The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-29
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
Nothing OF importance Transacted by the CITY
Dads Last Night

The council met in regular session last
night with Mayor Carey in the chair
| All the councilmen were present except
! Tucker. Brown End Goode.
! The minutes of the last meeting were
read and approved without correction
The finance COMMITTEES reported that
owing TO rush of business no settlement
had yet been made with the county treas
urer. but that that gentleman kindly adj
/ vanced them $4,000 TO pay interest to
New York creditors.
/ An ordinance was presented by Council
man Leveridge repeating tue license or oc-
/ cupation tax imposed upon the Crawford
/ opera house, amounting 10 so year.
/ Pat Heally, as one Of the owners of the
4 opera house. was present and urged
reasons why the ordinance shoald be re-
( pealed. He stated that tile taxes against
! the opera house amounted to over
500 per year. and for that
reason he thought the license tax
should be rebated, particularly as the
house is not gold mine at present. The
+ matter was discussed pro aud con, and the
ordinance was passed.
( The committee on lights reported recon-
mending that where gas lamps were main
/ tanned on street corners where there is
electric light, or where a gas lamp is
! maintained between two electric lights not
more'than 400 feet apart, they should be
/ discontinued. Councilmal Glaze asked
whether lights could be discontinued at
the will of the council and moved that the
I lights discontinued according TO the re-
| port of the committee should be removed
n nrh ar v01o nd oil
| brought Councilman Buckridge TO his
feet who laid down the legal status OF the
| question like trained lawyer and show
ed that the lights could be discontinued at
any time the council made an order to that
effect. This settled the question and the
report of the committee was adopted
Councilman Caswell, as Chairman of the
committee on police and prisons, stated
that it cost the city 40 cents a day for
every city prisoner confined in the county
Jail aud desired to know how such ex-
pense could be avoided, experimenting his
remarks with the statement thas even
though the prisoner was held in the county
Jail but one meal. the 40 cents would be
charged up all the same. Councilman
Buck eridge in reply stated that the new
city Jail would be ready for occupancy to-
day, a statement which made the mayor
heaYe a very heavy sigh and sayI Thank
God for that"
The mayor expressed his gratitude
to wards the Lord once more when Mr..
Buckridge made the additional statement
that the city building will be ready for oc-
cupancy by the council by the next regular
meeting night.
al NToL~ afad hat ha
mittee on public improvements, were only
willing TO give Mr. Voltz, the excavation
contractor of Williams street, SO for ad-
ditional work where he asked $50. The
matter caused some discussion and after
Mr.. Voltz being heard in his own behalf,
the council allowed him $40.
Councilman Harris of the committee on
railways called attention to the invitation
rendered the city to participate in the de-
alterations OF the meeting of the stock
holders of the Midland Railway company,
which will be held in this city on Jan. B.
and upon motion Mr.. Harris was appoint
ed to represent the city at the meeting. he
was also appointed to attend a meeting OF
the stock holders of the Missouri Pacific at
Fort Scott Dec. 81, with the proviso that
the railroad company should give him
pass over the road both ways.
Councilman Glaze of the sewer commit
tee arose and made the statement that
eight per cent was collected annually from
the property holders living in the sewer
district while the interest on the bonds Is
only six per cent. This additional two
per cent is creating a surplus and in view
of that fact he moved that no sewer tax
I IL in,
the sewer district this year. He added the
statement that those who N aintain the
churches are usually heavy taxpayers,
anyway, and thought it no more than
right that the tax should be rebated for
this year at least. Councilman
Buckridge interposed fearful
large objection and made
quite an eloquent speech on the subject.
He stated that the surplus caused by the 2
per cent. difference was required to pay
the sewer commissioner and other ex-
penses incidental to the maintaining Of the
sewers. The result of Mr.. Buckridge's
argument was that the matter was post
poned till the next meeting.
Councilman Leyeridge, OF the special
committee on lights, made a report which
recommended the discrimination OF sixty
yapor lights and the relocating OK fifty
more. The report was read, giving the
present location Of the lights 10 be
discontinued, and whiie the clerk was
reading it Councilman John Martins ears
and eyes were wide open, for many OF the
blinkers in the Sixth ward were doomed
to go glimmering out Of existance. Mr. (
Martin fought like Trojan against the
lights being moved from Harry street, bat I
his fight was OF no avail, for the report
was adopted. He was made some fatter- I
ing promises, however, and it is altogether /
likely that the Sixth ward taxpayers 1
wont have less light than the taxpayers OF /
the other wards viii have, when the com .
mittee work will be carried into effect.
The bills were read and referred 70 the 4
proper committee.
Councilman Buckeridge moved that the /
city clerk be instructed to advertise for /
bids for fuel for the city for the ensuing I
year; the contract TO be given to the low
est responsible bidder. 4 discussion arose /
as TO the bids should be presented, and 4
$50 o'clock the next meeting night was 4
the hour set Several petitions were read 4
from men who are ANXIOUS TO become Jan
itors of the city building. but al! OF them /
were referred 10 the mayor, N recognition 4
Of the fact that be has the appointing
power. solely. IL Is not likely that the I
mayor will appoint anybody till the build 4
inc is fully completed ard all tne fUrni- 4
ture IS II IL
An appropriation ordinance was passed .
involving expenditures % the amount OF .