People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-06-20
CITY Council Meeting.

City Council Meeting.
The city council met in adjourned
session Wednesday night, with all the
members present except VIM. Gelino.
The committee appointed to look
after a home for the fire department
reported that the Clark & Brown
building on the corner OF Lincoln and
Jefferson avenues could be rented, in
the condition in which it now is, for
s2j month il taken for a year or
that sufficient room therein for the
fire department could be secured,
from month to month, at $40 per
month, but in neither case would the
owners be at any expense in fitting up
the building. These propositions did
not meet the approval of the council
and the committee was ordered 70
continue its endeayors to secure suit
able quarters.
The mayor then announced that he
had made a call for all who desired to
assist in organizing a new fire depart
ment to meet with the council at
that time and asked that all those
who were present and willing to 60
into new fire department to stand
up. Nobody stood up.
A very general discussion Of the fire
department situation then ensued
The result Of this discussion seemed
to be better understanding between
the members OF the city council and
the membsrs Of the disbanded depart
ment.
There seems to be more or less mis-
apprehension on the part Of the pub
lie as to the motives prompting the
action OF the council in the passage Of
the last ordinance on the subject. As
Mr.. Neubert explained last night, the
council was confronted by situation.
The city treasury was empty with
poor prospects Of its being replenish-
ed, there we're 10 members of the fire
department and no means available
to the city council of reducing the
membership; the city did not have
the funds with which to pay this
number Of men; they had discussed
various means Of retaining all the
members Of the department at 5000 a
fire when they were called upon to
work, but had been unable to come to
any understanding with the depart.
ment; that the reduction of the
amount to pay was the only cause left
to the council.
But the resignation Of the entire
department seemed to open up the
way to reorganization of the depart
ment. A new ordinance will be con.
sidered at tomorrow nights meeting.
1t will allow the fire boys $500 each
for each fire and sl.00 for false alarms.
The number Of men will be very
greatly reduced, however, and in all
probability the chief and assistant.
chief will be elected by the council
instead of by the department.
The resignation Of II. P. Hall as
councilman from the Fifth ward was
accepted.
A petition to the council request
ing them to reconsider their action
on the fire department was received,
read and placed on file.
Councilman Hunter then introduc-
ed an ordinance establishing an
order of business for the council and
mayer. The interesting feature of it
was that part which fixed the order
in which the mayor shall make his
appointments. 1t was as follows;
City marshall, city clerk, city at
tOrney, city assessor, assistant mar
shall, policeman, street commissioner
and sexton Of the cemetery. Mayor
Savage saw the tolls closing around
him and after consulting with the
city attorney suggested that the or.
dinance be permitted to go over to
the Friday night meeting. There
was no objection on the part of the
| council and The ordinance went ovef