Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-15
ALEXANDRIA AFT AIRS
Council in Spirited Debate on
Tax Assessment.
REDUCED RATE PROPOSED
Final Action on Finance Committee S
Report Deferred-Other Business
Transacted-General News.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Observation-Disclosures news.
| Special Correspondence Of The Star.
ALEX ANDRIA, Va, February Is, 1911.
| The finance committee of the city coun.
ell last night reported favorably on a re-
duction of the city tax assessment from
$3.50, the present rate, to $1.75. The re.
duction was due, 1t is said. to the in
creased assessment just made. The re.
port of the committee provides for a dis
count of per cent on taxes paid by July
and discount of per cent on all bills
paid by September l.
II is provided in the report that a pen
atty of per cent be added for bills not
paid by December l and a penalty of {
per cent on bills not paid within a year
The report caused spirited debate
among the members, and was finally re.
committed by a vote Of 8 to s. 1t is ex.
pected that 1t will be reported on at the
next meeting.
Criticises Business Organization.
Councilman Howard W. Smith OPENLY
asserted during the progress of the de-
bate that strong business organization
said that when the assessment was made
1t was considerably increased, and the
general understanding was that the rate
would be reduced by council. The pur-
pose Of delaying action. he declared, was
20. enable certain organization to exert
lts lnnuence upon council to have the
ngures remain the same.
councilman Spinks said he had been ap-
pioached by member Of the chamber
OF commerce and asked to let the tax
rate remain at the present figures. In
Tepiy TO query of Councilman
piochett' who is president of the
chamber of commerce, Mr.. Sninks ga id
Mr.. Brockett was the one who an
preached him on the street on this suh-
Ject He also added that at various
times members of the same organiza
ton asked him to favor an Increased
assessment.
Difference in Sentiment.
Councilman Burke of the finance COM
mlttee explained that the committee
mad figured on different rates, among
them being s1.75. $1.70 and $1.65, and
after mature deliberation the members
thought S1.75. with discount off. would
be proper rate The old assessment
he explained. totaled s5.45O,oo and the
new one s6,35O.O0O The city. he said
would derive $500 more revenue with
this new rate than it did last year.
In the opinion Of Councilman Will
liams. the $4,000 would hardly prove
adequate for the needs of the city,
which he enumerated
1t was declared by Councilman Mar
shall that 1t would be manifestly I'M
fair to tax the small home owner to
death in order that council might get
what it wants, and he expressed him
self as unalterably opposed to any
such methods Of taxation.
Councilman Snowden said there was a
distinct understanding that when the as
sessment was raised the tax rate would
be decreased. He added that it would be
double dealing with the people if coun-
Gil did not make a reduction. He said
he would stand by the report of the
finance committee, it having gone over
the matter thoroughly.
Among those who favored recommitting
the report were Councilmen Leadbeater,
Swan. Williams, Chauncey.
Election Deferred.
The election Of a school trustee to fill
the vacancy caused by the declination of
Laurence Stabler, recently elected. to
serve was postponed until the next meet
ing.
A resolution making 1t unlawful to in
terfere with the sweeping of any city
street and making such interference pun
Va
passed.
The street and finance committee rec
commended that a resolution offered by
Councilman Spinks. providing for fire
plugs to connect with the river on Union
street, be referred to the board OF fire
wardens. and it's report was adopted
A resolution providing for the recogni-
ton Of Peyton street extended as legal
street, dedicated by Judge ]. K NJ. Nor
ton, was passed.
The Alexandria Fertilizer and Chemical
Company asked permission to erect a
frame annex at the foot or Princess
street and 1t was referred to the street
committee. Permission was granted /.
F. Kelly to erect frame house on Wolfe
street between Alfred and Patrick streets.
Miscellaneous Business.
A resolution for gaslights in front Of
the Second Baptist Church and at Oro-
noco and ST. Asaph streets and on
Henry street from Oronoco northward
was referred to the light committee.
A bill of George w. Jones for $5.01 for
supp.-es furnished a quarantined pa
ttent was ordered paid. A resolution
offered by Councilman Swan, that all
resolutions and ordinances referred to
a committee be reported back within
thirty days, was referred to the general
laws committee.
The ordnance IOr imposing anu COl-
lecting licenses was referred to the
finance committee.
George f. Price asked permission to
be relieved of the payment of gas and
water rent for a fish bench In the city
market and same was referred to the
sinking fund commissioners.
The commonW attorney asked
that his salary be made $500 year In
accordance with section 1O11 of the
code. and same was referred to the
finance committee.
resolution for an additional ap-
Precipitation of $500 from the co-opera-
tive charities was referred to the
finance committee. A petition for pipe
sewer from King street southwark on
Payne to nearby alley was referred to
the street committee.
Retail Merchants Meet.
The Retail Merchants Association at a
| meeting held last evening in the rooms
of the chamber Of commerce made ar
rangements for a banquet, which will be
held the evening of March q. A com.
| mittee composed Of Courtenay Acton
| Harry Hammond and b. We'll was ap
| pointed TO make the necessary arrange
ments for the AFFAIR.
A committee consisting Of L. Ruben, II
| Hammond and F. G. Saunders was ap
pointed to draft suitable resolutions OF
| respect to the memory of the late Rob
| ert w Arnold. who was a member anG
director of that organization. 1t was also
| decided to send a floral tribute and at
| tend the funeral.
| Carl j. Mueller was elected member
of the organization.
/ The state corporation commi ssion ha:
granted a charter to the PopeS Creel