Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-08-22
CITY COUNCIL.

The meeting was called at the instance
of the committee on streets and most OF
the papers acted upon were reports from
that committee.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Six Aldermen were present It was
nine o'clock before they were called 70
order, the committee on streets having
presented their reports in the lower
board and a considerable time having
been devoted to their consideration.
After the receipt of a communication
from the Mayor giving his reasons Tor
calling the board, an ordinance amend
ing the sewer law was received from the
Common Council. The instrument had
been discussed informally before the
board was called to order.
President Sweeney and Mr.. Ballenger
thought more time should be given to
consider the matter, as it was very Inn
portant, and on motion Of Mr.. W. II.
Sweeney the ordinance was laid over.
An ordinance to provide for the con-
struction of sewer on Washington
street from Duke to Wilkes received
from the Common Council was also laid
over, as was also resolution appro-
priating 81, 900 to repair Wolfe street
from Fairfax to Pitt.
The Aldermen By unanimous votes
concurred in the action Of the Common
Council on the other papers sent in.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The board came to order about 8
o'clock and Mr.. J. F. Peyton was ap-
pointed clerk pro TEN.
The Chair read the call of the Mayor
stating that he had convened the boards
to attend to business TO be reported by
the committee on streets.
Mr.. Leadbeater asked that the ordi-
nance fixing the rate of sewer tax, laid
on the table at the last meeting, be
taken up. He explained that the plan
proposed in that ordinance while not en-
tirely uniform was the best that could
be done. The charge proposed by the
ordinance was Sl.00 per front foot. This
would seem to raise over 5000 and more
per square, but as only one side of a
corner would be taxed the amount raised
would not be more than $500, about the
cost of sewer for one square.
Tho ordinance was read.
Mr.. Leadbeater moved to amend by
providing that the City Council shall lay
connections to the curb line at cost of
$40 additional for each such connection.
Mr.. Snowden and Mr.. Burke suggest
ed that the amendments be reported as
part of the original bill it would same
time.
Mr.. Trimyer asked if the amendments
as reported by the committee did not
make it new business. The Chair re-
piled mo-"
Mr.. Spinks inquired why the con-
nections were not left to Alexandria
mechanics.
Mr.. Leadbeater thought the plan Of
fered by the committee made the pro-
cedure more uniform.
Mr.. Burke said this was not dis
elimination against the plumbers Of the
city.
After further discussion the amend
ment was adopted as was the second
amendment which required the $40 tax
to be paid at the same time of the 81. 90
per front foot tax.
At this point, Mr.. Snowden objected
to the tax of $l.00 per front foot in
cases where lots had 200 or 300 feet
front. This tax he said would be I'M
just; he thought a better plan would be
to fix the sewer tax according to the
assessed value of the property.
Mr.. Burke urged that the 200 feet lot
owner was better able to pay the tax
than the owner of 20 feet lot.
Mr.. Snowden said that the 30 feet lot
might have a valuable dwelling upon it
while the 200 feet lot might be vacant,
so the case suggested by Mr.. Burke
would be reversed. He thought a
liberal policy should be observed in
these street matters we must not con-
slider the people as our enemies and
should endeayor to make these taxes as
easy as possible.
Capt. Bryan held that after the owner
of 200 feet front had paid his tax it
would increase the value Of his lot which
he might afterward sell.
Mr.. Spinks discussed the subject in its
relations to the new Royal street sewer
and opposed making one man pay one
tax and another man pay a different
tax.
After further discussion,
Mr.. Uhler said the committee had
started to make uniform tax and had
ended by making one not at all uniform.
A lot 25 by 100 feet in the middle of a
square would be taxed 800, while one
at the corner, % by 100, would be taxed
for % feet only.
After further discussion by Messrs.
Trimyer, Spinks and Burke.
Mr.. Snowden moved to amend by
making the tax on the building front,
which was lost.
Mr.. Snowden then moved to amend by
making the tax $S5 fiat, which was
also lost.
Mr.. Snowden asked if this bill be re-
jected what would be the sewer tax.
Mr.. Leadbeater said that the tax
would in some instances be $35 but in
others the value of the sewer to the
property must be computed.
Sundry other minor amendments we're
agreed to.
The bill was then read and passed,
yeas nays 4.
: The sum of 5000 was appropriated
for catch basins on Wolfe and Alfred
streets, also $3.50 was appropriated for
sewer eastward from the Roval street