Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-03-01
pend upon what council decides:

statement that the man who gaS i,;t
hardest was the poor man. Hs hali
acted rs clerk to the assessor and LIE
assessment had not been against tbs
poor man and the widow MI,
Chauncey called attention to the fact
-. Mr.. Spinks gave an ex-
s.u.ple OF man whose home had been
raised from $4,000 to $1,000, Mr..
Spinks, when questioned, had refused
to state the value OF this piece OF
property; the lowest possible rate, ne
believed, was 81 10. Mr.. Brumback
tried to stop the debate while Mr..
Chauncey had the floor but was not
successful.
Mr.. Chauncey continuing said adj
ditional revenue was needed to pay
the city employees living wage and
to put the city streets in decent con-
dition.
After an unsuccessful attempt by
Mr.. Smith to limit debate Mr.. Birrell
took the floor. He realized the need
the city has for revenue hut thought
the rate should be lowered.
Mr.. Birrell then complimented the
Chambar OF Commerce on its work for
the city. Mr.. Birrcll thought 4 plan
Of street improvement that would take
in the outskirts OF the town was need
ed.
Mr.. Swan spoke in favor OF the
amendment offered BY Mr.. Leadbeater.
He said that the increase Of values on
King an.l nortl, Washington street show
clearly Inc benefit 10 the city from
street improvements He said that if
George " Washington should return and
see iI,r ,.rndition of Cameron street he
vonii tlini. ouncil has beer dead ever
s.Jce he .iiei He saii IL hsd been
though ole Of the colored schools re-
cratIy AMI its condition vas very hah'
the city certainly needed additional
:rAuH II build ncw cno:r! S2hnnf7
NJ. f:,umbark Also Thought III" r,r,
needed additional money for many
purposes, as q rule lie believed in sup
porting the recommendation OF COM
mittees but in this case he could not
support the committee He favored a
rate az $1.7 without discount
Mr.. Williams said that at the last
meeting = statement OF the probable
revenue for the coming year Has on the
desk OF every councilman. This state
ment showing total increase oil 5000
contained one item OF s23 900 that Has
estimated.
Mr.. Burke said that the finance com
mittee doubted il the increase would De
as great at So, 600.
Mr.. Williams said NC were talking
OF annexing some OF the adjacent terri
tory. The people in this territory could
now get roads by their property with
out extra charge but il they came into
the city they would have to pay front
foot assessment.
Mr.. 5noWdsn mir. Smith il the
chair took the floor He said the as
sessmeut had been raised from 81, 900.
900 to S5,000,000 or twenty per
centunl, and that niue out OF every ten
property owner had believed that the
rate would be couimesuraiely decreased.
He said that this had been generally
understood and agreed to By the old
council.
Messrs. Leadbeater, Monroe, Harri-
son and ptbe,~members disagreed with
Mr.. t5nowden ii Ia, I'll Snowdcn
thought the city should stand by the
time tried system Of discounts; that
under the plan of the finance commit
tee sos, 900 could be spent on the
streets and ne believed this vas sufficient
in the city's present condition. He
said reference had been mail. 10 another
bond issue when the last on : 80 QI0
would cost the city $50, o.. :; interest
and now some OF the very men who
had advised that issue now realized the
mistake they had made. He said the
petition presented by Mr.. Spinks showed
that the tax payers wanted reduction
in the rate. The old rate vas $50 with
s per cent of and the plan nov proposed
by Mr.. Leadbester would make the
rate but four centsI on hundred dollars
less, while the assessment had been
raised 20 per cent. He hoped council
should upholdEthe committee.
Mr.. Yates favored Mr.. Leadbeater's
amendment, and said the city needed
the money for improvements.
On vote Mr. Smith $ substitute pro-
vided rate of S1.65 with per cent
penalty was lost by vote OF noes II to
ayes2, Messrs. Smith and Spinks vot-
ing for it.
Mr.. Leadbeater's amendment pro.
viding fiat rate Of S1.75 was adopted
by vote of TO 6. Messrs Snowden,
Burke, Smith, Birrell, Mao5hall and
Spinks voting no.
The tax law Is amended vas then
passed by vote OF ayes 10, noes 6,
the same vote as above.
A motion TO adjourn was made but
was withdrawn.
Reports from the committee on light
providing for lights at Oronoco ana st.
Assph streets and 10 front OF the SscoHd
Baptist Church were adopted.
There was some reference made to
report from the committee On the codi
fcstion OF the city laws. but no action
vas taken.
Ca.r,;1 oopo,,rre5 IN e..,arol ~, altar.