The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-04-15
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS,

Hnd talh hnd taihwoEdeu huu ,tht
Money -rhey Want ~, Hut M fa'
Have not neyiHea Means 60 Gct a.
la session until midnight.
Last night the council met TO con.
slider what action should be taken In
the matter OF the assessor and collec'
tor, who has funds In his possession
which the city claim, but no also
claims that certain fees belong TO him
and which he wants guaranteed be-
fore he viii turn any money over,
Alderman Crowdus was absent,
Tho minutes OF the last three meet
ings were read aud approved.
Petition Of a, +. Lanler was referred
TO health officer.
Alderman Ervay suggested that
Colonel Stemmons be heard In regard
to Assessor and Collector Ogden.
Alderman Ervay moved to go into ex-
ecutive session. Mayor Kerfoot stated
that II was u question that the council
was deeply interested In and the cltl-
aens, also, and he saw no reason for Sc
crecy. Colonel Stemmons then stated
that they preferred an open session,
The motion was withdrawn, and Colo
mel Stemmons then proceeded to ad-
dress the council. He stated that Mr..
Ogden was doing business according to
the laws OF the state, etc; that he was
interested in the city OF Dallas, and
wanted TO see II In full progress,
Alderman Newsom moved that Mr..
Ogden be heard. The motion was
carried, and Mr.. Ogden addressed the
council in regard TO fees charged for
railroad taxes, according to law.
Alderman Newsom made long aud
well connected address.
A long interval OF doing nothing In
tervened. A motion TO adjourn WAS
oyerruled. Colonel Stemmons then
made a proposition for Mr., Ogden, pro.
vided II would be accepted and settled
that night, viz: That Mr.. Ogden
would give the city $1,000 until 0cto.
Der, said money belonging to Assessor
and Collector Ogden, He also claims
the city owes him 5000 commission on
the sale of property for railroad taxes,
sold by him at public sale. The city
council would not accept said PROPOSE.
ton until they ascertained the legality
of Mr. Ogden's claimed commission.
Alderman Newsom made motion
that the secretary be instructed to en-.
gage Judge Barksdale aud other attor'
neys to assist and counsel with City
Attorney Gibbs, on Monday at half
past eight o'clock.
At this, Colonel Stemmons inform
ed the council that If that motion was
put, Mr.. Ogden's proposition would be
Withdrawn. The matter had to be
settled that night. No action was
taken on tho motion. Statu quo pre-
served for fifteen minutes longer; after
eleven o'clock; no decision arrived at;
everybody tired; council ia little knots
talking the matter over.
Alderman Ervay then offered the
following resolution
Resolved, That the proposition Of
Mr.. Ogden be accepted, providing 1t be
not 80 construed as to effect the legal.
ity OF the costs charged for collecting
the railroad tax.
Seconded by Alderman Williams,
Colonel Stemmons still held the fort,
and objected, and would withdraw the
proposition of Mr.. Ogden If the resolu.
ton was acted on.
More diminishing. Council wanted TO
have Ogden's proposition left open till
Monday morning. Colonel Stemmons
refused. Now or never was the motto.
The council had week to study the
matter, and ought to have been posted
on the legality, or otherwise, OF Mr..
Ogden's claim. Alderman Ervay said
the city attorney should have been
present, but was not, although the
council had sent for him by police
man. He returned the answer that he
was sick and couldn't come. Another
motion to adjourn overruled.
Nearing twelve o'clock; nothing de-
termined on; Ogden has the money,
city has none. What's to be done Z?
Don't know. Council adjourned, leav-
ing the kettle OF fish to be fried by the
new incumbents. We must confess,
matters are so mixed that we cannot
arrive at any definite conclusion,
whether the assessor is right or wrong.
One fact is very plain, however, he has
got the money, anu intends to keep 1t
till the law decides whether he Is right
or wrong.
LONDON, April IA Vienna dis
patch to the Times says: "Altbough
ho.t.lgfina haa bonn