Telegram-herald., 1891-03-17

What the Council Will Give, the
Cable Company Now Hes.
HOT COUNCIL SESSION LAST NIGHT.
The Most Hetiv Contested Pariiamestsry
struggle That the Present Board OF
Alderman Ever Engaged tn.-
Reeds Lake Ordinance.

the council proceedings, rose TO buzz
and whizz, last evening. Everybody
was hilarious with some mysterious ex-
pectation of things 10 come OF an inter-
esting nature. The first gavel came
down with push from Andie Bevier.
Alderman Mckee moved that Alder
man Saunders set up $50 cigars, and
President Bevier put the motion in the
attitude of Jewish Rabbi. saying some-
hing very solemn TO his congregation.
or the master of the lodge telling the
boys "Heigho, all together" And SO
the hilarty went Oh till President Steb-
bins brought down the second gayel at
! tive minutes to eight, the mayor was not
present.
A communication from Representa-
tive Hayward, from Lansing. an
nounced to the council that he hal Of
fered 1 bill in the legislature regarding
the .iock line. A copy OF the bill accom-
panied the communication: Mr.. Hay
ward states his doubt of the legality of
the dock line as now LAID out. On mo-
ton OF Alderman Turner, the bill was
ordered printed.
A communication from T. n. Carpcn-
ter proved the most fiashy bombshell
that has been thrown into the council
IN recent months. When the purport
OF the communication became apparent,
there WAS breathless silence. The con-
munication recited that on January 90.
1890, there WAS executed TO Fred >.
Clark, trustee. by the Kent County
railway company, a mortgage OF $780,
600 on lis entire plant. Subsequently
August 20, 1890, there was executed by
ths successor of the Kent Coun.
ty railroad, viz, the Reeds
Lake Electric Railway Company,
to the Michigan Trust Co., trustees,
second mortgage of $4,000. Neither
of these mortgages has been discharged,
nor can the first mortgage be dis
charged without the consent of the
board of electors of the old company.
Samuel Tlbbetts of the old directory re-
fuses to consent until certain claims of
his own are settled. The communlca-
ton urged that it would be dangerous 10
grant TO the Reeds Lake Electric road
new franchises when it is not clear
that it can fulfil its obligations, and
| protested against granting the fran
chlse. The council became z genuinely
excited upon the completion of the
reading of this communication. Une
| motion after another followed IN such
rapid succession that everybody got
muddled. On motion to refer to the
committee OH ordinances, Alderman.
Mills became frey and eloquent. He
warned that the people who were re-
sorting to such tactics to defeat the
Reeds Lake franchise were overreach-
ing themselves. After several motions
substitutes were voted down, the COM
municatlOn was finally laid on the
table.
Then was read communication
from "many citizens" recIting that the
Reeds Lake Company has failed in its
duty, and asking that the Valley City
Street and Cable Company be granted
| a franchise to run line from East-st.
to Fuller-st. The clerk being instructed
to read the names, he waded in, and
after failing ANONYMOUSLY before
reaching the fourth name, amid the
most demonstrativee expressions OF mer-
rment, the petition MAS referred to
tic Oii diiu W
be considered read.
The most complicated parliamentary
tangle that the council ever got into,
AMI which never would have been un-
tangled in any other way than by "lay-
ing the whole thing on the table, the
brilliant idea of Alderman ODonnell-
was on the communication of the
Board of Police and Fire Commission
Eal
ment of locating new engine houses,
owing TO the new conditions arising
from the enlargement of the city.
| Each alderman had a favorite commit
tee to which he wanted the matter re-
ferrea, but the whole thing was finally
tabled.
The comptroller recommended the
allowance of claims of $lO.i67 .06, iu-
cluding bill OF $40 of Sproul & Nc
Gurrin. for filter tubes" Alderman
Sproul asked that that item be referred
TO the Committee on Claims and Ac-
counts. With this exception the ac-
counts were allowed.
Alderman Turner announced that
the interests of charter amendments
were progressing well at Lansing, AMI
| that the prospects are the amendments
by the Common Council.
The Valley City Street and Cable
Railway ordinance was here taken from
/ the table.
The city attorney read various por-
/ tions of the ordinance as he had pre-
/ pared them. so as TO make them IN
/ phraseology better suited TO stand IN
/ legal document, such az the ordinance
/ is designed TO he. When that portion
| Of the ordinance was read which refers
! to the rights of new companies to use
I the old tracks for approaches to bridges
aud termini, the discussion waxed
/ warm. 1t was finally settled that for
/ approach to otampau square, 900 feet he
/ granted: for approaches TO bridges on
( the West SIDE, one mile: for approaches
( to bridges on the east SIDE, 20o0 feet.
Alderman Turner offered a resolu-
/ ton TO the effect that the ordinance he
granted subject to all existing contracts
! between this company and the North
( PARK Railway Company aud the Reeds
Lake Electric Railway. relating 10
( transfers and AL other matters. Carried.
On motion Of Alderman Doran, sec
I ton 5 vas amended. providing that
electricity only shall he used. provided
+ that in case of break down ANIMAL
power may be used not TO exceed two
DAYS. aud thst animal power may 81
ways be used between the hours Of
+ eleven At night and six in the morning.
l What Alderman 0Is0nnell called the
f old chestnut, the Hsstings-st. loop was
again brought up by Alderman Steb-
hrs ard created mach w.rua hionsi