Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-26
Finance Committeeman Discuss Ap.
preparations for Coming Fiscal
Year al Length.
TAX LEVY REMAINS the SAME
Rate Cannot Be Increased and CITY
Needs the Money Toe Badly to A.
low Observation-Disclosures May Be
Ready Tuesday Night-La adder
Truck Provided For.

L seems probable. that IL" linanc"
committee OF IN" city council in pre-
pairing the budget tor tn" coming lis
"aI ycar will make comparatively 1""
changes in the asst ordinanc" adopted.
Il is practically sr'tird that the !"I\
-$lOJ on $lnn tor genera! purposes
and 70 cents on $l"h tor school pur-
posas-will remain III" same. and The
license tax ordinance hardly will be
changed materially in any particular.
Until the city charter is amended
the tax levy rate cannot be increased,
and as the city will need just as
much money TO Lar The expenses OF
the government this year as ever. IN"
council cannot seriously consider cut
ting down TN" rate"
Budget Discussed.
Though Il quorum was not present.,
three members Of the finanr" com
nittc". Chairman Read. and MeSsrs
West and Nelnls. spent some time i'll
going over he budget ordinance last
night A great deal was accomplish
ed. and an effort will be- made at
the regular meeting Monday night 20
get the budget in shape for presenta-
ton to the COMMON council when II
meets Tuesday night. Even il III"
ordinance does not Set to the COun-
Gil Tuesday night the Commits" will
finish it's work and Clerk Hudgins
will get the report in Shap" and nave
the necessary copies made as quickly
as possible. so that the lower branch
NAV act upon the measure in special
session before the date for the meet
ing of the board of aldermen
Ladder Truck Appropriated.
One OF the principal additions to
the budget agreed upon by the mem
bcrs present last night was an item
OF $1,000, added to the fire depart
ment and water account. 10 cover
the expense of purchasing an aerial
ladder truck. horse and harness Fire
Chief W. X. STOW was present last
night ami urged upon the committee
men the necessity of buying this
piece of apparatus.
Although the number of electric
lights has beer slightly increased dur
ing the past year. the committee de
CIle0 IlDt 10 lutttdSt lilt dppiopi
ton for lighting. The sense OF the
committee seemed to be that the city
is not getting its moneys worth for
the $4,000 annually invested in cleo
trio lights. and The discussion of the
question will probably lead to a fur
Their investigation of the report that
the street lamps do not give the light
called for By the contract.
The arpropriat ions for nearly all
of the departments will remain about
what they are this wear. The only
salary increase recommended is for
the city physician. DIR. J. ". Ayl"r
Chairman Read said that he was in
formed thai Dr. Avler made an av-
"ragc Of 8! visits monthly for tn"
city. and that he was convinced that
q salary OF $500 a year would only
- adequate for the service perform
I'd bv this officer. The committee
men agreed to increase the aprrO-
priation for the office from $500 to
5000.
The matter of providing a fund for
the maintenance OF the new aims
house was suggested but the com
m;tteemcn decided not to discuss i;
a; this time.