Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-06-28

June l. lcot. dllouuAru ~ . NfN- = "a WhANA
sf3. 500 was for debt and interest on same
only g, 600 for all kinds Of street work; only
g 600 for fire department, and only 81 200 for
public schools, and our bonds then worth
about fifty cents. How different today when
we refer to the appropriation bill recently
passed. carrying an appropriation OF Sl29, 600,
only S32, tl0 Of which is for principal and in
terest on debt, while we appropriate S3l ,o4D
for street and sewer work; si4,500 for public
schools and 81, 800 for fire department. COM
meuting on the decrease in appropriation for
interest and also the large increase for streets,
schools and fire department, il is not an mop
perfume time to call attention to the increase
OF s.. 200 for the police force, as il required
only s.. 500 in 1880, while now sll 200 IS re-
quired Instead of bonds seeking purchasers
the investor is seeking our bonds, willing to
pay par for them. Ga page 81 of the Audi
tors report for the year 1880 the debt and iu-
terest is given as i,O5l, 5Ss and if those
figures are correct it would have required
thFt amount of money on the first day Of July,
1880, to free the city of debt; today, or on
Saturday next, If our debt, including the
bonds of 1902, was offered for redemption,
principal and interest, il could be paid
for about $4,000. The comparisons here
made are not for the purpose of exalting
ourselves or discrediting our prede-
cessors; upon the contrary, so well and un-
selfishly vas the work dom in lS79-leeO,
under many discOuragements acd at times
failures, that thanks rather than criticism are
due those who kept their courage at that
time. We have progressed and can and should
point out where we were weak as well as
where we are strong.
More than year ago, with others repre-
senting the finance aud school committees, l
met some members of the school board to dis
cuss money matters, preparing first Tor use
some notes bearing on schools, appropria'
tons, salaries, enrolment, attendance. etc.
have those notes now will not refer to them,
but will read from a report Of the scho oil
board meeting, published in the Gazette May
last, and follow with some further remarks
if Council will indulge me.
have before me figures from official rec
ords, giving the assessments by wards oil the
real and personal property listed for tax
alton for the years l903-0i-05, the aggregate
value being fourteen million, four hundred
and sixty-twO thousand, nine hundred and
seventeen dollars (SlI, 1920. Our tax rate
is 81 80 on each hundred dollars, with dis
count of 10 per cent for prompt payment.
The payments during the discount period
represent much more than 70 per cent. Of the
collections. The tax collector is paid COM
mission for collecting and some bills cannot be
collected The statement that the City
Council can be made 20 do certain things If
seven members out Of twelve school trustees
so desire-and the further statement Cat least
by interence). that the City Council has pur-
sued niggardly policy, or displayed a per
niciOus disposition towards our public
schools finds no warrant in law or facts. The
law is as follows: (See,1 Acts General Assembly
100000 page s26,l
"The Council shall levy tax upon all real
aud personal property not to exceed thirty
cents on the one hundred dollars, or Council
may in its discretion make an appropriation
in lieu of such levy"
This Council does-has done-and observed
the law. The facts are as follows: Certainly
during the last three years and as previously
stated the assessments for the years l9J3-O4-
% aggregate Sl4 1921. If thirty cents
had been specifically levied for schools, each
and every dollar collected, no discount al
lowed, no charge made for collection, no bills
erroneous or insolyent and the whole
amount credited TO the schools, they would
have received $l3, $3.50. Strange as it may
appear to those who are uniformed, IL is
none the less true, that during these same
three years, Alexandria contributed s44,
900, to its public school system. The State
appGrtions 10 per cent. of its levy and the capt.
tation tax receipts 10 the schools. ct rs more
llidii lidH VI Alt liiANAlNh fNNNrf anu 90 h't
inconsidcrable portion Of both the real and
personal property. are returned delinquent by
State collectors, the schools receive only what
is collected. Apply this rule 10 Alexandria
city tax apportOnment and cur schools dur
ing the past two years and the present me,
would receive between $1,000, and $1,000
less than they have. ! think Alexandrlans,
and those who make laws for them, take
much pride in our public schools certainly
do: but il viii he with regret aud to their
injury, shout they ever he allowed to be u
toy for small politics. Desirable, indeed
necessary as they are and will ever be, yet
many other departments have claims rs
urgent and Just as essential; and all have to
be considered by towns and cities and an
equitable distribution Of the money Of the
people properly observed.
In conclusion, speaking for myself, and !
think also for the finance committee, we
should remember that Council has passed an
appropriation bill; the people have recently
elected persons to ell various offices. Every
officer and every employee knows the pay
they are TO receive for their services and can
be informed kindly, but with no uncertainty,
that we are paying all We can and will not
make further appropriations for salaries Or
assistants
Mr., Bryan also commented on state
ments made in the School Board by Mr..
A. II. Thomson and said that Mr.. Thorn
son bad entirely reversed the positions
taken by himself and the committee at
the meeting Of the finance committee to
which he had alluded, the committee
having told Mr.. Thomson exactly
what Mr.. T. said he had told the COM
mittee. He also said that Mr.. w.
f. Carne had declared in the City
School Board that Council had nothing
whatever to do with the schools except
to provide money to carry them on and
yet at the same meeting Mr.. Carne in
troduced a resolution that the City Coun-
ell be informed that the City School
Board desires that the next school ses-
sion shall be full ten months, which
showed an inconsistency.
A new ordinance to authorize the
granting of an exclusive right to furnish
electricity to the city and citizens Of
Alexandria WIS submitted and read.
Mr. Bryan explained that this ordi-
nance differed from the former some
what in reference to bonds and, also, be-
cause the ordinance required the city in
case the Council required the wires to be
put under ground to pay for the construc.
ton of the conduit He also said that
each bidder would be required to give a
certified check for $500.
Mr.. Spinks urged that no action be
taken tonight and spoke at length in
depreciation of the sale of the electric
franchise
Mr.. Bryan said the proposal now was
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