Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-15
ALEXANDRIA AFT AIRS
Friction in City Council Over
New Tax Rate.
RULES OF BODY SET ASIDE
Right of the President to Appoint
Committee Denied-General
and Personal News.
RULES OF BODY SET ASIDE
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

!
cember .-1911, there shall be assessed
bills not paid by June /, 1912. dam
ages at the rate Of per cent shall be
assessed and collected
The new rate, by taking advantage
Of the discount. makes the property
| owner pay SIPS on the $1,000. The
| rate last year was $3.50 on the 500,
| with a discount of 6 per cent for
prompt payment, which, by taking ad-
vantage of the discount. made it s17.sS
on the $1,000. The new rate is, there
| fore. a saving of IS cents on the
$1,000. Really, however, it is regarded
as an increase, in view OF the IN
a big increase when it is taken into
consideration that every year up TO
| last year the discount given for prompt
payment was 10 per cent.
Result Of Conference.
The rate was brought about through a
conference committee consisting OF Al
dermen II. X. Field and c. ]. W. Sum-
| mers and f. s. Leadbeater and j. \.
Williams. The higher board first adopt
| ed the report of the committee and when
| it came into council considerable debate
followed. after which it was adopted by
| j vote of nine to six. Those faNorins
the report were Leadbeater, Brum-
back, Graham, Williams. Monroe, Brock-
EFT. Harrison, Swan and Chancery. Those
against it were Snowden. Burke, Smlth,
Birrell, Marshall and Spinks.
Considerable debate followed motion
to adopt as to what action council should
take. President Snowden was OF the
opinion that it would be necessary for
first. Mr.. Williams moved that coun-
Gil non-concur and proceed to elect a
conference committee. The chair ruled
the election OF a committee to be out OF
order and the motion to non-concur was
carried by a vote of 8 to 5.
President Snowden then named Messrs.
Burke and Williams on the conference
committee Mr.. Williams declined to
serve, and nominated Messrs. Brumback
and Leadbeater and Mr. Birrell nomi-
mated Messrs. Burke and Marshall.
Presidents Rights Invaded.
The rules showing the right of the
president Of council to name his own
committee were explained by Vice Presi-
dent Smith, who added that unless the
rules were changed council had no right
TO elect committee. The. chair ruled
that before any other appointments were
made the ones already selected must be
rejected. Mr.. Williams made motion
Ito that effect.
President Spowden left the chair and
made a statement to the effect that he
would not entertain motion to take
away from him the power vested in him.
He said he had been in council for TWEEN
ty-eight years and was no squeale-, but
such a thing had never been attempted
before and it would rebound to the dis
credit Of those who attempted it, He
added that he had tried to be fair in
making his appointments. A vote was
taken as to whether or not the appoint
ments of Messrs. Burke and Williams
would stand, and was lost by vote of
o to .. Many nominations were then
made.
Ruling by the Chair.
Vice President Smith ruled that the
election Of a committee was not in order,
unless the rules Of council were changed.
Mr.. Williams appealed from the deci-
sion Of the chair.
4 vote was taken as to whether Mr..
Smiths decision would he sustained, and
it was rejected by vote of to 5, and
gain by the same vote council elected
Messrs. Leadbeater and Williams to the
committee on conference.
The committee conferred with a COM
mittee from the board Of aldermen. and
shortly after 10 o'clock they brought IN
their report, which was adopted by a
vote of to 6. as stated.
The report was read by Alderman Field.
who appeared before council. Mr.. Field
said the new rate with the increa sed
taxes would yield the city about $1,000 ad-
ditional revenue over that of last year.
Before council finally passed on the mat
ter speeches were made by Messrs. Snow
den, Birrell, Marshall Chauncey, Will
liams, Spinks and others.
Deficit in School Fund.
A communication was received from
Capt. Herbert Bryant, chairman of the
city school board, directing the attention
OF council TO the fact that July 1 next
there would be a deficit in the school
appropriation of s4,163.O9 1t was set
forth that the shortage was brought
about mainly by decreased receipts from
the state. 1t was also cited that before
long some Of the buildings would need
repairing.
The board Of aldermen referred to the
general laws committee resolution that
council adopt the laws for the govern.
ment Of that body OF 1877, and council
concurred.
The report Of the street committee ap-
propriating $3.50 for pipe sewer from
King street southwark 10 Payne street.
was adopted. 1t is provided. however,
that the money will not become avail
able until $225 has been placed in the
city treasury by the property owners
exclusive Of the cost of taps. The sum
Of $3.50 was appropriated for sewer on
N'outiI All GU StICct W COullcCI WITH the
main sewer at Wilkes street The com
mittee reported adversely on petition
Of the Alexandria Fertilizer and Chemi-
ca! Company to erect frame addition to
its Office at the foot of Princess street
owing TO its close proximity to the city
gas works, and the report was adopted,
Petitions Referred.
Petitions Of F. G. Pullen to erect a
temporary frame shed at 3l4 Queen
street and w. II. Mcdowell for improve
ments to 32s South Alfred street were
referred to the street committee. A ne.
tition of Policeman Clayton Arlington for
| salary from January to March I. he
| having been injured by a fall December
| - last while In the discharge of his
duty, was referred to the committee on
| nnance and police.
| "a petition of L. d. Lane to improve
| 40 North Henry street was also refer
red to the street committee A request
1 for an improved gas lamp at Duke and
Lee streets was referred to- the light
committee.
resolution that the light committee
| ascertain the cost of gas lamps on all
| corners where none exist was referred
| to the light committee.
| When council convened President
Snowden had Councilman Birrell ,ad
statement concerning the tax law and
the power Of the chair to appoint . COM
mittee. With other things he referre
| 10 discourteous treatment to the chair
on the part of certain gentlemen In coun-
| ell at the last meeting Of that body.