Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-16
ASKS FOR VOTE
On BOND ISSUE.
Prospect of Settlement of all Finan-
cial Questions Now Pending
in Council.
PROPOSED ISSUE 100000
Voters to Decide Question il City Council
Agrees TO Resolution introduced by
MIR. Smith Last Night.


. Al the special meeting Council last
!nIgh, "A resolution was filed with the
clerk by Councilman Smith. provid'
+! ing for an election for Il bond issue
for street improvement, and at the
same time, submitting 70 Il vote OF
the people the veXed question oI
whether the streets shall be improved
! out of the general fund or by the
present method OF voluntary contrib
utions. The method OF improvement
| has been the bone Of contention for
several years between The warning
factions OF The lower board. And
as there is little chance OF obtaining
voluntary contributions when the
matter is being constantly agitaied in
council. and apparently no hope OF
an agreement being reached between
the advocates Of the two different me-
lhods, there has been Il growing SEN
| timpnl among The members of the
| lower board that the faireSt and only
! final way OF settling the question
would be by votes of the people.
The resolution was read by num-
Der OF members OF council on either
side OF The question. and all agreed
that The proposal was eminenlly Il
fair way of putting the question at
rest. The advocates Of each method
are firmly and honestly convinced
OF the Righteousness Of their cause
The advocates Of improvement our Of
the general fund say that the local
assessment plan violates the letter, if
not the spirit or the constitution. and
that il is unfair shat the properly
holders should be required 10 con-
tribute TO the improvement of Il pub
lie highway merely because his prop
erly adjoins it, and that The city. in
stead of building the streets where
most needed, must build them where
the adjoining properly owners are
willing to contribute.
On the other hand, the advocates
of Improvement by contribution OF
the property owners. say that all the
street improvements accomplished in
the past few years have been done un-
der this method. and that il manifest
ly unfair that some should contrib
ute 10 build the streets while those
who have held off should get street
improvements in front of their prop
erty without additional cost; and
further. that if The Improvement is
made out of the general fund. al the
rate OF three or four blocks year.
all the money for years TO come Will
be spent in the heart of the city,
and those living several blocks from
King street will continue 10 bump
over the cobble stones even unto the
third and fourth generation.
The advocates of the contribution
plan express themselves as being will
ing that the streets should be improv-
ed out Of the general fund. provided
comprehensive system is adopted
and a sufficient amount of money is
provided so that all of the princi-
pal streets may be paved and every
section Of the city receive its fair
portion Of the benefit. The bond is
| sue plan is therefore suggested as
solution Of The problem. with the END
in view that the improvement may
he spread out over the different sec
tions of the city. The resolution
which was offered by Mr.. Smith reads
as follows:
BE it resolved by the City Council
of Alexandria. that the question OF
whether the Streets of the city shall
he improved out of the general fund,
or under the present method of vol
untarv contributions by the adJoln-
ing property owners. shall be submit
ted to a vote Of the people at the COM
ing election of city officers; and al
that time shall be submitted TO the
vote of the people proposal ior a
bond issue for s1OO,O0o.0O for per-
manent street Improvements to be en-
nended according to the plan OF street
improvement adopted by the majority
of the votes cast at the said election
And whether said bond issue snail
carry or not. all permanent street I'M
provements undertaken after the date
of said election shall be made in ac'
cordance with the result Of the said
election on the question Of the me-
thod of street Improvement.
Be it further Resolved, That the
CORPORATION Attorney be, and ha is