The Washington herald., 1913-06-04
ALEXANDRIA COUNCIL
DEBATES LIQUOR TAX
No Agreement Reached and Confer
ference Committee Is Appointed
to Consider Proposition.
SALOON PAYMENT IS DELAYED

stored by the Aldermen to- the former
figures, the City Council of Alexandria
tonight deadlocked over the proposition.
Before adjournment a resolution of
Councilman Smith was passed to the ef-
feet that the president of the common
council and the president of the board
Of Aldermen are to confer with view
of agreeing upon the matter. A report
is TO be made at o'clock Friday night
This action was taken by the lower
branch of the council after a conference
committee reported its inability to reach
an agreement. This committee was com
posed of Councilmen Leadbeater and
Chauncey. From the higher board the
committee consisted Of Aldermen Hill
and Fitzgerald.
When the council convened the clerk
read the amendments made by the Al
dermen to the license bill, they having
restored the former liquor licenses.
which had been increased by the finance
committee from $50 to $3.50 a year
A motion of Councilman Smith that
the Council nonconcur in the Aldermen's
action was lost by vote of 10 to 6. Those
voting nay were Councilmen Burke, Lead
beaten, Lambert, Graham, Williams,
Crockett, Harrison, Swan. Chauncey, and
President Brumback, while those voting
aye were Councilmen Spinks, Smith, Biz
rell, Monroe. Marshall, and Bryan.
explained his attitude on the increase of
license, among other things saying he
thought Common Council was absolutely
right in recommending the measure. The
Board of Aldermen. he said. thought all
of the license bill was perfectly proper
except that part relating 10 the increase
in the liquor traffic.
A recitation of the licenses paid in
other Virginia cities was then given by
hn
held the lowest in the State. More reve-
nue. was, he said, needed for schools,
IRE engine houses, &c. No hardship
would be incurred, he thought by a 500
Increase He therefore hoped the Com
mon Council would not recede from its
former action in the matter. After the
committee made its report of its inability
TO agree. Councilman Birren took the
floor and called the attention of the
members to the fact that il would be best
TO reconcile their difference, which, he
declared, was a duty the members owe
to the people of the city, as without this
revenue from the passage of the license
bill the city would be without funds for
its present needs. In conclusion, he said:
I'VE had better do it: the people are 60
ing &c hold somebody responsible. Who
will it be-
Councilman Leadbeater called attention
to the fact that the license bill last year
was not passed until June Is. and the
year prior to that IL did not pass until
June q.
Next the report of the conference COM
mittee was received and the committee
discharged, following resolution TO that
effect by Councilman Swan. A resolu-
ton of Councilman Harrison. offered
earlier in the night. that Council noncon-
cur in the action of the Aldermen and
a
tated some debate. A similar one of Mr.
Smith finally passed. However, President
Brumback did not appoint Mr.. Smith a
member Of this committee.
Another motion of Councilman Smith to
appoint a conference committee consist
ing of Messrs. Brookett and Burke was
lost by a vote of ten TO six.
IF you refuse the committees report
you face a deficit of $1,000" declared
Councilman Williams.
Councilman Bryan called his attention
to the fact that several years ago, when
he was in Council, the finance committee
raised the license Of the liquor people, |
but gave them an opportunity of appear
ing before the committee to hear their
statements before so doing.
Councilman Bryan desired to know
from Mr.. Williams if the city gets this
revenue if it would insure the erection of
*
if it could be shown him he willingly
would vote for the bill. Mr.. Williams ex-
planned it would create a sinking fund
for such a purpose.
Councilman Smith defended his sin
cerity in introducing a resolution some
time ago for the erection of a school
house as did also Councilman Birrell.
This was brought about when Mr.. Will
liams questioned the sincerity of some
Nv haf
luton provided for the purchase of
site and this he declared had been done.
and he also added that he had arranged
a plan of financing the proposition, which
matter he had never been asked about
by the Finance Committee of Council.
This question of the city going to the
bad on finances had been raised be-
fore.
Following the meeting of Council to-
night the opinion prevailed among many
that the conference between the presi-
dents of the two respective boards will
amount to nil, and Alexandra, there
fore will be without liquor license tax.
Just what will be done about the matter
in that event is problematical. However.
the saloon keepers will not be compelled
10 pay until this matter finally is adj
justed. There was an unusually. large
at the meeting of Council
tonight. and during the evening there
were a number of spirited debates IN
which many of the members of Council
participated.
In observance of the birthday of Jeffer-
son Davis the members Of the Seven
teenth Virginia Regiment Chapter, United
Daughters Of the Confederacy, tonight
rendered a reception TO the members OF
r. E. Lee Camp, Confederate Veterans, at
Lee Camp Hall. Lewis H. Machen de-
livered an address on the life of Jeffer-
son Davis During the evening there also
was a vocal and instrumental programme
given, which was followed by refresh
ments.
On behalf of the Seventeenth Virginia
Regiment Chapter a clock was presented
TO r. E. Lee Camp by Mrs. W. D. Ogden.
and 1t was accepted with thanks on be-
half of the camp by Commander William
A. Smoet.
At the public schools today many of
the teachers read extracts from the life
of Jefferson Davis to the pupils. There
was no other observance of the day here |
One hundred and ten members of Alex |
andria- Washington Lodge, No. % Ma |
sons. of this city, will leave here at 6:25
o. clock Thursday morning. by special |
electric train for fraternal visit to Will |
lam L. Elkins Lodge, No. 64s. Philadel- |
phia. Arriving in Washington they will |
board a special electric train at Four |
tenth and B Streets for the Union Sta |
ton, leaving Washington at 7:4o o'clock. |
While in Philadelphia they will be enter |
tanned by a visit TO the Masonic Temple. |
2 trip through Fairmont Park, and other |
points of interest in automobiles, which |