Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1884-12-30
LAST NIGHTS COUNCIL.
CONSIDERABLE BUSINESS DONE.
a New Deal for the Board OF Public
Works A Sinking Fund TO be
Established Minor Matters


following: From the Little Sisters of the
Poor to remit a tax of $52 levied on land
owned By them; referred to Committee on
Ways and Means, from John Benjamin. col
lector of Third ward, relative to the case of
Garret ID. Rhawn, assessed $50 tax, and
giving facts in regard 10 his large family
and poverty; referred To Committee on Poor:
the petition of 4. j. Frederick for transfer
Of saloon license from No. 10 Canal street
10 No. l35 West Bridge street; granted; John
t(uimley 10 clean bridges at the rate
of so per month and do il well:
Committee on Bridges: from Clerk of
Police Court asking for repairs for the court
room damaged by leaks from the roof: Com
mittee on Buildings, together with City Aftor-
ney with power To act.
report from the clerk of Police Court
was read stating that A. T. Mcclure, John
Farrell and Frank Werfel had paid fines for
violating their liquor licenses. motion TO
declare the licenses forfeited was lost by
vote of to 8: the report was then placed on
file. Aid. Gilbert said the vote was so close
that he expected to see great good come from
it. The saloon men could see that if full
Council had been present the result would
have been of such nature that they would
have lost their licenses. Other violators
could take warning from this vote and see
that there is danger for them ahead. The
City Marshal asked for a committee To settle
the Canal street paving roll: Aids. Killean,
Creque and Brenner were named by the
Mayor for such duty; also Aids. DeGraaf,
Albright and Pierce as a committee on
the South Division street sewer roll and
Aids. Grady, De Graaf and More on the
grading of Second avenue.
The City Controllers report was read and
adopted. The City Attorney reported rela-
tive to the powers of the Council in the mat
ter of fixing the boundaries of streets, etc.
report of the Board of Public Works was
read stating that the water works fund had
been overdrawn and recommending a trans
fer of $4,000 from the income fund to that
fund; Ways and Means. Aid. Saunders
from the Committee on Police reported
relative to the petitions for the employ
ment of city prisoners that the matter be re-
ferred to the Board of Supervisors: Aid.
Grady moved to accept and ADOPT: Aid.
hillean amended that it be so referred with
a special committee of three aldermen. Mr..
Grady accepted the amendment: Mr. Killean
objected to its being so accepted and in
sisted Oh a vote as an amendment carried
The original motion then carried and
A
were named as the confering committee.
Aid. Pierce, from Committee on Lamps.
street lamp for Bowery
and Pine streets: adopted. Aid Gill
bert, from Committee on Ways and Means.
the transfer of $1,000 from
works fund; carried. Also to locate dis
trict for grading and paving Fountain street:
adopted. Aid. Patterson, from special
reported that the total of the
sewer roll for West Leonard street was S2.-
24O, of which $223 was still uncollected:
was laid on the table one week to hear ap-
peals. The assessment roll for paving Cold
brook street was taken from the table. rafi-
fed and confirmed; also the roll for COM
pensation for property taken to widen Pres
colt street. The roll for sewer on Bronson
street was returned by the treasurer, the
Mayor directed to attach his seal and the
Marshall to collect the same. The protest
of A. NJ. Nichols, general superintendent of
the Chicago d West Michigan railroad. reIa-
tive to fagman for Watson street crossing
was placed on file.
Aid. Nester then brought UP the proposed
affecting the appointment of
of the Board of Public Works and
il was taken from the table. Mr.. Nest<r
moved its adoption. Aid. Gilbert opposed
the change, said il had worked well under
mayors of all political affiliations and gave
general satisfaction to taxpayers as ex-
pressed in their Antiments on the subject.
Aid. Nester said the alderman only meant a
select few and 1t was mere assumption to
say the bulk of taxpayers were satisfied The
select influence that makes and controls the
Board is such that do not stmpathise with
the majorities or have anything to do with
politics: il IL too dirty. But when the elec
lion is over they insist on having the an
pointments. He could mention several
Boards that were Influenced in this way. Ee
had nothing against this Board or its rpem-
bers. but he did know of case where bank 1
discounts were threatened If they did not
have their way and several Zines such ap- /
pointments bad retired from the Board when !
hey got their Jobs finished Aid. Gilbert |
ssked Mr.. Nester If he would speak ny and /
'ay If the bank he referred fo was not a ua- /
ional bank Aid. Nester said he could not 1
.ay what kind of bank IL was. but the re,ins /
Vas correct as stated The amendment was
adopted.
Aid. More moved that previous reso1u-
ion 10 establish the lines Of Cherry sfreet do i
1ov pass, snd explained that soch had never /
seen done. The street was plated at sixfy- /
six feet but was graded oniy sixfy-fssre1 and i
he residents were ANXIOUS 20 nave q lint es
sblished whatever II might be. and could /
BOT prejudice the nights Of any one. 80 far ss
hey we're conflicting among themselves.
That was a matter for the courts to decj6e /
~ actions Of s3ecfment The Citr Surveyor /
ras directed 70 make survey and rpuorf n /
Council The ordinance relaf7xe TO Stone /
'ltlevalks was taken from the table and re- /
erred % TIE aldermen of the second and /
FozIrth Wards. Tire substitute 70 the charter
amendment relative 10 the sinking fund pro /
eosed By Aid Gilbert in Committee s,f the !