Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-03-06
By Levy of Tax on Lots Owners Would Be Re-
 lieved of Their Upkeep.
PROVIDES FUNDS
 FOR IMPROVEMENTS
Plan Incorporated in Proposed Ordi. nance, Introduced Last Night, Would Insure Proper Maintenance of
 Cemetery for All Time.

Alderman J. Harvey Means, chair man of the cemetery committee of the council, last night introduced an ordinance, which was placed on the calendar at his request, to impose an annual tax of $2 on each lot in Bell wood cemetery and the annex to the cemetery for the purpose of raising funds for beautifying and maintain ing the burial grounds in proper manner.
 Money for keeping up the cemetery is now derived from tine sale of lots, and it is only question of time when this source of revenue will cease to exist. Under MT. Means plan, as provided for in the proposed ordinance, the revenue of about $2,- 400 to be eventually provided by the $2 tax on each lot would provide for extensive permanent improvements, for maintaining the cemetery and keeping all lots clean and free of weeds without further expense to the owners under the direction of the city and the cemetery association.
 Since MT. Means has been chairman of the cemetery committee Of the council, he has endeavored to devise means of beautifying Bellwood ceme- tery, but the city has not been able to finance the work.
 While the ordinance provides for the sale of unused space in any lot on which the tax is not paid for three years, it also provides that no grave shall be disturbed. The effect of this is to provide that all graves shall be propery cared for for all time, and adoption of the ordinance would in- sure that Bellwood cemetery would never be other than what a "city of the dead" should be.
 It is not believed anyone will ob- ject to the payment Of the small tax of $2 per year, because many people now spend more than that sum for cleaning the graves of relatives or friends several times during the year.
 There are HOO lots in the original cemetery and 100 in the annex. City Engineer Allen is now preparing a plat showing the individual graves, which are not to be disturbed at any time.
 Another result would be that per- sons residing away from Pine Bluff but who have relatives resting in Bellwood would know that the last resting places of their loved ones are always kept up properly.
 Mir. Means Ordinance.
 MT. Means proposed ordinance WY yITiI1 ing at the next meeting of the coun- cil and which he is anxious to have discussed by the people, follows:
 Whereas, the title to Bellwood cemetery and the annex to Bellwood cemetery is vested in tie city of Pine Bluff, which has given to various persons the right of interment there. in, subject to such regulations as the city may make; and,
 Whereas, said cemetery and annex has heretofore been kept up by the sale of the right of interment and the voluntary contributions of the fami- lies of those inferred, but said re. sources are now inadequate for proper improvements and mainten. ance of said cemetery and said annex now, therefore,
 Be It ordained by the city coun- Gil of the city of Pine Bluff:
 Section 1. There is hereby levied upon each lot in Bellwood cemetery and in the annex to Bellwood ceme. tery, an annual charge of two ($2) dollars for the improvement and maintenance of said cemetery and the annex to said cemetery. Said sum must be paid between the first day ot January and the first day of June oi each year. If said charge is not paid by the first day of June of each year penalty of one ($D dollar per lot shall be added thereto and like pen alty of one ($1) dollar per lot shall be added for each year that said charge shall remain unpaid. A
 Sections 2. The said charge shall be collected by the city collector, who shall notify, by mail, the living rela. tives of the persons inferred in such lots, so far as he can ascertain their identity and whereabouts; but fail ure of such relatives to receive no- tice shall not affect tte accrual ol the penalties herein provided for.
 oSNIAoA o. II 0AAy ouCA Cad1 S0S shall remain unpaid for three years the city collector shall notify thu city council of that fact; and there. upon said city council shall have the right to grant to other parties ths privilege of interment in such de linquent lots, subject to the condition that the graves and the monuments therein shall not be disturbed.
 "Section 4. It shall be the duty ol the city collector, as he collects the charges upon the lots herein provided for, or any other sum for the use oi the cemetery or the annex to the cemetery, to turn the same over te the city treasurer to the credit of the cemetery fund, taking his receipt therefor.
 Section ,. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage" .s