The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-03-30
Slight hss In Tsx Rsss-Humbx Of Increases In
Licenses - School Trustees Rs-EIsctsd -
0tha BUSINESS.

II
council was held In the Council Cham
Der Friday to receive bids for the electric
franchises. lay a license tax and levy for
the years 1909-1910 and TO transact
general business. There was a very
large crowd OF taxpayers who manifest
ed much interest In the proceedings
President Bradley. Clerk Eastburn, CITY
Attorney titzhugh and Couneilmen
Lane. Melville, Rowe, Goldsmith. Gar.
ner, Embrey, Brown, Masters, Warden,
dreen and Howard were present.
President Bradley stated object OF
meeting and on motion OF Mr. Garner
the electric franchises were the first ami.
iects considered.
Judge Alvin II. Embrey, counsel pre-
sented bids for afranchise for the Freder-
icksburg Electric Co., amounting 10
500. aud also bid for franchise for the
Electric Generating Co. of $25, and ell
expenses Incurred by city in connection
with both.
Judge Embrsy stated that the bids
were merely nominal and not for
the value OF tbs franchises; that the real
value to th city would be the proper-
ties oil the COMPANY, which would be-
come tax assets To rhe city, as the COM
peniee were enlarged and prospered
Before any action was taken President
bradley read letter from President
Whitner, OF the Fredericksburg Power
70, In which he stated that his COM
pany did not recognize the city's right
to the 80 Inches OF water. as claimed by
City Attorney Fitzhugh. and that his
company would not ente rtain any prop
osition to grant same as u condition Of
the selling OF the franchise.
Mr.. Bradley stated that on receipt of
said letter he had conferred with Secre-
tary Embrey OF the Power Co, and ask
ed his construction OF the city's rights
Tor water for power and domestic pur-
poses under contract OF year 1900. He
then read letter from President Whit
ner and Secretary and Treasurer En-
orey, which states that the Power Co.
holds that under the contract for the use
OF 30 horse power at the paper mill with
Mrs. Martha +. Clark, 81 date Jan. 1,
1904, the city has the unquestioned
right to use said water, not TO exceed 30
horse power, Tor any purposes IL sees fit
In connection with city water works.
and may draw the came IN whole or in
part into it's reservoirs, or may use the
came In whole or part as q motive power
Tor the purpose OF running its pumps"
MI .Embrey offered two resolutions
recommending referring the bids to the
Joint Committee OF Ordinance and r.
nance. Adopted.
The Joint Committee, Mr.. C. r. How
ard chairman, retired and later reported
recommending the acceptance OF the two
bids for the. franchises.
Mr.. Embrey offered resolution for &C.
ceptance OF bids, which was unanimous
ly adopted.
Mr.. Howard. chairman, presented the
franchises and both were unanimously
Il odnnenA Tha
franchises accompanied the bids.
Mr.. Lane, OF Finance Committee. pre-
sented the following:
| The board OF directors OF the Wallsce
Library having reported TO the Council
that said board IL unanimously OF the
opinion that only the sum OF g, 900 o,
the $4,000 belonging TO said library
fund should be now expended In the
purchase of books, and that the re-
naming $4,000 should be invested BY
the Council until the same is needed for
the purchase Of more books
Resolved by the Council, that the FL
nance Committee OF the Council do invest
said $4,000 in Virginia century bonds,
registered, In the name OF the city OF
fredericksburg for Wallace Library, and
the city treasurer is directed to honor
the said draft OF said Finance Com
Il uAllNCC lOT bhl1 ED.OOO. AQODle0 ON
motion OF Mr.. Goldsmith.
| Mr.. Fitzhugh called attention to the
grade on Princess Anne street from Han.
over to Commerce street On motion of
Mr.. Rowe, referred to Street Committee
with power to act
The license tax and general levy for
l9O9-lO was then presented by Chair
man Lane OF Finance and taken I'D in
sections. The general levy on real estate
| and personality was increased from 81 40
to II 40, and the . per cent discount al
lowed Tor prompt payment on or before
Oct. 10 was stricken out, but the per
cent. penalty and per cent interest il
not paid by that date remains in force
The . percent discount was also strick en-
out in all licenses So the payment of
all city taxes and licenses are on the
same basis as the State, no discount
but penalty and interest Mr. Goldsmith
moved that the 8 per cent discount on
real aud personal property remain, which
was concurred in by Mr.. Masters, but
after some discussion Mr.. Masters with
drew his second to the motion and il
was not considered.
The tax on tobacco, cigars and snuff
was increased from So to $40, to which
there was no objection, but the recon-
mendation to put 500 on cigarettes
was met by motion by Mr.. Embrey.
seconded by Mr.. Green, to make tax
$500. Mr.. Howard offered substitute
for whole that tax be not changed. The
motions of M. Howard and Mr. Embrey
were lost, and the recommendation of
committee adopted and tax made 800
Bowling alleys license was made 500
Tor first and 50 each additional alley.
box bali 80 each alley.
Attorneys, physians, opticians, ocu-
lists, etc, were increased $40 each and
graduated; $25 for one class and $35 for
other.
Sewing machine dealers from $l5 to
S25.
When express company was reached
Mr.. Goldsmith moved that license be in
creased from $3.50 to $3.50 This was
seconded by Mr.. Embrey. The commit
tee recommended $500.
The motion to increase to $3.50 was
lost and license fixed at $500.
Fire insurance companies Increased
from $35 to $50.
The committee recommended a license
on coca-cola OF $15. Adopted.
The license on Weis beer, Jamaica
ginger and other drinks OF similar char
acter was recommended 10 be SIS. Mr..
Embrey said he desired coca cola en-
braced In these and asked that action on
coca-cola be reconsidered. This was
carried, Messrs. Lane, Howard and
Bradley voting no. Coca-cola was
then embraced in the section and the
license made $75.
On motion OF Mr. Howard the bill was
then adopted Is q whole.
Mr.. Rowe, OF Water, presented bills for
street sprinkling since July /, 1908.
cleaning raceway near Kenmore shoe