The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-09-15
THE CITY COUNCIL
They Meet in Regular Session and Transsct an
Unusually Large Amount Of Business

The council met in their chamber last
night and was called to order promptly at
o'clock by his honor, Mayor Carey. all
the members of the council being present
except Glaze and Goode.
DR.. E. b. Allen, who was the first mayor
of the city when the council held their
sessions in dugouts, was present and cccu-
pied seat of honor at the right hand OF
mayor. Colonel J. L. Dyer was there in
the place of City Attorney Gordon
The proceedings of their last meeting
were read and, aside from the resolution Of
Mckee ordering that janitor for the city
building being stricken out by motion OF
Mckee. they were adopted.
The committee on license reported favor
ing the drawing OF an ordinance govern
ing hack stands. The report was adopted.
and the ordinance ordered drawn.
Messrs Mckee. Buckeridge and Tucker
discussed the light question. they want
ing all night service on Main street. 1t
was decided that the members from each
ward investigate and report at the next
meeting. stating how many lights in { heir
respective wards could be disposed OF and
where they should be moved to.
The committee on public building and
furniture reported favoring the change OF
the slate roofing for the tower from black
to red because they deemed it would look
better and the difference in the cost would
be slight. They also reported that new
floor was badly needed in hose house No. 2
and the council decided to advertise for
bids for the same.
The paving committee reported that the
south side of Williams street was still
blockaded with sprawl, etc, from the city
building, and the street commissioner was
instructed to notify the street car COM
pany, who have already purchased it, to
remove it and clean up the street at once.
The question of the amount allowed the
street commissioner for horse
was brough up and a motion was
made that the amount be raised
from 81 TO 50 per day, but speeches were
made by several opposing the raising of
salaries or allowances whatever, and when
put to a vote the motion was lost.
Next came the report of the board Of
health committee. The rules were sus-
pended and Dr. St. John, secretary
of the board of health, who
was present, was called upon to
give the proceedings of the meeting which
was called for the Sth inst. for the purpose
of taking some action in regard to the
opening of the city schools while diph
iberia was raging in the city. He read from
the minutes of that meeting that a resolu-
ton was passed by the board recommend
ing that the opening be postponed indefi-
nitely and that said resolution was passed
by unanimous vote of the board. He
said also that he had received communi-
cation from the president of the state board
of health who thought it would be danger
Gus to open the schools under the existing
DIR. Allen, president of the board of
health here. called the attention of the
council to the fact that the reso-
board of education defer the
opening of the schools, but only that they
consider the matter, which they failed to
do because of there not being a quorum at
the meeting called for that purpose.
Several members of the council expressed
opinions in regard to the matter, some up
holding the action of the board of educa-
ton in opening the schools, and Others
their action. Many former
instances when contagious diseases in
tested the city.
DR.. Van Nuys of the board Of education
was then noticed in the lobby, and was
called upon to answer some of the state
ments that had been made. He said that
board had asked the opinion of at least
twelve of the leading physicians Of
tine city who thought no more harm would
result in opening the schools now
provided strict sanitary regulations be
used which the board claim to be doing
He said he could not see how the disease
could spread lany more by the children
being in the school room than while run
ming on the streets. The plan adopted is
for each teacher question the pupils
about their health and that of their entire
family and if by this means any sign of
the disease is discovered the pupil is sent
home and is not to be readmitted without
l certificate from some physician.
Dr. Allen here spoke of where the re-
of the affair should be. As a
physician, he deemed it unsafe to put the
children into rooms because it would then
De impossible to prevent the spread
ng of the disease in spite
If every precaution. The discussion
being again taken up by the council,
Mayor Carey suggested that it would be
best to appoint committee to work with
he board of education; but, in order to
iettle the matter, Harris moved that an
expression of the council be taken in re-
yard to the schools being closed for one !
months.
Caswell and Tucker spoke against TAX |
ng the expression as it would be useless. |
Buckeridge spoke at length favoring the |
dea AID he called the attention Of the |
council to the fact that there was a strife |
between them and the board of education |
my way and that they should take some |
tand in this matter.
DR.. Allen said that as the board OF edu- |
.ation had shouldered the responsibility Of
he matter be saw no use ia doing anything /
more about it; but the feeling had |
been worked up foo much to lei IL stop |
here so the question was put before the !
council, after another heated discussion. |
The expression sustained the resolution OF I
he board OF health by ali but one vote.
The judicial committee reported that /
heyl favored the plan Of hiring Messrs. !
Dyer and Nermillion to assist City At 1
orney Gordon in the jasperite paving 1
.ase, each to be paid $3.50.
When special committees were called /
Ipon to report, Tucker of the COMMITTEES /
o gee about spTinkling streets before I
weeping reported that they had hired one /
4 Daisy's sprinklers and the report wss 4
cceptsd.
A lot Of bills and accounts were pre- i
ented which were referred 70 the proper /
ommittees.
A long petition from the citizsns was