The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-02-10

wae advisable, and that il the counci! Wonid
recall the matter from the hands OF the com
mittec he would make n motion and so put
these persons out OF suspense. but inc
council, on motion Of Aid. skinner, gave
committee until the next meeting tn make
their report
The finance committee reported approving
the reports of the clerk and treasurer previ-
onsly submitted TO them, and thcreupon
these documents were approved by the coun-
c,l. The treasurers report showed the sum
of 1909. SO In the city treasury.
On motion OF AID. Huh the city attorney
was in structed TO proceed with the sults In
the sidewalk cases and file the requisite pet
ton in the county court, March term.
Probably the most interesting ns we'll "a
the most serious subject presented TO the
council, and a question in which the entire
city is interested, was brought forward by
Aid. Perkins, who suggested that some pre-
lim.iary steps should be taken by the eoun.
Gil IN The matter OF ward boundaries, it being
well known fact that unless the city has
, 10, 900 population the number Of wards must
/ be reduced to Ave. In his opinion there was
40 question but that redistrictine was neces.
sary. Aid. McDougall thought that while
there was no doubt in his mind but that the
city has fully 10000 people, still he was not
certain, under the laws, whether o new cen
| sus could be taken for at least two years to
come. AID. Hull thought We had the 10000
and he wanted the fact made known. AID
Looney also thought We had, at least a
brother OF Mis- had brought eleven new in
hahi.ants into the city and II others had done
as well We had more than enough. Nearly
all the aldermen engaged in the discussion
that followed. and the matter was finally
settled by the appointment o. a committee
consisting Of Messrs. Maher, Perkins, Porter,
Catlin, Hull, White and Griffith, representing
their respective wards, who shall, if 1t be
found necessary, redistrict the city and re-
port the same to the council. But before
these gentlemen proceed another committee,
consisting Of Messrs. McDougall, Looney
and Skinner, arc to look up the law in the
case Their conclusions shall be reported
to the former committee and If it be then
found legal and necessary to order o census
one will be taken, and the result reported
back to the first named committee. If the
census developes 10000 population the com.
mittec will report to the council the present
ward boundaries. II, on the other hand, no
census can be taken, or II one be taken
but the population found less than 10000,
| - ~ bail
with division Of the city into live wards, as
required By law, and make their report to
the council for approval.
! The mayor also called attention to the
privilege Of the council to have the subord-
nate officers Of the city-cOllectcr, marshal,
superintendent: OF streets, corporation coun.
Gil aud city Omp.roller-eithcr elected by
the people at the annual election in April ol
appointed BY the mayor. 1t was decided by
u unanimous vote 70 have the appointment Of
these officers vested in the mayor, subject tc
the approval OF the council, and the city at
torney was instructed to prepare an ordin
ance to that effect.
He also called attention TO the necessity o
u better water supply in case OF fires. Aid
Perkins explained the system, suggested BY
the FREE TRADER, OF connecting the 10 incl
pipe from the reservoir with the county
pumps. No action was taken, it being
deemed hest TO leave the matter until spring
All present seemed to admit the need of some
such system.
On motion Of Aid Carew the law and or
dnancc committee were instructed to lease
from Perkins Brothers the buildings now oc
cupled by the engineer and tcamsters at 8
rental Of $50 q month; those officers to have
free rent while employed by the city.
On motion Of Aid NcDougall vote o.
thanks was rendered the members OF the fire
department and the police force for efficien,
services rendered on the occasion OF the re-
cent fire In Reddick's block.
Aid. McDougall reported that he had had @
conference with Judge Lawrence In regard
to the bond suit in the L. 8. Supreme Court
and that that gentleman was confident OF III.
city's finally Winning the suit.
The monthly bills were then ordered paid
aDd The council adjourned