The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-12
MAY HAVE
 STREET TAX Finance Committee of Council Considering. PUBLIC DISCUSSION WANTED Depleted City Treasury Must Be
 Filled. ,,.. New Tax Has Approval sf Msyors Teasue--Ne rInaI Business By
 cenacii Last Night For Lack
 es Clerk.

It is very probable that in the near future all male citizens of Montgomery between the ages of 2l and 45 will be taxed s3 per year for the support of the city government. An ordinance to this effect was introduced by the coni- mittee on finance at the meeting of the, aldermen Friday night. and referred back to the committee for consideFa- tion and report. G;
 The ordinance results from sugges- ton contained in the Mayors message received by the council several weeks ago. The suggestion was made in view of the fact that beginning with January 1, 1908. the city treasury VIII miss . large sum formerly derived from the licenses granted to saloons.
 Also in addition to the fact that a street tax may be levied. e tax on ell dogs In the city, a tax of fifty cents on all cows within the city limits, and . special tax of es op all automobiles, were suggested in ordinances introduc- ed by the committee and likewise re- ferred back for consideration and re- port.
 Because of the lack of city clerk. the aldermen present. on the suggess, ton of Alderman Thompson. transacted no final business, Alderman Thompson suggested that possibly the matters which might be acted upon finally would be declared Illegal because ot no regular clerk. Alderman BrasselI moved that the matter be submitted to the city attorney for report, ana pending this report the council ad- journed.
 It was suggested at the time of the adjournment that Mir. cowan, who had been acting clerk of the body during the late John J. Farley,s Illness, might continue to do sor but when asked un. officially if he would accept the posi- ton Mfr. Cowan refused to consider the matter. He stated. however. that ne would be glad to continue as ternpor- ary clerk until q formal election or Mfr. Farley's successor could be held.
 In speaking Of the street tax last night after adjournment c. F. Merits. chairman of the finance committee. said.
 'srhe ordinance introduced tonight is contained as . suggestion in the mes aage of the Mayor. The committee realizes that it is an unpopular meas ure. and t has been resorted to only aa last effort to help the eity's tFeas- ury, ra AS45a
 aReginning with January the city treasury will find itse9 short of .
 
 4l2.000, formerly derived largely from the sale of licenses to the various saloons of the city. This deficit must be net, and the street tax has the ap- proval of the mayor.
 'Srhe finance committee of the eoun- ell realizes that the matter will cause 2 lot of discussion. and it Is the wish of the committee that the public give utterance of it's views before final res port or passage of the ordinance is made.
 "By this street tax it is possible to make many persons new living in the city of Montgomery and receiving its police and fire protection, the use of city lights and streets who pay not . cent into the city treasury. pay for these privileges and comforts. They possibly own no property within the city, aud yet they. receive equal hene' fits as those paying taxes. By this street tax it Is possible to reach all Of these people, and reach them with tax that is not burdensome.
 "But what the committee wants ia discussion by the public. Perhaps some other way may be found by which the deficit in the treasury can be made up. but it will only be by discussion ana thought that a working plan can be devised" -l,y
 While old business was being dis. eussed before adjournment, a note from the mayor was read which contained the suggestion that the appropriation for the Salvation Army. SIS a month, be renewed, as the old appropriation had expired during last october. The matter was referred to the finance committee. -@ - '