Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-03-27
CITY Fathers Discuss AppPopfiaI.
ions and Tax LsyIes in Ex, j.
aGuliya Session.
No INCREASE ii Tie LEVY
Although Attorney Advises That Total
Can Be Made Fifty-five Cents High
err. the Council Decides Present
Rate Must suffice--No Action on
Appropriations.

After discussing The annual budget
and license tax ordinance in execu-
tive session last night for nearly two
hours, the committee of the whole Of
the common council reported 10 the
council, recommending that the total
city tax levy for the coming fiscal
year be not over $l.25 on 500. The
report was adopted without discussion
after the council was in session again
and the doors had been thrown open.
The finance committee had recon-
mended an additional levy of 10 cents
OH 800 for the purpose of paying in
tsrest on bonds, hut unless the action
Of last night is rescnded. this cannot
be done
The council met in special session
to consider the finance committees
report on the budget and license tax
ordinances President Jones was in
the chair and the members present
we're: Ballentine. Christie. Davis, IIar.
r!s. Kellum, Kctchum. I.ivcaey lie.
Wellyn. Marshall. Morgan, Via Wash
hrirn, West
The first matter acted upon was the
report OF the finance committee upon
the sale Of the $4,000 worth of re-
demption bonds to Il. r. Powell. The
report was adopted. The committee
formally accepted Mir. Powells bid for
the bonds yesterday. the matter hav.
ing practically bcen settled several
days ago
Executive Session.
Before anything else was done the
body resolved itself into Il committee
Of the whole and went into executive
sessIon. Ostensibly The executive SEES
O.,
secret the contents of communlca.
ton from City Attorney Mnssie but
the general impression in the chamber
seemed to he that what the city faith.
efs really desired to do was TO discuss
the budget behind closed doors.
Attorneys Communication.
Communication from the attorney was
read AL some length MIR. Massic in.
formed the body thot If Il so desired Il
could fix the total city tax rate at
$3.50. Several members vigorously
opposed the proposed increase of 10
cents some of them contrasting the
legality Of it, and finally Il was de-
cided to make the total Sl.25.
Nothing Accomplished.
There was much talk over the bud,
get, but nothing was accomplished
When the body meets in regular SEES
sion next Tuesday night the whole
matter will have to be gone over
again President Jones and other
members strongly opposed certain in
creases in the appropriation and 1t Is
understood that the cutting OF some
salaries was mentioned. There was
considerable opposition TO the propOs-
cd appropriation for an aerial truck
for The fire department as well as to
The increase in The police appriprla-
tion.
Session Resumed.
When the committee of the whole
rose and the council resumed its SEES.
Sion with the doors open. the report
Of the committee on the levy was
adopted The license tax ordinance
was passed after several amendments
had been made
Upon motion by Mr., Davis the
section fixing the tax on dogs at Sc,
was reduced 10 50. Upon a motion by
Mr.. Harris the section increasing tho
license on underlakors from $30iiO $40
was adopted section allowing the
commissioner of the revenue 25 cents
for issuing Il dog license was adopted
a section providing that when licenses
are moi paid s per cent. he added and
for each thirty days additional delay
30 per cent be added TO the tax. was
aomed unanimously