The Washington herald., 1913-05-14
ALEXANDRIA COUNCIL
MAKES APPROPRIATIONS
Plans for New High School Aatherized.
E. c. Dunn Reelected City
Engineer.
COUNTIES INEouITABLY TAXED


Alexandra. Va, May. l3.-Preliminary
steps toward the erection OF a public
high school building were taken by city
council tonight. when an appropriation
OF 500 was made to secure plans ana
specifications for the erection Of the
proposed $4,000 high school building.
The city school board asked for an
appropriately of 5000 to meet the def
cit In the school funds for the present
school year, and the. matter was re-
ferred to theo finance committee.
There was "a joint session of council,
at which time f. c., Dunn was re-
elected city. engineer. He was placed in
nomination by Alderman Kenneth w.
Ogden.
The annual license law providing for
imposing and collecting licenses came
up in the lower board, but no action
was taken. 1t was stated it should have
originated in the higher board, and it
viii be read for the first time in that
board at the next meeting. A numoer
OF changes are reported to have oeen
made In the various licenses.
The annual tax ordinance providing
Tor the imposing of taxes on property
and persons for the year beginning
June !. 1913. and ending May 81, 1914.
passed the aldermen, and under the rules
was laid over in the lower board until
the next meeting. There is no change
in this the old rate of $3.50 on the 500
on property prevailing. with the usual
discount for prompt payment.
The annual appropriation bill, appro-
priating a part Of the citys revenue for
the fiscal year. was referred to the
finance committee.
resolution of Councilman Birrell ap-
propriating $3.50 for the purchase of a
horse for the Reliance Fire Engine Com
pany, was passed
A resolution approprfatinG $500 to
construct pipe sewer in Payne Street,
between Cameron and Queen Streets, was
referred to the street committee.
Council passed an ordinance fixing the
width of Princess Street, from Lee to
st. Asaph Streets at Swenfy-seven feet,
inasmuch as this thorOughfare is now
about to be improved.
An adverse report was made by the
light committee on the proposition to ex-
tend gas mains on Patrick Street, be-
tween Oronoco and Madison Streets and
the report was adopted. Councilman ].
T. Harrison, chairman of the light COM
mittee, explained in connection with the
report that the work would cost about
: 20, and only two people had agreed to
take gas
The recommendation or the light COM
mittee to place gas mains on Patrick
Street. between Gibbon and Franklin
Streets, was adopted.
petition of Jonathan Matthews to
erect a corrugated iron building in the
court in the square bounded by King.
Prince, Lee, and Union Streets. was re-
ferred to the street committee. Several
members of the street committee an
nounced that they would vote against
the proposition, not thinking 1t a desir-
able place for building for tenement
purposes.
There were a number of petitions for
improvements, some of which were
granted, some rejected, and others re-
ferred to committees. They follow: I.
NJ. Jones. permission to repair shed in
rear of 800 North Columbus Street. re-
ferred to street committee; petition of
property owners on Washington Street,
for sidewalks on either side of the
street and to increase appropriation to
resurface with tar roadway, referred to
street committee; c. A. Buckner, to re-
model house 1920 Cameron Street. re-
ferred to street committee; resolution
appropriating 1870 to resurface Column
bus Street between Queen and Oronoco
Streets, referred to street committee; ap-
plication of Fred c. Matthews to erect
frame building in rear of 21S North
Fairfax Street referred to street COM
mittee; request of G. Nelson Cradlin to
reshingle house AZ Queen Street. re-
ferred to street committee; NJ. +. Par
ker & Brothers petitioned to be allowed
to use iron beams in basement of houses
1514-1516 King Street, and this was re-
ferred to street committed; permission
granted c. j. Schmidt to erect porch
at 70S North Patrick Street: ]. F. Chi
chester granted permission to make al
terations and additions to building at
southeast corner of Princess and Payne
Streets; permission granted Joseph F.
Rodgers to use tin for outside gable at
house 121 North Washington Street; re-
quest Of Joseph F. Rodgers to reshingle
house LII Prince Street refused by
street committee. and its report adopted
A rather odd incident in connection
with the meeting of Council was that
there were thirteen members present on
the 18th day of the month, and through
out the meeting was characterized by
harmony, there being no debate of any
character on any of the measures pre-
scented.
Just before the joint session dissolved
there was brief discussion as TO
whether or not the time of the superin-
tendent of the almshouse had expired
and whether or not he was up for eiec-
ton at this time. The consensus of opin-
ion was that it does not expire until July.
and the joint session dissolved without
looking any further into the matter.
With a view of obtaining more
equitable State assessment. the Chamber
of Commerce has appointed committee
to investigate why there are seventy-one
counties in the State of Virginia which
cost the State approximately 100000 an
nually more than they pay into the State
treasury, while the entire burden of tax
alton devolves upon twenty-nine counties
and nineteen cities of the Common
wealth.
With this object in view, the Chamber
of Commerce has appointed a committee
which will ask the cooperation of the
cities and counties which are compelled
to bear the burden of taxation for the
dead counties financially in the State.
After this information is obtained from
the various organizations and commercial
bodies it will be compiled and efforts
made to remedy the trouble through the
aid of the State Legislature.
Charles Lewis. colored, now a prisoner
in the city Jail, serving a sixty days SEN
tence. was arraigned in the Police Court
today at the instance of his wife, Rose
Lewis. charged wifi kidnapping her five
year-old. son, Alexander Lewis.
According to the mother, Lewis took