Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-05-23
City Council.
There was an average volume of busi-
ness before The City Council last night.


was the license law for the fiscal year
ending Msy 81, 1907. 1t had, under the
law, been laid over at the last meeting
Mr.. Hill did not see why the Western
Union Telegraph Company should be
made to pay license tax of 800 and
the Postal Company $50 He said he
had had every reason to believe that the
first-named company did not realize
enough out Of it's Office in Alexandria TO
paw expenses. The license tax, he
thought, should be uniform.
Mr. w. II. Sweeney explained the
basis upon which the taxed was levied,
and suggested that it was done accord
ing to law. All companies having fifty
or more transmtters were regarded as
6rst-clsss and taxed 500 those having
less than one- hundred were second class,
and paid $50.
Mr.. Hill said he was OF the opinion
that the Western Union only paiC 800
in Richmond. The office in Alexandra
was a great benefit to the city, and the
speaker ventured to say that half of the
company's offices in other places in the
State were unrenumerative At many
points the operators we're paid no salar-
les, but received 20 per cent. upon their
receipts. Mr.. Hill moved to make the
license tax of the two companies $50 each
Mr.. Simpson said the license tax was
predlcated upon the business of com
pany hence he saw no discrimination
in the ordinance under consideration.
The number of Offices operated by a
telegraph company, according to the law,
regulated the amount # the license tax.
The fact that the larger inventor did not
realize a profit commensurate with lis
outlay had nothing to do with the matter
under consideration.
Mr.. Burke saw no reason to change
the tax. The finance c)mmittee realized
that the Western Union had many poles
on our streets, and that it was but proper
that it should pay fair license tax.
Mr.. Ballenger moved that the compa-
MES be made TO pay 500 license tax
each, but subsequently withdrew the
motion.
Mr.. Hills motion was lost aud the
reading OF The ordinance proceeded with.
When the section regulating the dog
tax had been read, Mr. Balenger asked
if The city furnished the tags for which
the Auditor received % cents each.
No one was in position to answer
this query, and Mr.. Ballenger said he
desired information on the subject. He
would like to know if the present law
compelled the owner of dog to pay to
the city 81 25 license on the same and
20 cents additional to the kuditOr. II
such was the case, he would move that
the Auditor furnish the .ags at his own
expense file saS no reason why the
owners of dogs should be forced to pay
25 cents to the auditor. If the law,
however, provided for such a procedure,
he would not question il; but il it did
not the procedure wa all wrong.
Mr.. Simpson said it was simple mat
ter. Under the section 10 this years
license law the owner of the dog paid
81 80, which embraced the Auditors
lee. Heretofore the license and the fee
were paid separately. The same action
bad been taken in reference to the lee of
the Commissioner of the Revenue.
Mr.. Burke made substantially the
same explanation.
The reading of the ordinance was re-
sumed, aud when it had been finished it
was read the third time aud passed
by unanimous vote.
The report of the finance committee
recommending an appropriation of 5000
for the Alexandria kindergarten, re-
ceived from the Common Council at the
last meeting and laid over, was read.
Mr.. Balenger said he would vote for
the adoption of the report with the un-
Outstanding that Council would make no
such appropriations in future.
Mr.. Hill suggested that in such an
event another prOviso should be inserted,
provided no more children are born in
Alexandria" The speaker favored the
appropriation and urged the useful
ness Of the kindergarten in the com
munitY.
Mr.. Simpson said the kindergarten
was all right and he fully agreed with
Mr.. Hill as to its utility, but the pres
ent constitution forbade such appropria-
tons. He would, therefore, vote against
ii.
President Sweeney suggested that
Council had often made donations to the
Kindergarten aud similar institutions.
Mr.. Simpson suggested that in other
cases where appropriations had teen
made there might have been nothing in
the constitution forbiddiug such action.
The report was adopted by vote of
6 to |.
The board lai over The appropriation
DILL for the fiscal year, under the rules,
and also the resolution providing for the
purchase of steam roller.
After concurring in the action Of the
Common Council on a large stack OF
papers which had been sent 10 the board
COMMON COUNCIL.
The Common Council WAS called to
order soon after 8 O'Clock with a full
board with single exception, which
was soon filled.
Mr.. Gardner l. Boolhe took the oath
of Office and his seat as Councilman
from the Bird ward vice DR.. I. B. COch
ran, resigned.
A communication was read from May
or Paff setting out that the Washington
.on.ho.o Da,f,.ov D,n,nanu uvoa nndor