Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-03-24
Ordinance Providing For Levy Of
Twenty.Cents Adopted by
Common Council
tuhtR0US SPEECHES MADE
Eoard Represented by Messrs. Barrett
ard Garrett and supt. Jones-Mr
Reduction-Budgct. General levy
and Bond Issue Measures Passed

and Bond Issue Measures Passed
In spite 81 the strong opposition on
the part Of the board Of school irNS
tees. the common council last night
fixed the school lax levy tor tho com
ing year III % cents on 500 adopting
the reDur, Of the finance committee
This means u reduction Of five cents
on one hundred dollars in the levy
and gives The school board about Sc 600
less for the coming year than il would
have received from the city had the
levy been made % cents.
Although the members Of the board
propose TO carry their fgl, 10 ne
board Of aldermen and. in case they
should lose there, 10 aDnral to the
mayor it is believed by many that the
action Of tho low"r branch practically
settled the gu IN. 1t is argued
that if the AID en- should fail TO
concur in the action OF The common
council. the levy ordinance would be
tied up indefinitely and that on this
account further efforts to secure a lcvy
OF % cents Will be useless.
Only One Absent
The common council M, in snccal
session last night. with President d.
S Jones in the chair. The seat of
Councilman NJ s. l-lewcllyn. who was
absent unavoidahly. was the only one
vacant.
'fhe meeting was called to &C, unOn
the annual budget, general tax levy
school tax levy and license lax or,li
nanccs, minor ordinances made neccs-
sary by the budget. and the report Of
nn finance a. to- ~, Z l,n
ing OF bids for the redemption bonds
All Of the ordinances mentioned
above had been prepared by the
finance committee after weeks of work
anu the body paid a fine compliment
70 The committee by adopting each and
every ordinance without change.
Schmeiz Bros. Get BONDS.
The committee submitted a repor,
on the opening Of bids for 10000
worth or redemption bonds. With an
q ordnance providing for the sale OF
the bonds TO the banking firm of
SchmelZ Bros. This firm bid $4,000
e and accrued interest for the entire is
sue. This was the highest OF nine
bids. The ordinance was unanimous
Y " adopted and the bonds will be is
sued TO bear the date Of April /.
Passed in Short Order.
The ordinance imposing license
taxes was considered and adopted mi
short order. The only change Of great
Importance was in the section con
corning employment agencies Under
this section license tax of $500 per
year is imposed upon persons enga eeu
in furnishing scamcn to vessels.
Mr. kellum made an effort to have
the. license fer huckslers made $3.50
instead OF So, holding that such a step
was necessary in order 10 protect the
clty market. The motion was voted
down aitc: considerable discussion.
NJ. Christie moved that the tax on
water companies be made $3.50 instead
81 $500, but the motion was lost
City's Expenses.
Tho budget ordinance, or the o,ai-
nance making appropriations to de-
Tray the expenses OF the various de.
partmcnts Of the city government for
the coming wear. was adopted as sub
mitted. The ordinance provides for
several miror cnls in the salaries of
officers who are nor mentioned in the
CITY charter. Unsuccessful attempts
Al were made to mako Further cuts in
some instances The salary Of tho
chief Of the fire department was cut
4 from S9;-3' per month 10 500 and tha,
CT the superintendent Of sewers from
$13,;..::;; 10 $S5
he total OF The approximations
amounts TO sl54 PITTS. or about ali Of
The ci'y's income from all sources,
One OF the appropriations is $40 ,Oo0
Tor repairs and improvements to the
City hall
Tax Levy Raised.
ne ordinance providing for She
general TAX levy fixed the levy at %
cents on SlCU instead OF so cents, as il
mas been heretofore. This vas done
Because Ia:';' Of 80 would NOT pre,
vide snNicicn. funds To conduct the
city government and, on account Of
The decrease il The school levy does
nGl nran all increase in taxes.
~" ordinance was unanimously
passed without discussion.
School Tax levy
When the ordnance fixing Tic schooI
az Icy vas reached there was q stir
n "a. hal, There were about ono
hl:sinich ilnd ii!ty people present. mosr
~ lhcn haF!n& come out 10 see the
result q, INC contest OYER this measure.
rs soon as the clerk finished read
ing. Nj. Via rose ard moved that the
ordinance be adopted as read Mr..
lTcwn ;noEci lat the ordinance be
amended 50 as 10 make the levy %
cents on $3.50
MI y. =. Earr@tt. who was seated
IN the rear Of The hail, came forward!
81 sh:s fuHctnre and asked the priv
!t2sf ~ addressing the council as a
snfmbGr q iln board Of school tc,ls-
ices nc privilege was granted and
Il ne discussion, which lasted for over