Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-04-25
a Night at the Council.

DISCUSSION OVER OPENING THE CITY
THEATRE-THE CHAIR CONTRACT,
&C., SC, &C.
On Friday night last, in the absence of
| the president, Mr.. r. W. Burke occupied
the chair, and the following members an
swered to their names-Messrs. Berkeley.
Todd, Ransom, Bumgardner, Byers, Abby
and Evans, Mr.. Cochran coming in later
| in the evening. The business transacted
was as follows:
| Finance Con,Ynittee-M Todd acting for
the chairman, Mr.. Burke, reported in re-
gard to the petition of Mrs. Fitzgerald and
Mrs. Fallon, and recommended that $500
be refunded to each of the petitioners
adopted; the committee reported in favor
of granting the petition of VIM. Barbour,
and recommended that the license be made
| $50 instead of SIS as it now stands; in re-
gard to safe for City Treasurer it was re-
commended that one be purchased at a
cost not to exceed $175-adopted.
Street Conan,ittee-Mr. Bumgardner,
chairman, reported in favor Of the petition
of H. M. McIlhany and others for pave
ment-referred back to committee for
estimate.
OrdSna,.ces-Fire ordinance was report
ed, and its adoption recommended, but on
motion Of Mr.. Byers it was laid on the
table until Fire Committee be present; Or
dinance concerning the Boald of Health
was reported. requiring that the Council
at its first meeting in May and annually
thereafter at the July election of city Of
fcers shall elect two physicians from
each ward, who, with the city physicl n,
shall constitute Board Of Health, whose
business it shall be to report all nuisances to
the Council and suggest measures for
their removal-adOpted
Safety Conlnaittee-Mr. Berkeley, chair
man, recommended that the petition OF j.
s. Gillian, to erect shed, be rejected,
and that Of Henry Wehn, for alteration of
tition of j. A. Hamrick, for permission to
have steam engine in his warehouse, was
reported upon adversely, but on motion Of
Mr.. Byers was referred to Ordinance
Committee.
Resolutioms-By Mr.. Bumgardner. that
such arrangement with Rev. R. 81. Phil
lips, in regard to petition for fence, as they
may deem expedient- adopted.
RENTING THE CITY THEATRE.
Mr.. Evans moved that the Committee on
Public Grounds be authorized to advertise
the City Concert Hall for highest re-
sponsible bidder for one year.
Mr.. Ransom thought it worthy of consid
Grafton whether it would be well to let the
hall pass out of the hands of the city, and
considered it better to try one or two ex-
periments in letting it for single nights.
If it was not leased by the year the city
could see that only such amusements were
allowed as would not injure the room, and
more money might be made by letting it
for single nights.
Mr.. Evans said the Christian Associa-
ton wanted it; the Lutheran church want
ed it, and had applied before the Christian
it; West Augusta Guards wanted it; parties
from Lexington and Richmond and Capt.
Hoover wanted it. The question was not
whether we could accommodate any church
or Christian Association. 1t was not for
that purpose monty was spent. The ques-
ton was which way the city s interest lay.
ALL these parties wanted it for nothing, or
next to nothing.
Mr.. Ranson-You are mistaken, sir.
Mr.. Evans-l may be mistaken in this
particular. In other cases they want it
almost gratuitously. Let it be advertised,
and let people come and see it, and then
they can see what they will give for it. If
they don't like the price asked, then they
can be rejected, and then let the Council try
the experiment. with town enterprises. 1
don't think that 'Pinafore" played by the
Y. M. G. A. would give the hall a better
send off than anything else.
MI. Bumgaldner-Ihe West Augusta
Guards propose to put on ''Pinafore," and
as we'll as it has been performed in Balti-
more or Washington. 1 am i'll favor of
leasing the hall, but there is no hurry
about it.
Mr.. Evans-If my COW gives a good
pail Of milk don't like anyone to 20 and
milk her and take the cream away. We
had better lease the hall at once and get
it off our hands.
After some further discussion the reso
luton was referred to the Committee on
Public Grounds.
The petition Of Messrs. McIlhany and
Nelson. d committee appointed by the Y
M. G. A., asking for the use of the City
Hall the first night, and stating their
willingness to pay fair equivalent, and
| setting forth the great advantage it would
| be to the hall to be opened uuder such au-
| spices, was read.
Mr.. Ransom thought the petition ought
to be acted upon at once, as the Y. M. G.
A. must have at least two weeks to pre-.
pare in. He thought letting them have it
might do great deal for the hall.
Mr.. Cochran said the Council ought not
to tie itself to the Y. M. C. A., or to any,
thing else.
on Public Grounds.
THE CHAIRS FOR THE HALL.
| There was a rather lengthy discussion
| touching the chairs for the concert hall,
Mr. S. M. Wilkes, of Staunton, having put
| in a bid to furnish the same chair as Mr.,
Hodgdon, Of Baltimore 1.-THE last-named
| gentleman's chairs having been selected at
| the last Council meeting], for $2O5 instead
of $21O, bat it was finally agreed to carry
out the contract with Mr.. Hodgdon.
In connection with this action we have