San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-04-06
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES,
THE REGULAR WEEKLY SESSION OF
THE COUNCIL.
General Routine of Business-The Police
Committees Authority Questioned
Mr.. Stoves Addresses the
Council, Etc, Etc.

The regular session Of the City Coun
Gil was held yesterday afternoon, a full
board being present. The minutes o.
the last meeting and the special meeting
were read and approved after amend
ments. His Honor then read the variou,
petitions which were before him. The
only one that brought forth any discus.
sion was the petition of the Democratic
Executive Committee, praying that the
city erect hall. 60x90 feet, at San Pedro
Park, in order that ample aocommOda-
ton might be afforded for the Demo-
cratic State Convention when it met
here, the cost Of the erection being about
$1,000, $1,000 OF which being offered BY
the lessee OF the park and street railway
company.
French declared be thought that in a
matter Of this kind the public should be
called upon to do II; II was unusual for
the city to do II and he could see no war
rant or law countenancing any such
proceeding.
Hsmbleton blandly moved that the
appropriation be made, but 1t WAS lost,
and the petition was referred to the
tender mercies Of the Committee on
Parks and Public Buildings.
A petition from Officer Brown asking
for the remission Of fine imposed BY
Police Committee was laid ever until
the report of the Committee was heard.
The report Of the Board Of Health was
read and approved. This body recon-
mended the removal of the penthouse
and the erection of a morgue. A special
committee to carry this suggestion out
was ordered and appointed.
The reports of committees were then
read. Alderman French, Chairman Of
the Petitions and Ordinances Commit
tee, reported on the application of
Messrs Humbird, Newcomb and Clifford
for the right.of-way and use Of streets to
lay gas mains.
French read the opinion Of the City
Attorney, who stated that he did not
think there was anything to preclude
another gas company from operating,
and the committee recommended that
the petition be granted and the neces-
sary ordinance to be drafted by the City
Attorney.
Schreiner was seized with a spasm OF
incertitude and mentioned the fact that
the present charter was for so years.
French informed the gentleman that
the existing charter did not prevent the
new company from laying pipes. to
which His Honor calculated "Still the
city would not take any OF their gas"
That remains TO be SEEM" responded
Alderman French, with his grandlsonIan
bow.
The report was adopted.
A report was also received from the
same committee relative to the petition
to remove peddlers' stands from the
plaZas.
This was referred to the Mayor to reg
ulate the affair, the committee deeming
1t would be an Injustice to remove them.
The Council adopted the report.
The Streets and Bridges Committee
Lockwood, Chairman,) recommended
that the lines at the corner OF West
Commerce and Leona streets, made by
the City Engineer, be received and filed.
Adopted.
A culvert drain was ordered on South
Laredo street at cost of $50. and the
report OF the City Engineer on st. Msry's
street was referred to the Special I'm
provement Committee.
Considerable discussion ensued over
the report OF the Police Committee, who
stated that Officer Brown had been
found guilty of fragrant violation OF
the law by removing his property line,
and 1t was recommended that he be
fined one months pay, $40.
French questioned the authority. "He
has not violated any police regulations"
said the Alderman.
The Mayor-Any officer who violates
his duty is amenable to the Police Com
mittee.
French-If he does that he is not fit to
be an officer.
The Mayor-The Committee thought
that the deduction Of one months salary
would be sufficient.
BergstromIDid not the City Engineer
give him the line?
The Mayor-Six years ago they agreed
upon line and he built a fence on 1t.
The present City Engineer says "thst
your line should be here" and he moved
his fence early In the morning.
Bergstrom-Ift the City Engineer gave
him the line, don't see why he should
not take 1t. / don't see what ii has to
do here at all.
Gallagher-It does not seem to me that
this 10 the proper tribunal to try this
case at all. | understand this line was
given to Brown % years ago. l also I'M
derstand that the line to which he
moved was given him by the present
City Engineer. Brown, / am told, is
able to prove that he did not remove
that fence at an unreasonable hour.
Did Officer Brown have any witnesses in
regard to the time Of the removal OF his
fence?
Smye-I will state that Brown was not
very anxious to have witnesses. There
has been sworn testimony which shows
that 1t was being removed at 3 O'Clock
L.. h. nsz . 81. T..
dence that the line had been agreed
upon, and there was decided acknowl-
edgment on his part from the fact that
he cut down a portion Of his building
and conformed to that line. subse-
quently another survey was made and
his line given, but possession was not,
then the officer takes the law into his
own hands and at night removes the
fence, cutting of portion OF his neigh
boris house and the water supply. The
committee did not think the officer JUS
titled in taking the law into his own
hands.
Hambleton-The Alderman did rot
seem to take into consideration the fact
that the officer himself admitted that he
agreed several years ago with the party
owning the adjacent property that this
line should be agreed on, and that ought
to settle the difference that might arise
between the parties upon that agree
ment. 1 do not see any extenuating cir
cumstsnces that would release that man
from direct violation Of the law, and as
he Is an officer, he should be punished.
Gallagher-My point is this, that we
have not the power to fine an officer Of
this city for a civil sffense. did not
know we had got that high yet. have
not found IL out l don't think fhia