The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-09
This Caused the Reduc-
ton in the Rate.
THE SALARY RA!SERS
The Board of Aldermen Talk Much
Over Little Affairs and Then In
crease a Ianitor's Salary While
Decreasing Amount of
His Work.

feed" business.
1t started into the doing away with
ordinance made some years ago about
signs on the street, and then increased
the pay of the city hall janitor, while
decreasing his work and arranging for
;.tother small job. The people will
be permitted to pay the bills
| In the course CT the evening Alder
man Habel drew out the direct state
ments from Alderman johnson, chair
man of the Finance Committee, that
1t was only because of the profits from
the DiSpenSary that the city taxes mac
been lowered.
l}eing asked by Alderman Habel how
1t was that with the taxes inadequate
20 meet expenses last year the COM
mittee had recommended a lower rate,
Alderman Johnson said it was because
Of the DispensGry profits. these be-
ing estimated for this year at $24, 600
for the city, while with twenty-four
barrooms the revenue had been only
$4,000 The Dispensary, he said, had
made it possible to decrease the rate.
Alderman Hicks asked if the rate
would not have had to be increased
the coming year with the present ex-
penseS but for the DiSpensaTy.
10 this Alderman Johnson said that
there would have either been a de-
fiency to be met by the city, or an in
crease of the tax rate, and Alderman
Crocker emphasized this by saying:
Were it rot for the Dispensary we
would have had either to increase the
tag rate, cut down city expenses, OF
gone into debt
The meeting last night was ono of
minor affairs. Here is what happened:
Tho S'itv
Receipts for September were report
ed by the Finance committee as
follows: From police department,
$936.69; tax collections, $806.32. The
expenses were $6,S78.S5, of which ST.
91S.66 was for salaries, $1,9S3.34 for
various departments.
The report of the Chief of Police
showed 81 arrests in September. With
no sick time lost. The other time lost
by the force was: Banks. i IL days;
Bell days; Haynes, day: Rogers.
2 IL days; Waring, 8 IL days; BeaS-
ley, IL day; Womble, l day.
The report of Street Commission
err Blake for September was read and
filed. This showed work on the streets
for the past month.
The report of the keeper of the
market was read and filed. The report
from the keeper of Pullen Park
showed receipts for September of
$3.50. of this $40 was for baths.
The cash paid out was $4.25. The
sanitary report showed collections of
l$SS9O. disbursements I1,035.72, with
credit of $17S.43 to the farm.
Wiggs Calls for Cash.
The Wigs case came up again on
a letter from his attorney, Mr. S. G.
Ryan, who called on the board to pay
Wiggs, ex-city blacksmith, the sum
of $1,000 for four months. up to the
close of his year on November 11th.
Wigs has been discharged for drunk
enness and on motion of Alderman
Habel the board declined to accede to
the demand of Wigs, refused once
before.
A letter from Mr.. j. f. Ferrall sta
ted that he desired to purchase 70
feet or less of the land on west Nor
gan street back of the fire house and
adjoining his land. the value to be de-
termined by arbitration. 1t was the
opinion of some members that this
looked like condemning land. While
others thought the land might be
needed at some time by the fire de-
partment The matter went to the
Fire committee which is to report at
the next meeting.
Decorate City Hall
A proposition from Messrs. Sher-
wood Higgs & Co., to decorate the
front of the city hall for Fair Week
at a cost of $40 was referred to the
Building and Finance committees with
power to act.
A communication rrom a number
of citizens asked for a water plug a
the corner of Worth and Bloodworth
streets This went to the Fire and
Finance committees. While Alderman
Habel urged the board to go slow and
not increase expenses.
Citizens who reside near Brooklyn
church sent in a kick about the poor
sidewalk on North West street. be-
tween Tucker and Johnson. These
declared they did not expect to get
much in the way of street improve
ment anyway. but the street was ter
ror and needed attention The COM
plant was referred to the Street COM
mittee.
A Gracious Act.
A letter from the widow of David
| S. Belts. the late city WeighmaSter,
asked that she be allowed to conduct
| the work for October. as she had two
Ichildren to provide for and was with
| out means She stated that Mr.. n. A.
| Blake, who had given AID to her nus
| band, would assist her without charge.
The appeal touched the aldermen and
| the reouest was granted. the aldermen
| doing a gracious act. Alderman Hicks
said he was willing for her to fill out
the unexpired term but it was stated
J that Mrs. Belts did not desire this.
/ Then came applications for the
place. These were from N. A. Blake,
S. A. Jones. and w. ID. smith. This
matter was left over FOR the executive
| session held at the close of the meet
| ing. which debated the matter but
elected no one, the matter being left
The resignation of Alderman Grit
| ifs as a member of the board was
read. and under the rules action was
postponed till the next neeling:
The annIication of w. d. Kirkland
who was hurt at the city farm. ana Of
7 A. schwartz, concerning his horse
were referred to and Col. j. c. L.
| Harris was present to talk about these,
but as the committee report was not
ready the matter was postponed.