Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-25
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
STATE SENATOR MACHEN'S CON.
sTITUTIoNAL AMENDMENT.
Prohibits Cities and Towns From
Taxing Auditing Property for
Improvements-Note
Special Correspondence of The Star.


ALEXANDRIA. Va, August 25, 1908.
State Senator Lewis III. Machen, who has
prepared an amendment to that portion
of the state constitution which prohibits
cities and towns from imposing any tax
or assessment for street improvements upon
the owners of abutting property. has writ
ten a letter, which has been made public,
setting forth the advantages to be derived
from the proposed change in the constitu-
ton. Senator Machen claims that the pres
ent prohibition altered the policy of nearly
all the cities in the state and has greatly
retarded municipal improvements.
In his letter Senator Machen discusses
the relative merits of the following methods
OF raising funds for street appropriations:
First, the plan of assessing the owners or
AUDITING property for the entire cost; sec
ond that of the city bearing the whole
| expense, and, third, that of the expense be-
| ing borne partly by the land owners and
partly by the city. He reaches the conclu-
sion that the ashamed plan is manifestly
| the fairest and best.
In Alexandria, he states, 1t has been
demonstrated that the plan of dividing the
| cost of street improvements between the
city and the owners of abutting property is
! the one by which the greatest progress can
| be made. He points out that the assess
ments may be divided into installments, to
! give the leas, Inconvenience to the property
owners, in order that everybody may be
| benefited and nobody injured.
| Expects Cooperation.
| In reference to his proposed amendment,
| Senator Machen has the following to say:
| Several months ago l prepared bill pro-
posing an amendment to the constitution of
| Virginia on this subject. The fact COM
munica ted to the city council of Alexan-
-
mously Endorsed the plan. 1t Is expected
that they will actively cooperate in secur-
ing favorable action upon the measure at
the next session of the legislature This
amendment provides that d city or town
may levy a special assessment upon owners
| of abutting property for street improve
| ments not exceeding one-half of the cost OF
such improvements and not in excess of the
| peculiar benefits resulting therefrom
| 1.-The proposed amendment does not re-
quire that such assessments be levied, but
| simply permits them. The charters of the
| several cities and the councils acting under
these charters, may levy such assessments
| or not, according to local requirements. In
order to become operative this amendment
| must be approved by the Legislature at its
| next two sessions and ratified by the peo-
pie of the state. 1t is earnestly hoped that
| all friends of street improvements and of
municipal progress generally will give the
measure their hearty support
| Coffin McFadden Marriage.
Miss Mamie Coffin of this city and Mr..
| James McFadden of Chattanooga, Tenn.
were married Wednesday evening at the
| residence of Mr.. and Mrs. John Coffin on
Prince street. Rev. Father H. J. Cutler
| of st. Mary's Catholic Church performed
| the ceremony in the presence of several
| friends of the bride and groom. The bride
| was attended by Miss Julia Coffin and Miss
| Loretto McFadden. Mr. and Mrs McFad-
! den will make their future home in Chat
| tanooga. Shortly after the ceremony they
| left for a southern bridal tour.
General Matters.
| Mr. James Miff1eton, a resident of the
| fourth ward, died suddenly this morning at
his home no Commerce street. He had
| been in declining health for some time but
| his death was unexpected by his friends.
His wife and family survive him. Arrange
| ments for the funeral will be made later.
! Judge Louis c. Barley, Commonwealth
| Attorney Samuel G.. Brent and Mr.. c. c..
| Carlin left yesterday for Orkney Springs,
| where their respective families are staying.
| Mrs. Urban S. Lambert. her two little
| children and her niece, Miss Clara WILDE,
| have gone to Canal Dover, Ohio, to visit
| relatives.
| The Alexandria base ball team was defeat
| ed in good game at the old fair grounds
| yesterday afternoon by the St. Aloysius
| team of the Capital City League of Wash
| ington, by the score of Z to 3.
|