The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-03-03

Their Meeting last Might a'ld what
They MA.

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The city council mot In regular Session at
tho council chamber last night at7'8O o'clock
hi, honor Mayor Good presiding. Roll
called; absent Aldermen Whitla, Ervay and
Tilmsn. The minutes Of the last meeting
were road and approved.
The monthly report of the health officer
the report Of the chief of the fire depart
meht the city assessor and collector, the city
treasurer, with the exception of tho report OF
the chief of tho fire department and health
officers, were received and filed.
Tho report of the city engineer in regard
to the Main street sewer, was construction OF
sidewalks was received and filed.
The committee on claims reported batch
of accounts against the city amounting to
1921 13 aud recommended that the same be
paid. Adopted. ,,;
The committee on streets and bridges
reported that the sewer on south Main,
between Field and Murphy streets, was COM
pleted according to contract, and recon-.
mended that warrant be drawn in favor OF
Butler & Ramon, contractors, for 500.
Adopted. -.
markets reported that deeds for lot Z, block
56. had been made and warrants drawn for
amount of purchase and recording of deeds.
Adopted.
The police board recommended that the
netition of Stuart, asking commission az q
special policeman, be granted. Adopted.
Mayor Good, chairman of the committee
on public schools, reported that he was in
slructed by the committee to recommend that
The prayer of Hon. j. B. Simpson, president
Of the board of trustees, asking that the
ou ..ion of the levying Of tax OF ! OF !
uer cent. for this and the ensuing year for
the purpose of raising funds to erect public
scoool buildings, be sub United to vote OF
the qualified voters, be granted. Adopted
and referred to the committee on ordinsces.
The secretary read the following from Mr..
Burtoc, manager of the Western Union Tel
egraph company. or,, osth
Honorable Mayor aud City Council:
A report Of the committee OF the council
Granting to certain parties On exclusive
privilege to erect poles for Geographic, tele-
phonic and fire alarm purposes for period
If ten wears has been adopted. We would
respectfully ssk your honorable body in
drawing up sn ordnance comforting these
priyilegs, that it may be so drawn as not to
impair any of the rights we now enjoy or
NAV hereafter require in conducting our
photographic business. We make this request
for The following reasons Ii an exclusive
privilege is given the aforesaid parties, and
we should at any time in the future desire to
enlarge our business, We would be placed In
. position in which it would be necessary for
ms to buy from them the.privilege ofextending
noles. If we were subjected to an exaotion
of this character, II would render our busia
ness more expensive, and in the end the BUSH
ness men who patronize the telegraph would
hear the burden. 1t is the custom elsewhere
to give telegraph companies the privilege to
erect poles but not the exclusion of others.
The people everywhere are opposed TO ex-
elusive privileges TO individuals OF corpora
TONS and our statute books contain laws,
recently enacted, which prohibit exclusive
privileges to any one. have reference to
law of congress which prohibits railroad COM
psnies from granting exclusive rights of way
to telegraph companies, that II ID against
public policy and the genius OF our instito-
think there is also lsg of
our state which prohibits such grants.
|, is true principle in politics and morality
that the interest of the msnyis paramount
TO that of the few.
Accompany to operate the National Bell
telephone has been organized, and has leased
the right to put up tele phone exchanges IN
the stats Of Arkansas and Texas, and q letter
from the president received here few days
since states that they will commence tho
erection of lines at once. These gentlemen
ere certainly unaware of the existence OF an
exclusive privilege having been granted 10
anyone, nor do they anticipate that they will
be forced TO purchase the rights of indvidu-
ala 10 operate their business Should it be
necessary for them to pay largo price to
these favored individuals the amount so ex-
expended would have 10 be charged to those
Who use the telephones. Where the
telephone has been introduced It has not only
proved convenience but al indispensable
adjunct TO business men, and it will become
so in cur CITY. We cannot regard any policy
en- enlightened one which places burdens
upon our people, no mstter in what form,
nnd rnonopolies are regarded by them as
business. In short, the telephones that may
IL operated In Dallas msy be rendered so
xpensive by this exclusive privilege as 70
plscs~ them beyond the means Of most of
our people and make them luxury instead
of n convenience TO every man OF ordinary
means. Very respectfully,
j S. BURTON,
Manager Western Union Telegraph Office.
Alderman Bohny stated that lie had un-
derstood from tho city attorney, that Messrs
Moninger & Howe wi shed to withdraw their
contract.
Alderman Wheeloek said that Mr.. Burton
was mistaken ia thinking the councuil had
given Monipger 81 howe the exclusive right