Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
Adopts Ordinances Making
Low Tax for Jitneys, and
High Tax for Itinerants.
BROOKLYN COMPANY
SUING PINE BLUFF
New York Bank Seeks Collection OF
Money on Warrants Issued to Pine
Bluff Co.-Weil Stands by Prinei.
pies, Tho 1t Means More Work,

last night, adopted, under suspension
OF the rules, an ordinance fixing ia,
rate on jitney automobiles operated
by company which keeps 10 or more
cars In operation, at $40 per car pei
year; and adopted also an ordinance
fixing tax Of $500 upon all persons
or firms entering the mercantile bus.
mess here, the tax not to be due if
the person or firm remains in business
here for more than six consecutive
months.
The session was short, and in ad-
dltion to the adoption of the two ordi-
nances above mentioned, the council
discussed and acted upon number of
other matters somewhat out of the
ordinary.
We'll Settles Difficulty.
Alderman We'll settled a difficulty.
which presented itself immediately
after the minutes of the previous
meeting had been approved, when a
motion was offered, appropriating S25
out OF the city treasury, to assist in
the expense of advertising Pine Bluff
and Jefferson county on the big "Ark-
ansas on Wheels train.
Members of the council felt. first.
that the city is not in financial posi-
ton to expend money for such pur-
pose, and, second, that it is illegal to
appropriate money for such purpose,
Alderman We'll settled the matter bv
announcing that the city will put up
the $25 for this worthy purpose. and
he himself will raise the money, early
this morning. He made it plain that
the money will be credited as com
Ing from the city, but will not be taken
from the city's treasury.
Suit Against City.
The city attorney was instructed
to take necessary action in the mat
ter of a suit brought against the city
in the federal court at Little Rock,
by the Trust company, to enforce pay
mlent OF overdue warrants aggregat-
ing something like $1,000.
Mayor Simon Bloom stated that he
had been served with papers in
this suit Saturday night. City Attor-
ney Earl S. Wood will most likely file
answer within the fortnight. It is
understood the Brooklyn Trust COM
pany now holds city warrants which
were issued by the city to the Pine
Bluff company from time to time, and
which the Pine Bluff company trans
ferred, by sale, to the Brooklyn Trust
company.
Several other letters complaining of
non-payment of overdue city war
rants were read to the council, but no
action was taken on them.
Reduce Sanitary License.
The council adopted recommen-
dalton from majority of the SAM
tary committee, and ordered a re-
duction of $500 per annum in the
amount of license paid the city by
Sandlfur Curry, city scavenger.
In reporting on the matter, Alder
man McGobbony stated that when the
contract was made there were 1472
earth closets in the city. Since that
time, this number has been reduced
by 1853, of which 321 were by making
connections with sewer systems. It
was shown that the income is about
$3.50 per month and the expenses
about $475 per month, with the in
come getting smaller each month. Al.
derman McGobbony and Alderman
Means, members of the sanitary COM
mittee, strongly urged the justice Of
allowing the reduction especially as
Mr.. Curry stated that If the number
of closets should ever be Increased
again, he would offer no objection to
an increase in the tax. EI
To Rebuild Bridge.
The board of public affairs was au-
thorized to arrange for the rebuild
ing of the Missouri street bridge,
which is impossible because of needed
repairs, which make virtual rebuild
ing necessary.
The council ordered the re-arrange-
ment of four incandescent street lights
in Harding avenue, between Main and
Olive streets, as soon as the parking
and paving Of the streets is complet-
ed. s. ~. +
A final report was received from
Isaac Dreyfus, James Gould and j.
E. Boyce, commissioners for paving
district No. II, the East Sixth avenue
district. The commissioners reported
the bonds had been returned, the work
all paid out and their duties con1plet-
ed. They enclosed a check for $685.
"a, balance on hand, which they tend
cred the city, to be applied to the. cost
of maintaining the improvement. Tn
der the law, the report will lie over
thirty days, during which it will be
checked up, and at the end of which,
time it will be accepted and the COM
discharged.
The council went on record as bcing
in favor Of strict enforcement of the
ordinance prohibiting the dropping of
gravel or other such material on paw
ed streets, to the detriment of the
condition of such streets.
The Mercantile Tax.
The ordinance placing tax of $500
on all persons or firms entering the
business here was adopted
under suspension Of the rules and with
no discussion, after City At
torney Earl S. Wood had explained
that the Legislature empowered the
council to adopt such an ordinance.
The ordinance exempts dealers in
fruits, grains or other farm
products, or in livestock Of anykiaJ.
It specifies also that persons or firms
the mercantile business here
a.