Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-07-19
The City Fathers in New Quarters.

councilmen, their meeting place being
changed from the dingy perch in the
Court house to the handsome airy room
in the City Hall, lately occupied by Hoo
| ver's High School. The new room is car
peted with Manila mating and furnished
with plain walnut desks, the Presidents
chair being placed on a dais at one end of
| the room. The clelk and reporters are
| without desks, but are furnished instead,
with tables covered with sticky oil cloth,
having a painful resemblance to a well
used lunch counter. The room is we'll
| lighted by eight gas globe lights and at the
| farther end is a row Of seats TO be occupi-
ed by the public. AS a general thing the
| councilmen answered to roll call arrayed
in their Sunday suits and many gave I'M
mistakabe evidences of being just come
| from the barber shop. The legislative
| the speakers into unconscious efforts at
oratorical display and law making air.
very superior to the Bob and Jim and Ben
Of the old council room. The gentleman
| who seemed to be most fully in keeping
with the modern ideas introduced, was
Messenger Cynthy Kurtz, who not only
gave refreshing treat of lemonade, but
had the water cooler filled with same pal
atable beverage. The delightful strains of
the Stonewall Brigade band in the build
ing relieved the session of mOnotony. The
occupation of the new room was celebra-
ted by legislating until midnight, custom
which the reporters trust will wear off
| with the novelty Of the desks and carpet
| When the roll was called the following
gentlemen answered to their names.
President A. Fl. Fultz, John W. Abby,
Frank B. Berkeley, VIM. L. Bumgardner,
Robt. W, Burke, James T. Byers, J. A.
Cochran, John D. Crowle, John B. Evans,
Garrett G.. Gooch and John W. Todd, the
only absent member being Capt. Thos. D.
Ransom, who is in Paris.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
FSnaace-Mr. R. W. Burke, Chairman,
reported a resolution instructing the City
Attorney to proceed against Heber Ker,
Ex-City Treasurer, for the balance due
the city by him, at the next rule day of
the Hastings Court, if Mr.. Ker does not
make settlement in the meantime
Unanimously adopted. The committee
reported adversely on the petition of Dr..
B. B. Donaghe, asking that his payment
of his share of the Main street improve
! nt-$23S. 7s-be returned to him in the
way Of being allowed in taxes. Mr. Evans
| moved to. reverse the report of the COM
| mittee, and allow DR.. D. the money, on
the ground that the Council knew that its
| claim against the Main stl Get property
holders was illegal, because Of irregularity
in the legislation creating it.. Messrs.
Burke, Byers and Todd opposed Mr.. E.'s
| motion, on the ground that the matter was
now pending in court. and the Council
could not undertake to decide on it's
legality, and the claim was valid until the
court decided the reverse. The adverse
report of the committee was sustained, six
to five, Messrs. FultZ, Gooch, Todd,
Burke, Byers, and Abby voting to sustain,
and Messrs. Cochran, Evans, Berkeley,
Crowle, and Bumgardner voting in the
negative.
The accounts returned by Sergeant Run
| nels were credited to him.
The opinion of the City Attorney that
the real estate of the Valley R. R., was
not taxable by the city. was reported.
T The petition of Messrs. Burke & Brad
| ley for the refunding of tax, stated by
the assessor to have been illegally assessed
was referred to the City Attorney for
examination.
Water-Mr. J. T. Byers. Chairman, re-
ported adversely to petition of Col. Jas.
H. Skinner. Adopted.
Fire Department. G.. G. Gooch,
Chairman, handed in a communication
from Capt. J. M. Hardy, of the Hook & Lad
der Company, saying that at the last meet
ing OF the members they had adjourned
not to meet until a place Of meeting had
| been provided. Mr.. G. reported that the
Firemen's Hall had been secured as a
place of meeting for the members of the
H. & L. Co. The report of Capt M. Cox,
| OF the Fire Co., saying that the new hose
was fully up to the standard, was sent in.
An appropriation of IS was made to alter
the new fire plugs to facilitate their use.
| Safety.-Mr. j. A. Cochran, Chairman,
reported that the ordinance on powder,
&C., be referred to the Ordinance Commit
tee for changes. Adopted,
Public Buildiags-Mr. J. W. Abby, Chair
man, reported that they had insured the
City Hall for $4,000 at cost OF one-half
of one per cent.
| GENERAL BUSINESS.
The Fire Protection IaG. On the propo-
sition to print 200 copies OF the water ordi-
nance, Mr.. Evans raised the question that
the Fire Protection tax inserted there was
illegal and he should advise citizens citi-
zens not to pay it, The tax was defended
by Messrs. Cochran, Burke, Todd and By
ers, and the resolution to print the water
ordinance prevailed, Messrs. Evans, Gooch
and Berkeley voting against it and Messrs.
Fultz, Cochran, Todd, Crowle, Burke.
Bumgardner, Byers and Abby for it.
| RESOLUTIONS.
| The following resolutions were offered
by Mr.. Gooch, to complete the improve
ment OF Market ST., referred; by Mr. Abby
to fence in the City Hall, adopted by Mr..
Gooch, to put inch water pipe on Mar
ket ST., referred by Mr.. Cochran, to in.
quire into the practicability and cost OF
making the concert hall in the City Hall a
good music hall, adopted; by Mr.. Abby,
liking fine of one to five dollars for let
ting grass grow on the sidewalks, referred;
by Mr.. Gooch, to dispose of unnecessary
appurtenances of the fire department, adop-
ted; by Mr.. Burke changing the name of