The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-23
COUNCIL MEETING.
\ >ynops Ct What Was bone by the CIV
Fathers Las Night.

was long and ;ireSome one aud CId net
adjourn until after II o'clock
Council met in regular session, Mayor
Cox in the chair and al coUDcilmea pres
eut except Caswe!I and SAWYER
The minutes Of the last regular meeting
were read and approved
The finance committee reported tna-
they examined books Of ex City Treasurer
Eckscein and found them All riGhf, and
recommended. on request OF AF. EcAstein
that an auditing COMMITTEES De appointed.
On motion OF Johnson the report was re
ceived aud adopted.
On motion OF Mr. Scbad the io!lowlD =
resolution was adopted; BE e resolved BY
the mayor and city council CT the city ~
Wichita. Kansas thst. TIE finance com
niitee he and they are hereby authorized
10 employ such help - may IN their
opinion De necessary to audit the books q
tie city treasurer.
Mr. FAIRIES OF +he fire committee re
ported that 800 teet OF rose
had been received ali tested
and Hill moved that the report De received
and fled and that the hose Dc received bF
the city. Ctrr;ed.
The special health committee appointed
TO visit Des Moines 20 inspect the crenla-
tory at tlat place presented their report,
which, on motion CT Horaer. was received
AMI placed on file.
\ resolution was presented by Nr. Ken
yon to The effect the city attorney be rt-
auested by the mayor and council 70 meet
with the board OF health Tor consultation
when they desired &c. Ga motion OF NJ
Schad the resolution was adopted,
\ communication from the school board
requesting the use OF certain room IN
the city building for public library was,
on motion of Alberts, granted
Ca motion of Hill the crossing of Gilbert
street at the Santa F'e railroad, which Is
reported in bad condition, was referred to
the railroad committee.
Colonel Dyer announced that the at
toraeys for the city in the jasperite paving
case had comp. eted their work and made
full report which appears IN another
column. He asked any council
man who objected to report to
state the objections at this point or forever
afterwards hold their peace. ohad moved
that he report be received and placed on
file Carried. johnson remarked that 1T
ought to be framed
On motion of Hill the city clerk was
authorized to advertise for bids on all I'M
finished sidewalks.
Mccall OF the committee on judiciary
submitted the following, concerning
freight rates. which was adopted:
REPORT OF JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
At the last meeting OF the city council
the following resolution was adopted:
Whereas, Complaint is general that the
freight rates, charged by the different rail
road companies entering this city are, In
many instances. unreasonably high. And
Whereas. The law provides that upon
proper complaint made TO the board OF
railroad commissioners by the mayor aud
council of any city OF unreasonable freight
rates. il shall be the duty OF said commits
siouers to Investigate the same, ana II
said complaint be well grounded, To pre-
scribe reasonable rates IL place OF any
rates found TO be unreasonable. There
fore, be 1t
Resolved, That the Judiciary COMMITTEES
be instructed TO consider and report what
steps should be taken to properly bring be
fore said commissioners the grievances or
all classes of our people.
The judiciary committee have examined
into this question and have reached the
siopers, under existing law, have power TO
redress such grievances as may be pre-
sented u them growing out OF unjust or
discriminating rates. But before the COM
mission can act intelligently 1t Is neces-
sary that a case be presented to It, pre-
cisely as a case is presented 10 court to
decide upon.
The trouble IS that, while every man in
a community suffers, to some extent. from
unjust rates. IL j. seldom that one man
can afford the time and trouble necessary
70 test the matter before the railroad COM
mission. Take the freight rate on coal,
for instance. The coal merchant simply
adds the freight to the selling price. and
every man who buys a ton OF coal pays the
freight on it: yet very few men feel ike
taking mp the fight for better rates. on
their individual responsibility To meet
this very difficulty the law specially
provides that the mayor and coun-
eli of any city may make complaint
OF unjust rates charged by any railroads
entering the city; aud IL i the dCty OF the
commissioners, If they find the complaint
we'll taken, TO order the railroads to put IN
A reasonable rate. The city thus acts for
the benefit OF AL its citizens.
The committee believe that the remedy
under existing law has never been eX-
hausted and they further believe that the
matter should be taken IL hand aud
pushed to a conclusion without delay TX
we can establish the fact that any rates
are unreasonable We have clear right TO
have them remeded. and, until We ask
that this be done in the way marked out
By law we are not in any position. a. II
city. to complain that 1t -. not done. IL
view Of the complaint OF nnreasonapt-
rates made By nearly all Glasses OF our
citizens. and in view of the vast import
auc- Of reasonable rates to the future
growth and prosperity OF cur c.iy, your
committee are OF the opinion that = : a
good business proposition 70 take the
matter Up luJeL!gentIy, vigorously, anu
al once.
We therefore recommend that an advis-
. orr committee = three CITIZENS Dc ap-
pointed and requested 10 ace III this matter
ana also al attorney familiar with the
subject, 70 prepare the papers, take test.-
mOny. aud present the matter properly
before the commission.
:. II. MCCALL
HENRY : EADD,
e T. kEyTgN,
On a resolution Of Mr. Mccall. the
mayor was instructed to employ George
l. Douglas 20 look after t3e interests OF.
Wichita. ii accordance with the above
resolution.
Ire reports Of several sopraisemen:
committees !LFotFl1- eIG S~Nt@s "a SS'
eraI thousand dollars, were read and
approved These rports involved d
good many lengthy arguments By
outsiders, which occupied good
deal OF the time Of the city council
John Fare! put IL a bill FOR seversI han
bred dollars which lie claims u2ier 51=
ssgae hour system for himself aud his
horse. and Gu motion the same was r.
ferred 20 the 5ud .ciary committee. John
claims tia. lie has done ten hours wo5a
each day while lie has held tae Office 81
street commissioner, while Re has received
only eight hours paw.