Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-12-30
COUNCIL CARES
FOR SCHOOLS
PASSES ENTIRELY LEVY FOR .. II
CENTS ASKED BY SCHOOL
BOARD-VOTE ON ENTIRE LEVY
FALLS SHORT OF MAJORITY.
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
DEALS MAINLY WITH POLICE
APPOINTMENTS ~ NATTER MAY
BE ADJUSTED AMICABIY.


The matter of whether or not the
Brownsville public schools would be
closed on Jan. was settled By the city
council Yesterday afternoon when by a
unanimous vote the council voted to pass
4 Ak levy Of q IL cents on the 800
valuation to supplement the Stase
school fund. An ordinance to this ef-
feet was drafted and passed and the
/ schGO viii not close and the school
board will not resign.
The majority members of the finance
committee, a. Albert Browne chairman
and $. l.. Dworman, submitted a report
from that committee. but did not sug-
gest tax levy. w. G. Craig the mi
nority of The committee. also submitted
a report carrying with it tax levy of
7l.95 on the 800 valuation. for all pur-
\ poscs--7T II ad valorcm. ID cents for
streets. buildings and public improve
ments, p cents for water and light, and
- II cents for school purposes. Voted
on. this ordinance was turned down,
/ three members. Alderman A. A. Browne
s. l.. Dworman and III. J. Kirk voting
against it. and Alderman Thorn. Craig.
| Cain and BcnavideS voting for it. Six
votes are necessary 10 pass tax ,eyv.
| The tax levy as submitted by Mr..
Craig meant an increase Of the city tax
rate from II .al2 l-2 to $1.45, and was
turned down by what is known as the
minority Of the council principally he
cause it believes the city is spending
money too freely. The finance commit
tee i'll its report took several whacks at
what it believes to be the unnecessary
size Of the police department aud claims
that the police appropriation is already
nearly exhausted, with five months yrr
| TO 60
Mayor Cole stated that if the mem
bers of the finance committee would ~
fer 10 the records they would find that
not one more nor one less the number
Of pohte agreed upon during the election
last spring would be found He stated
that there were several occasions when
special police had been appointed under
extraordinary circumstances. such as
during the flood last summer. He stated
|
places about the city where special Of
ficcrs are wanted and are paid for hy
\ theSn parties and that also number
of men who believed their lives In dan
ger lad been commissioned i'm Or.lcr To
enable them to carry p.sto,s for their
protection.
! alderman Dworman declare! IL cid
not believe some of these appointments
to be the proper thing. and Mayor Cole
agreed with him. but stated that u pre-
cedcnt had been set by former admins
trations in this matter. Mr.. Cole sug-
gcstcd 10 the council members that thev
think over the special police matter, be.
tween now and the next meeting and
indicated there would probably be some
understanding concerning il by that
time. Alderman Thorn also went on
record as being against the appointment
Of special police under certain condi-
tons
Mayor Co,e denied the appointment of
one lgnaciO TrevinO as a special police
man and stated that William Crafts,
who had been given a commission. was
III the employ of the railroad company
and was not being paid by the city.
Messrs. Browne and Dworman Of the
finance committee submitted the fol-
lowing report in answer to the request
Of the mayor for report from the com
mittee on the 1913 tax levy:
Honorable Mayor and Members Of the
City Council:
Gentlemen: We. your finance CON-
mittee. having been called on for a
budget. and having been tardy i'm rem
\ dcring same. deem it proper to justify
our ce.ay in submitting the proposed
budget for the current year, with the
following remarks, herewith submitted.
We came into this council AZ friends.
in good faith and with non-partisan
spirit. as result of an amicable under
standing between representatives Of
both contending local factions. II IL
well known to many that we accepted our
non-partisan nominations reluctantly
and solely in the hope that we might
cement harmony and assist in relieving
} the tax paving population of the heavy
burdens.
We came with the understanding that
!. all would Join in our efforts iowa r(ls