The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-12-14

on Monday night. There were present,
his honor Mayor Winter and Aldermen
Halliday, Mctiauley, Lancaster, Parker,
Patier, Wright and Yocum.
CITY ATTORNEYS REPORT.
The following report from the city at.
torney was read:
To the Honorable, the Mayor and City Council
of the CITY Of Cairo'
GENTLEMES-In reference to the Cairo
and Vincennes railroad matter permit me
to say that all the questions, or the mate
rial ones contained in the resolution of
late date, were adverted to in the case of
"the People, ETC., VS.. the Cairo and Vim
cennes Railroad Co." pending in the cir
cult court, and will be undoubtedly
passed upon by Judge Baker In render
ing his decision In that case.
Any further steps on my part would be
needless until the termination of that
suit. Respectfully, III. Ii. BLACK,
City Attorney.
TIE NEW LEvEE.
Alderman Wright from the committee
on streets reported that the committee
had concluded to complete the new levee,
and to that end had determined to employ
teams and laborers, and foreman, and
commence operations at once. A meet
of the committee was arranged to take
place yesterday morning, at which an
preliminaries were to be arranged.
COULDN'T REPORT.
The finance committee and the com
mittee on police and Jail, were not ready
to report on matters previously referred
to them and asked for further time,
which was granted.
AFTER THE CITY ATTORNEY.
Alderman Patier went back to the city
attorneys report, and said sometime ago
the attorney promised that he would take
action in the matter of the railroad (; but
now, after two or three months, or per-
haps longer, he comes in and says he is
not ready. 1t seemed to him (Patier)
that the city attorney did not want to
take any further steps in the matter.
Alderman Lancaster thought the coun-
Gil had not taken proper action on the
report; and moved a reconsideration Of
Ihc NotCDy WhiIH eicitpo was ItCCiNCus
The vote was reconsidered. Alderman
Lancaster moved to refer the report back
to the city attor 1ey for further and more
definite information OH the subject.
WHY DID YOU DO IT, HENRY?
Alderman Halliday offered resolution
calling upon the mayor fer statement
of his reasons for releasing from impris-
onment in the city Jail one Harry Aiken,
a mulatto, arrested by Chief of Police
Gossman on charge of vagrancy, and
committed by Judge Bross on the
18th OF November to fitty-two days in the
city jail.
Alderman Halliday said he supposed
the mayor had good reasons for his ac-
ton in the matter but it had been rep
resented to him that the man Aiken was
bad character. Aiken was arrested on
a charge of vagrancy, and was taken be-
fore Judge Bross for hearing. by whom
he was fined one hundred dollars and
ordered to the city Jail for fifty-two
days. Aiken refused to take stay OF
execution on condition that he would
leave the city, and asserted that he could
get out of Jail without leaving town !;
and that the city iailer's report showed
that Aiken had been released after two
| days in the jail. Alderman Halliday
said complaints had been made to him
about the matter, and he thought it was
due to the public that the matter should
be explained. He had 10 doubt the
mayor could give satisfactory reason
| tor his action in the matter.
The mayor said he did not remember
| releasing any such person as Aiken but
! If he had released such q man he had a
memorandum of his reasons for doing so
and would look into the matter.
Alderman Halliday said If the mayor
did not want the resolution to go on rec
ord. he (lialliday) would not insist on it.
The mayor said he had no objection to
the resolution going on the record. He
could explain all his acts.
The resolution was then Withdrawn
with the understanding that the mayor
present report. giving his reasons for
his action in the matter at the next meet
ing OF the council.
LANCASTER WANTS TO INCREASE THE
MAYORS SALARY.
Alderman Lancaster thought as it was
drawing near the time tor the election of
new mayor, now would be good time
to fix the salary OF that office. The pres
ent salary was too small, and did not pay
the mayor for his trouble. The mayor
ought to receive salary that would
justify him in giving more time and atten'
ton TO the affairs of the city. lie sent
the following resolution TO the clerk
desk and had it read:
| Resolved: That the ordinance COM
mittee be instructed TO prepare an
amendment to the revised ordinances
providing that the salary OF the mayor
be increased to one thousand dollars pei
annum, to take effect after the expiration
of the term OF the present incumbent
and report said ordinance to the council
at Its next meeting.
Alderman Wright said he was on thu
ordinance committee when the salaries
were reduced; he was in favor of the re