The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-07-05
City Council.


The regular sessions of the city council of
Ottawa are looked forward to, no doubt, by
the members of that body with no little inter.
est. To see what will be brought forward
next serves to keep the several members at.
tentive and on the alert to discover the Mi
can gentleman who is said TO be lurking in
the immediate vicinity of the fence. Last
Tuesday evenings meeting was no less inter-
csting than its several predecessors, although
the absence of Aldermen Griffith, McDougall
and Blake was noted The usual prelimina.
ries of roll call and reading the minutes were
gone through with and the first thing that
| followed was communication from citizen
urging the council to adopt some plan for
CUTTING DOWN THE WEEDS
which are growing rank in many parts of the
city. Aid Hoban said that the council had
no power to compel any one to go out upon
the streets to work. The general conviction
was that there was no ordinance on the sub
ject. Aid. Hull didn't understand what the
benefits were of organizing under the general
law, If we couldn't enforce anything-can't
build sidewalks, can't cut weeds, can't do
| anything other cities do which are organized
under the same law. The member was evi.
IDENTITY disguised. The communication was
received and the prayer of the petitioner
granted" which is to the effect that the
property owners or occupants be requested to
cut the weeds in front of their premises 1t
might be remarked just here that the authori.
ties seem to have the power required to com
pei the work to be done. See Sections Is and
10, Chap Ii, page 273, Revised Ordinances.
GAS.
Chairman Hoban, of the gas committee,
submitted the form Of contract with the gas
company, whereby the city agrees to pay
81 ,592 per annum for lbs lamps to be lighted
from dark to II o'clock, glass and new lamps
extra when required; the company agrees, on
the other hand, to make forfeiture for every
lamp not lighted according to contract. Ac.
ton on the contract was deferred until after
the appropriation ordinance shall have been
passed,
CRAWLING COUNTRY ROADS
The highway commissioners Of the town Of
Ottawa petitloned to be released from their
Indebtedness VI aDout Fi,i" W tHc City
agreeing in return to thoroughly gravel the
highway from the aqueduct bridge east to the
white bridge, and otherwise place the same in
first class condition for travel. Aid. MacKin-
lay moved the prayer be granted. Aid. Will
lasls thought he detected some signs Of the
aforesaid African, and objected to the scheme
until something more definite was known
concerning the cost, &c, provided it were
done under the direction Of the street and
alley committee Aids. Mac Knlay, Thomas
and Hoban favored the proposal warmly, the
latter explaining that the boundary line Of the
city was away beyond the bridge vote be-
ing taken the motion was lost under the rule
that a majority of the aldermen elected shall
be required to make an appropriation. Com
missioner Looney being present, and when
called upon, explained the plans and purposes
of the town authorities, which explanation
seemed to satisfy Aid. Hull and the other dis
senter, and the vote was reconsidered and the
prayer was finally granted bya unanimous
vote Of those present.
RIcE's CLAIM.
Aid. Mac Kinloy, Of the finance committee,
reported verbally in behalf Of the committee |
that they had considered the claim of j. b. |
Rice against the city on account Of a broken
leg sustained from walking on the Sherwood
Buchanan sidewalk, and recommended the
payment OF $50 in full of all demands. Aid.
Hull didn't believe the city was liable legally, |
but would vote for the payment Others
took the same view. Attorney Moloney,
representing Mr.. Rice, was present, and made
statement regarding the claim against the
city. When put TO vote all present voted aye
and the bill was ordered paid.
MAYORS VETO.
The clerk now read communication TO the
council from the mayor wherein that official
vetoed the late ordinance granting permits to
build upon certain blocks. In the language
of the poet "now came the tug Of war"
Silence reigncd for brief space OF time, and
then Aid. Hull took the floor and regretted
the veto, but spoke earnestly in favor Of al.
lowing new buildings to be erected. To an
outsider 1t would have looked as though the
mayor was in the majority for it would re-
aure seven affirmative votes to pass the ordi.
nance over his veto, anu the tnree VINO Voleu
against 1t at the last meeting Bryant
and Wiliams-were all present. The clerk
was ordered to call the roll The first warder
now proceeded gracefully to back down. He
said he had made diligent inquiry among the
holders adjacent TO the blocks in
question and found strong majority in favor
Of allowing the dwelling to be erected; the
alderman who represented the parties most
interested favored it, and the two committees
by whom the matter had been considered also
favored IT, II all these didn't care, he didn't.
Aids Hoban and Bryant made similar expla-
nations, the former being particularly anXi.
Gus for the erection Of new buildings. For
once the council was all on the same side of
the fence, and the ordinance was passed,
much to the mayors regret, bat he yielded
with the true gentlemanly grace which Mayor
Allen always possesses.
NUMBERING THE HOUSES.