Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-03-24
NILL let TAX RATE
REMAIN UNCHANGED
Report of Finance Commit
tee For Increase De-
feated j
SCORES W.. VA. .RWY., co.
Company Owes City s4,e6s- Corpora
,tion Attorney and Tax Collector
Authorized to Collect ut Once.

4
The tax rate; for this city for the
coming year will be the same as i
was last year. This was decided upor
by the city council at meeting Of
that body held last night when coun'
Gil by a vote of 10 to defeated the
recommendation of the finance COM
rnittee that the: rate be raised from
SO to $3.50 on the S1OO assessed val
uation.
President Burke stated that he
hoped the members would get together
between now! and the next meeting
and submit a proposition for financ-
ing the city's affairs for the coming
year.
Those favoring to adopt the com.
mittee's report were Messrs. Ticer.
W!attles, and Burke and those against
the report were Messrs, McCaffrey.
Matter, Ruben, Armstrong, Kaufman
Sullivan, Baggett, Lawler, Fletche,
and Devers.
\ Councilman Baggett, when the fin
ance committee's recommendation was
presented, asked that if the tax rate
was not in reality s2.25 at the present
time. President Burke said this was
lso, but the taxpayers do not pay any
imore than formerly under the tax
isegregation plan Mr.. Burke also
istated that he hoped that there would
lbe decreased!rate next year with, Ehe
{neW assessment in operation if the
$3.50 rate was adopted.
Mr.. Burke added that everything
ielse has increased except the revenue
lof the city. Others cities, he said,
ihave had to increase taxes. Council
lman R&ggett submitted a proposition
}to compromise the rate by making i
tS2.aO on the5s1Ue: This he ssaid woulf
}yield the city about $4,000 additional
revenue.
Councilmani L9wler opposed the n.
icr9ase and suggested the sale of prop
lerty ON which delinquent taxas haf
been standing. for years. He also
Thought revenue could be derived from
the Sale :tcf the George Washing:o;
Park and the fish wharf property.
In the opinion of Councilman RubeI
the best plauswould be TO float
Temporary loan until the city know
what it's new assessment will be.
|felt certain the banks would come
|thc city's assistance.
Mayor Fisher submitted messag:
(to council setting forth that the Wash
fngron- Virginia ( Railway Company
ioWes the. city a total of 81 ,069.47 FOR
takes and improvements and he has
been unable to get any reply from
them. The conlpany's rolling stock, h
|said lin the letter, has remained sta
|tionery since about 1907 and 1903.
Our people. the mayor stated. arc
compelled to pay mere and stand in
the aisle of the cars at times. Con.
itinuing the mayor said, "The right tc
hevy still remains in the tax collectors
hands" The company, he said, offers
mo excuse for its failure to pay.
Councilman Ruben said the com.
bany's trains could be attached. fol
the debt and Councilman McCaffre1
E,,,nra3 ,tto na;,n tboc,
A resolution authorizing the cor
poration attorney and tax collector tt
proceed at once to collect all, take:
{ue the city by this company wa
unanimously adopted.
Ordinance to provide for the dispo
Sat of garbage under the direction o
the city health department wa
adopted.
Resolution CT Councilman Ruben ap
ipropr;ating $1,000 for sweepin
Essreets etc, was referred to sinanc
kcmmittee.
The civic bureau of the chamber 0
Icommerce petit;oned that if there is a
ordinance requiring citizens to kee
ltheir premises. clean it be enforced
Iand that the health department, pc
iEce and city engineer be directed /
,co-operate in its enforcement and
There is no ordinance covering tt
kane. one be adopted. The commit
ls:gned to the paper IS composed of
tR. Cation T. T. Dyson, James Bay,
|ana Capt. George H. Evans.
Rasohltion of Councilman Kaufnal