The Washington herald., 1911-05-03

Alexandria. Va, May City council
| tonight by a vote Of to S, passed,
with an amendment on discounts, Couu.
Gilman r. H. Graham's new tax ortii-
nance, which provided that the rate
| shall be sLsO on the 500. with a dis
count Of per cent II paid by July 1,
when due. and a discount Of 2 per cent II
paid by September ! next. A penalty
OF per cent is added II not paid by
December /. 1911. and a penalty Of per
cent IL not paid by June /, 1872
This ordinance will come before the
board OF aldermen at meeting to be
held Tuesday night next. The indica-
tions are that the aldermen will not
concur. but will again pass the matter in
Its original form and ask for a confer
ence committee to fix upon a rate Of
discount. The aldermen, at the last meet
ing, fixed the rate at $lS0 on the 800
and allowed discounts Of 6 and per
cent, respectively, with the usual pen
alties for delinauents.
In the meantime Alexandria's tax rate
Is up in the air.
When council convened tonight the
ordinance as passed by the board of
aldermen at its last meeting was read.
Councilman Burke then took the floor
and suggested that council should in
some measure be governed by the ac-
| ton Of the board of alderman in the
matter. as they also had rights. Upon
motion OF Councilman Leadbeater II
was decided to take UP the matter as
| fresh business. minus the amendments
offered to the ordinance at the last
meeting.
A motion Of Councilman Spinks to
make the rate $.5 with a discount of
6 per cent OF was voted down. as
was a resolution of Councilman Birrell
to make the rate Of S1.7S with a dis
! count of, 6 per cent of, and a motion
Of Councilman Birrell that the ordinance
be laid on the table was also lost.
Councilman Leadbeater then moved
that the ordinance as amended by
Councilman Graham be adopted.
Councilman Spinks took the floor and
extolled the virtues Of the finance COM
mittee. adding that they were well quail
fed to observe the needs of the city and
the finances necessary for its operating
expenses. He also contended that he
thought that the object Of the resolu-
tions introduced at the last meeting was
to improve unimproved property. He
called attention to resolutions for laying
granolithic sidewalks on eight squares,
adding that the appropriation asked for
was about one-third Of the total value
the property is assessed for. In conclu-
sion he declared that some members
wanted to burden the people and he
would not vote for it.
President Snowden said he had not In
his association found any one in favor of
the proposition. The people, he said. asked
for bread and were given a stone. In
conclusion, he said this will be an IN
crease tax. which the people are ill-pre-
pared to stand at this time.
Those voting for Mr.. Graham's amend
ment were: Messrs. Leadbeater, Swan.
Harrison, Brockett, Monroe. Yates. Brum-
back, Graham, and Williams. and those
against it were Messrs. Snowden. Burke,
Smith. Birrell. and Spinks.
A recitation of the history Of the tax
ordinance since It first came into the
board was given by Councilman Williams,
who declared the matter as 1t now
stands appears to be taking advantage Of
technicalities.
The ordinance as amended was taken
up and passed by the same vote, Q to s.