Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-02-28
MEETING OF THE FINANCE COM
MITTEE.

! A meeting VI tAie $1,000"
OF the City Council was held shortly
after four O'Clock yesterday afternoon
| in the chamber OF the Board of Alder
men for the purpose Of hearing any
suggestion citizens desired to max,
concerning the rate Of taxation for thu
year commencing June l, 1911, anc
ending May 81, 1912 The committee
at the meeting of Council February l.
reported in favor of making the ratt
SITS on the one hundred dollars will
six per cent. discount on all bills paic
by July l. TWAS decided by the Com
mon Council, in which board the reror
was submitted, to lay the report over
until the next regular meeting TO-
night.
All the members OF the committed
we're present yesterday evening. and
Mr.. Henry K. Field, chairman OF the
committee upon taking the chair stated
that the committee was ready to hear
any suggestions those present might
desire 10 make, MIR. Field further
stated that the rate had been fixed at
81. rs with six per cent. Off bills PAID
by July /. and that four per cent.
penalty would be assessed against tax
PAYERS who neglected TO pay their bills
by September L.
Mir. Albert Smoot, OF committee Of
the Chamber of Commerce, stated that
Mr.. ]. T. Preston, secretary Of that
organization, would appear in few
minutes with the resolution which
had Just been adopted at meeting Of
the Chamber Of Commerce. The
resolution embodied all the chamber
desired to lay before the committee.
Mr.. F. c. Spinks, member OF the
Common Council from the Fourth
ward, arose and presented petition
signed by about 200 persons asking
that the tax rate be fixed at $l.65 hat.
He said for years many citizens had
wanted the city assessment increased
aud the rate OF taxation decreased.
This could not be done until recently
without conflicting with the state assess
meut. The recent state assessment.
no weyer, had made this possible. Mr..
Spinks argued in behalf OF the petition
he had submitted, alleging that by
fixing the rate rs suggested better
showing would be made to the world.
He said this plan would only make q
difference OF a few hundred dollars in
the tax receipts. Mr.. Spinks asked
the committee to consider the sugEes-
tionc OF the petitioners.
Mr.. Albert Smoot said the ideas OF
the Chamber of Commerce had been
That organization
was not asking for specific rate but
for specific policy. He asked the
committee to carefully consider the
resolutions adopted By the Chamber Of
Commerce, and stated that that organi
cation represented between So and 50
per cent. OF the taxpayers of the city.
AT this iuncture Mr.. Preston ap-
peared in the chamber. He read the
resolutions, which are as follows:
We strongly urge the finance com
mittee of the City Council to consider q
tax rate for 1911, which will make it
possible to begin plan for the syste-
matte improvement Of the streets OF
our city from the general fund without
cost to the AUDITING property owner.
I'VE believe that definite plan,
which would eventually improve all OF
our streets to Our city limits. would be
acceptable to our taxpayers if they felt
that the plan contemplated the move
ment in front of their property in time,
and we behave that such q plan is the
only fair one to the entire taxpeying
community.
Eve further believe, that under the
present OUTLAWS. when the number and
condition Of our streets are considered,
that it will be found that the streets OF
our city as q whole are deteriorating i'll
certain sections faster than they arc be.
ing built up in others.
I'VE BELIEVE that this condition is
caused By lack of funds to properly
and Systematically improve,
I've believe that dat rate, with a
penalty provided for nonpsyment,
would work s greater advantage to our
city than our present method OF taxa
ton, as we feel that our present method
causes q misunderstanding as to our
actual tax rate among those who are
not familiar with our present system,
and who are interested in coming to
Alexandria.
1T is the desire OF our committee to
extend our thanks to the finance com.
mittee of the City Council for this
bearing, and we respectfully ask that
our ideas be carefully considered, S"
After the resolutions had been read,
Mr.. Smoot said the committee OF the
Chamber OF Commerce had nothing
further to communicate and thanked
the committee for the courtesy which
had been extended the representatives
OF the Chamber OF Commerce.
Chairman Field subsequently asked
Mr.. S. P. Fisher, corporation attorney,
who was present, to give his opinion
concerning the power OF the City
Council to allow discounts and impose
penalties. Mr.. Fisher said that un-
der the charters OF this city and the
statute laws OF the state the City
Council cannot make greater penalty
for on-payment of taxes than six per
cent per annum but Council can allow
such discount as in its discretion it may
deem proper.
Mr.. H. R. Burke, member of the
finance committee, said the discount
was sn inducement to many people to
pay their taxes.
Mr.. Albert Snoot stated that the