Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-03
PROPOSE BOND BILL
IN CHARTER CHANGE
Planned Law Would Give
Alexandria Right to Issue
Securities.
epecisl Dispatch 10 IN. star

Special Dispatch to The Star
ALEXANDRIA, Va, January 3.-An
amendment to the charter of this city
is to be asked in a bill to be introduced
in the State General Assembly at Rich
mond Thursday to give the city the
right to issue bonds under its own
charter for any lawful municipal pur-
pose.
A resolution calling on State Senator
Frank Ball and State Delegate j. Fred
Birrell, representing this district and
city. to present such a bill and work
Tor its speedy passage was passed by
the City Council at its meeting held in
the council chamber here yesterday
afternoon.
City Rights Are Cited
Under the present arrangement the
city only has the power to issue bonds
OIL the authority granted it by the
State and not by right of its municipal
charter. The question of this authority
arose with the issuing of the S75O0O0
Donos for reimburSing Arlington County
Tor the public Improvements in the
annexed territory and for public i'm
provements and funding purposes, the
city having extended the time period
Tor repayment of these bonds beyond
that allowed by the State For this
reason the money from the bonds
which we're sold to L. E Smoot of
washington, has not yet been made
available and cannot be secured until
the charter Is amended unless the
entire bond schedule were changed.
The 100000 due Arlington County
vas payable January l. and the city is
faced with the problem of paying in
terest on the money due the county.
which would amount to $4,000 per
year, or almost 500 for every days de-
lay In payment. The question of the
GUS right to extend the period of re-
pa; ment was brought up by the New
YORK bond attorneys EMPLOYED. 1t IS
expected that quick action will be taken
by the Legislature in the city's favor.
At least one other Virginia city. Nor
1oIk, now has the power in its municipal
charter to issue bonds.
Tax Collection Discussed.
The question of the collection of the
cltys personal property tax was brought
up Dy Mayor SmOot and he stated that
Maryland and the District of Columbia
now require that this tax be paid and
q receipted bill presented before auto
mobile tags would be issued. The mavor
said that he would like to obtain CO.
operation from the State in this con-
nection and City Manager Lawrence
ana City Attorney Carl Budwesky were
directed to investigate the matter and
report to council.
Inasmuch as automobile tags are is
sued by the State, it will be necessary
Tor the State to put these proposed re-
qulrements IN force. making it necessary
70 present a receipted city personal
property tax bill before State tags would
be issued. If this Arrangement is car
r1eo out quite large percentage of an.
tomooile owners who have evaded the
personal property tax would be required
70 pay same.
Pool Room Tax Cited.
Judge William S. Snow. on behalf of
the owners and operators of pool and
nlllard parlors, appeared before the
eounch and recommended that the in
crease in the tax on this type of busi-
ness which Is carried in the new tax
ordinance be changed back to the same
scale as collected by the State. The citv
mad been collecting $50 basic license
lee plus $40 for each additional table
over one. but under the new law the
aooltional rate was increased to SIS
per table over one.
A number of Virginia cities charging
less than Alexandria were used as one
OF the reasons for the recommended
reduction. The judge cited one local
NAAN NAAAdAd WHICH ne SAID
mao Deen paying a total of S342 to the
CITY and State and which would now
De required to pay $50 additional, and
Iurther stated that as civil and police
justice ne did not recall single case
OF disorder growing out of a pool room
row. 1t was moved by Councilman
ramon that the request be received and
considered but it is thought imprcc-
able that any change will be made.
Infantry Donation Urged.
Cameron Roberts, captain of the local
Hight Infantry company, appeared be-
1ore the session and requested that the
city donate $50 to help defray the
expenses of his company to Richmond
ana return. He stated that the COM
pany had been invited to attend the
inauguration OF Gov Pollard jan
uary Is. and that as the company
would of1cially represent the city he
felt that the request could be allowed.
He further stated that the trip would
help to hold the men of the company
interested and that a portion of the
expense would be borne by company
funds Councilman Timberman moved
that the request be granted and it was
passed, with the proviso that $3.50, "or
as much thereof as necessary" would
be made available.
Councilman Timberman then moved
full the attorneys which represented
the city in the annexation suit, and this
was held over under the rules for the
next meeting, after receiving a first
reading.
Mayor Smoot. on behalf of council,
thanked the people of the former town
OF Potomac for the entertainment
Tuesday night and for the co-opera-
ton and good spirit shown. Mrs.
Naomi P. Craver. a former member
OF the Potomac town council. who was
guest at the meeting. stated that
she appreciated the mayors remarks.
Mrs. Craver added that she was pres
ent at the meeting because she was in
terested in getting Alexandria straight
ened out with regard to Potomac.
Building Permit Granted.
Permit was granted George H.
SchwartZman to move two frame build
1ngs. from Fairfax and Montgomery to
Fairfax and Wythe streets This is
necessary because of the erection at
the first location of a portion of the
Shell Eastern Petroleum Co.'S plant.
Permit was also granted Milton Lead
beaten to build a garage at Ala North
Washington street in the rear.
letter was received from Arthur
Herbert, tr.. thanking the council for
its donations of $3.50 to the Anne Lee
Memorial Home for the Aged and
$3.50 to the Alexandria Hospital dur
ing 1929, Mr.. Herbert representing the
board OF trustees Of those organizations
Charles Henry Smith, on behalf of B.
j B. Ezrine, called councils attention to
request for a permit tn build q gaso-
line filling station on Franklin street
few feet west of Washington street
building line. He stated that the ap-
plication was on behalf of "one Of the
big oil companies" He was directed to
submit to council plans and a formal