Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-05-22

ard personal, was not assessed st % per
cent OF its true value and this assess
ment could no, be changed this year, the
change in discount was made necessary.
Many OF the cities in the state allowed q
smaller discount than per cent and sew
eral OF them allowed no discount at all.
In speaking of the tsx rate the discount
did not shoU: every one said the tax
rate was 80 when to the man who
paid promptly the rate was actually LII.
Mr.. Uhler 10 reply called attention to
3 number of increases IN the proposed APP
preparation bill, among them Increases OF
$500 for street cleaning; $500, for chain
gang; $50, for FIRE plugs; $3.50, FIRE de-
psriment, and 81, 800. for sewers and
streets. II the city has not the money
i! should not spend it, he said. Accord
ing to the auditors reports the city has
during the last four years spent sos, $50
on sewers aud streets.
Mr.. Lesdbeater asked If large part
of this had not been paid back to the
city by property owners in front OF
whose property the improvements we're
made.
Mr.. Ubler replied that as he under
stood the auditors figures it had not, this
was what the city has paid after the psrt
contributed by adjoining property OWL
ers had been deducted.
In a reply to a question by Mr.. Mon
roe, Mr.. Ubler said that last years ap
preparation for streets and sewers was
So, 900, aud rather than raise the tax
rate this work could be stopped.
The Chair reminded Mr.. Uhler that
last years appropriation for streets snd
sewers was the smallest ia many years.
The proposed appropriation was only
about one-half the amount appropriated
in 1907; be advocated an sppr priation
for cleaning the streets.
Mr.. Uhler insisted his comparison
with last year was fair for last year
council was sans 10 ths matter of sppro-
pra ions. II the city did not have 1892, e.
900 that amount sho1ld not be sppro-
prIated.
at this point the Chair announced
the appropriation bill had been passed
by the Aldermen and as soon as the bill
then before Council WAS disposed of it
would be taken up.
Mr.. Lesdbeater hoped the work on
the streets would not be abandoned IS
he considered this most vital to the
city's welfare.
On motion of Mr.. Monroe the bill was
put on its passage and was carried by q
vote of 9 to 3. Messrs. Leadhester,
Burke, Reishell, Brumbach, Smith,
Bladder, Monroe, Birrel, and the chair
, voting aye; and Messrs. Hellmuth.
Uhler, and Marshall, no. The appro-
priatiOn bill came in from the Alder
men, having been passed by that body.
1t was read aud laid over until the next
meeting.
Mr.. Leadbester offered an ordinance
authorizing side track into the prop
erty of w. A. SmoOt & %. at the north
west corner of Cameron AND Union
streets.
The Chair referred this to the COM
mittee on streets and general laws but on
the request Of Mr.. Lesdbeuter chsnged
his to the committee on 81 reefs.
Mr.. Burke having uoti6 ed the Alder.
men that Council was res dy TO adjourn
reported the Aldermen noG ready to ad-
journ.
A resolution came 10 passed by the
Aldermen appropriatipg $500 to help
pay the deficit of the George Washing
ton Monument Association on account Of
the celebration OF the 12Oth snnv eFssry
of the first Inauguration of Wsshi ngtou
Mr.. Leadbester moved concurrence in
the action of the Aldermen.
Mr.. Uhler was opposed 10 this call.
ing attention to the fact that the finance
committee had returned this ordinance
without any recommendation.
Mr.. Burke said the finance committee
had met representatives. of the celebra-
ton committee on three occasions and
bad been unable to agree on a report.
Mr.. LeSdbester said that previous
action Of Council in the matter of the
recent celebration was hssty in granting
certain privileges, and be had opposed
1t, but II Council did not meet this
deficit it will fall on the merchants who
have already paid most OF these ex-
peDses. The $500 amounted TO a tax of
bat FIVE cents on every man, woman and
child in the city and he thought every
one had had more than five cents worth
of fun during the week.
Mr.. Marshall at first had been H..
clined to oppose this appropriation, but
! remembering how the expense OF cele-
brstionS bad always been borne by The
same few he wss now ready to vote in
favor of it.
Mr.. Birrell thought this an u1for.
tunste time for the mstter to come be-
fore Council but the- appropriation
should be made
Mr.. Monroe was not ready to vote for
this until the fusnce committee made a
report. 1t should be referred.
Mr.. Uhler and the chsir thought this
appropriation unconstitutional and The
chair called attention to the difficulty of
increasing the revenue SO, 500 10y the
decrease in discounD, end now Council
was asked to give away one-fouryh OF
this increase. A number of his con-
stituents has spoken to him in opposi-
ton to this and he would oppose the ap-
preparation. He had gone 30 far ss TO
consult an attorney concerning the mat
ter and had been informed that Council
bad no right "a trustees of the city to
vote the peoples money for such pur-
pose.
Mr.. Leadbeater spoke Of the adyer-
Using Yalue Of the celehratinn. He bad