Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-02-17
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

fresent-1ls HOno5, Il. II. Seln1eS. FROM
First Ward, ThOs. Brice, A. ]. Settles and
Robt. RaEFner; Second Ward, A. S. RObards,
Fsancis Schneider and H. Wes,fall; Third
Ward, A. G. GanO, j. d. Bowling and Hudson
Martin.
The following note, addressed TO the members
Of the council, will sufficiently explain the OBJ
ject Of converting the council:
HANNIBAL, Feb. IL, 1853.
You are hereby notified that there will be a
meeting Of the city council at 8 o'clock A. NJ,
Monday the l4th inst, to ballot for Directors
for the Hannibal and New London Plank Road
and Bridge Company So far as the stock Of
the city is concerned, as / am a contractor in
said road and bridge, decline either to cast The
vote or the city or to be a candidate for any Of
flee in said company. PunctUal attendance Is
requested ct the Market House Hall.
T. R. SELMES, Mayor.
The question Srst coming up for discussion,
was in relation 10 the legality of slecling any
Psrsoa not stakeholder, to cast the vote of the
city by proxy. This was finally settled by con-
sulting r. F. Richmond, Esq, the Attorney for
the Hannibal and New Lendon Plank Road and
Bridge Company, who decided that abe council,
by resolution, might authorize anybody to cast
the vote Of the city.
Mr.. Martin suggested that the Council now
60 into the election of proxy to east the vote Of
the city for directors.
He thought the vote of said proxy, so fap "a
the election of directors to represent the city
stock in the Road and Bridge was concerned,
might be cast in favor 81 persons who are NOT
stockholders; that the city, as stockAOldes. has
a right TO such representation as the State has
in orr State Bank,
Mr., GanO thought that this city could not take
the same course in relation TO this matter that
the State takes towards the Bank. The Plank
Road Law under which we have organized our
road expressly says none but stockholders can
act as directors.
Mr.. Robards conceded with Mr.. Gano. The
State pursues this course in accordance with a
special act of the Legislature. On the contra.
ry, our charter as it now stands, positively for
bids the election Of any but stakeholder to be
a director. He thought steps should be taken to
obtain from the Legislature an amendment of
o;r charter in this respect,
On motion Of Mr.. Settles,
Resolved That J. d. Bowling be and is here
by fully authorized to cast The vote Of the city
Of Hannibal for directors in the Hannibal and
New London Plank Road and Bridge Company,
at the election to be held on this day for direc.
tors for the ensuing year. Passed.
His Honor, the Mayor, said it now remained
for the gentlemen of the city council to decide
whether they would instruct their proxy as to
who he should vote for, or whether they would
leave that to his discretion.
Mr.. Settles was in favor of designating two
members of the council who are stockholders,
and instructing Mr.. Bowling to vote for them
to represent the Oity stock leaving his action in
relation to the other seven directors, to his own
discretion.
Mr.. Robards remarked that al the last cleo.
ton Of directors, some compromises were made,
in order, as far as possible, to give Hannibal
fair play, and at the same time do justice TO the
stockholders in Rails county. With these views,
while we had power to nearly fill up the direc-
tory from this side of the river, there had been
mutual understanding that certain men on this
side, and certain men on the other side Of the
river, were to be elected directors.
On motion of Mr.. Settles, ]. D. Dow ling, our
Proxy 10 vote for directors in the Hannibal and
New London Plank Road and Bridge Company,
was instructed 10 vote for A. S. Robards and
A. q. Gano for directors, and for the balance
OF the Board TO exercise his own discretion.
oh H.. e Al q
Finance, TO whom had been referred the subject
OF the city printing, reported that the committee
had awarded said printing TO o. Clemens, pub.
Usher of the Hannibal Journal.
On motion OF Mr.. Schneider, the City At
torney was instructed to draw UP contract for
the printing, under the direction of the commit
tee Of Finance. =.
Mr.. Westfal presented an ordinance in rela.
ton TO the killing of tame Pigeons. He stated
that they had become nuisance. They were
flying about the city in large numbers, and
ahghting on peoples houses, and behaved quite
contrary to oil proper ideas of cleanliness, where
cisterns were supplied from the roofs Of our
houses. He had Olesnsd his own cistern out a
few days ago, and was GstOnisbed at tie result,
and he could not conceive of any other way to
learn them better manners, except by shooting
them.
Mr.. Richards also declared himself az enemy
to pigeons, but the fact that they were property,
suggested some difficulties about the power to
legalize the shooting Of them. He was willing,
however, 10 fix the damage for killing them, at
quarter or half 9 cent apiece He would pay
one half cent damage himself for enough to sup
ply the Brady house. Owners might be notified
that their Pigeons must be kept at home,
nj he rluina tho hirds l.