The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-19
MUNICIPAL MATTERS.
THE MEETING OF TIE CITY COUNCIL
LAST NIGHT
ALively Debate on the Weighing BILL
Miscellaneous Work Of the City

new one, was referred to the committee on
the fire department.
petition was presented from Michael Kel-
ly, contractor and builder, asking for an in.
vesligation into the reason why bid put In
by him ior repairing the City Hospital had not
been considered by the committee on con-
tracts. Alderman Gage, of the committee,
made satisfactory explanation of the case,
and the petition was received as information.
petition, nnmerously signed by residents
of the southwestern portion Of the city, was
was read By the Mayor. This petition asks for
the purchase by the city of vacant lot at the
southeast corner OF Beaufain and Lynch
streets for the purpose Of extending the pub
lie promenade along the banks OF the pond In
that vicinity. The petition also shows that
the lot can be purchased for six thousand dol
lars, and asks that that sum be appropriated
for the purpose, on the ground that the city ls
in possession OF certain funds obtained by sell
ling portion of body OF land lying near the
west end of Broad street, which lands were
given to the cItizers OF Charleston by
the State OF South Carolina Ia l768 for perper-
ual use as common. The petition was re-
ferred to the committee on city lands.
The Mayor read the following letter from
thsprivate secretary Of President Grant:
EXECUTIVE MASsIoN.(
WARRINGTON d. O.. March II, 1878
Dear Sir-The President directs me to acknOwl-
edge the receipt OF your LETT er OF the 7th instant,
conveying to him the resolutions OF your City
Council, extenoing to him the E0spitaitles OF the
City OF Charleston upon the occasion Of his con.
templated visit; and, in reply, 10 convey TO you
and your associates his sincere thanks Tor their
kind and considerate action in extending such
an invitation, which 1t would afford him great
pleasure to accept II he were able to make the
trip at this time, as he had designed. HIS pubic
duties have compelled him to postpone lor tne
present suoh q. tour through the southern States,
which embraced visit 10 the more prominent
cities Charleston among the number; lh ugh he
hopes at some future Time to make the vlsit
am sir, your obedient servant,
LEVI p. LUCKBY, secretary.
To His Honor JoHsA. WAasSEE, May Oh, Charles
ton, s. C.
The Mayor said that he had received the
opinion of the city recorder on the petition Of
A. A. Bradley, colored lawyer, to be allowed
to practice in the Mayors Court. The opln-
ion showed that attorneys are entitled to
practice In the Mayors Court, subject, how
ever, to certain regulations by the Mayor.
The opinion being long, the reading OF 1t was
dispensed with, and 1t was received as infor-
nation.
Alderman Moran wished to know II the
Mayor had received a petition frem the resi-
dents of Ward No. asking for recousdera-
tion OF the action taken by Council at It's last
meeting 10 granting the South Carolina Rail-
road Company leave 10 extend their track
through the streets to Cooper River. Being
answered In the negative, he said he was cog
n,zsnt Of the fact that such petition had
been prepared, and was signed by nearly
every citizen In the ward.
The committee of ways and cans asked
fGTfurther time to consider the annual report
of Treasurer Coogan.
Alderman Voigt objected TO giving more
time, and moved that the treasurer's report
be referred to special committee.
Alderman Pelzer, the chairman of the COM
mittee on ways and means, explaint that the
delay was In no way attributable to desire on
the part of the committee TO evade the Issue
of report, but was due solely to the fact that
1t had been impossible to bring about meet.
Ing Of the committee since the last meeting OF
Council.
Alderman yoIgt then withdrew his motion.
Alderman Gage moved that the committee
on accounts be authorized to consider the re-
port, conjolntly with the ways and means corn.
mittee, and no objection being ma lie 1t was 60
ordered.
A favorable report was rendered on 30
much OF the petition OF R. E. Dereef, for re-
] ductlon Of assessments and remission ofpen.
alties as refers to the remission of penalties.
The report was adopted.
Alderman Sweegan gave notice of a bill to
regulate the salaries of public weighers, and
asked that 1t should be allowed to receive It's
frat reading, which was agreed to.
The bill to allow coal dealers 10 weigh coal
upon their own scales was taken up for its
second reading.
Alderman Gage, thought the existing ordi-
nance requiring coal TO be weighed upon the
public scales was better than the proposed
bill, because 1t gave general satisfaction to
the citizens, and whenever similar ordinances
had been abolished 1t had been afterwards
found necessary to renew them. He telt con-
strained to vote against the passage OF the
biz.
Aldermen Brown and Garrett also made
long and vehement speeches against the pas
sage of the bill, maintaining that it would
subject the citizens 10 numberless frauds, and
furnish pretexts for wood dealers aud others
to present petitions Tor the removal Of siui-
lar restrictions upon their business.
Alderman Garrett concluded BY moving to
make an indefinite postponement of the bill,
but temporarily withdrew the motion, to allow
Alderman Sweegar, The originator of the
bill, an opportunity TO vindicate his aclion.
Alderman Swergiu said that the present
law occasioned much Inconvenience 10 both
buyer and seller, and lnstanced the case of a
steamship having to take In q supply OF coai
at night for hurried departure. The offices
Of the public weighers being closed at that
time, there would be no alternative but 10
detain the vessel until the next day. He had
also known many cases Of citizens going to q
coal dealer alter dark 10 purchase coal, and
being prevented from buying the coal by the
law.
The motion 10 postpone indefinitely the
reading of the bill being renewed, the ayes
and noes were called, which resulted in the
defeat of the motion, ayes S, noes IL.
The bill vas then read secosd time, and