Finance Committee. It was
 discussed at length and the Council de- vided equally upon the question. The ordinance under its provisions was not to
 become effective until next year. Because of this particular provision Alderman Anderson thought that 1t was not properly before the Council. Alderman Gunter declared that the ordi-
 nance had been regularly considered by the committee, regularly reported and was regularly before the Council. Alderman Kohn declared that 1t was A very important matter. It was design ed, he said, for the guidance of future Councils. He pointed out that under the existing system of paying licenses favorit- ism was possible and 1t might have been practiced.
 Alderman Toole said the penalty was too great. Some of the business men in Aa .atA hoA UaV VinR HCanQpQ monthly and a change might be hard ship.
 After some discussion the ordinance was lost by a tie vote to 2. By several different ordinances the fol- iong changes were made in licenses: Auc- tioneers, $50: street car companies, less than five cars. $200. less than ten cars,
 s4oo and more than ten cars. $500: physi- clans, lawyers, dentists and veterinary
 surgeons. $15; real estate agents, $50; ex- press companies, $250: life insurance com panfes, SlO0 each and for each solicitor. SS7. 50; single horse dray, $12.50; double horse dray, S35; plate glass insurance
 companies. S96: fertilizer agents. $50 in connection with other business, $2O; cold
 storage companies, $50.
 The ordinance to meet the annual deficit in the expenses of the city was introduc- ed. It was shown by the ordinance that this annual deficit was $369l0.S6 divided among the various departments. The ordinance went over until the next meet | ing.
 The ordinance establishing a pension fund for firemen and policemen was call
 ed up by Alderman Kohn. The ordinance provides that the estate of any fireman
 or policeman killed In the discharge of his
 duty shall receive $500 from the pension fund which was to be secured from uer cent of the gross receipts from the police
 department. The ordinance further pro-
 vides that after twenty years continuous
 service any fireman or policeman shall
 receive $500.
 Alderman Kohn spoke for the ordinance but 1t finally went over until the next regular meeting