San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-12-15
COUNCIL SESSION.
ENGINEER GRAY WILL WAIT FOR
his SALARY.
Expressed His Willingness to Take His
Turn at the Trough-Alderman
Hollis Resolution Defeated.

At yesterdays meeting of the city
council all the aldermen were present
except Alderman Kerble. A caucus
between the mayor, Consulting En-
gineer Gray and several of the alder
man delayed the opening of the coun-
ell meeting somewhat, but after it
opened they Immediately got down to
business. The caucus between the
mayor and Engineer Gray was in re-
lation to Mr.. Gray's salary of $3.50
per month, which, as the sewer fund
for that purpose is exhausted, must
be paid out of the general fund, which
is now several months behind. Mr..
Gray did not at first like the arrange
ment but at last became recOnciled to
it and signified his willingness of
awaiting his turn. He was neverthe-
less troubled considerably about the
fact that the incoming administration
was likely to be averse to his contract
and annul it or hold back his salary,
but he was assured by the city attor-
ney that his contract with the city as
consulting engineer was perfectly le-
gal and could not be annulled. This
seemed to set Mr.. Gray at ease and
he had nothing more to say. Not a
word relative to the matter was
brought up in the council meeting.
An important decision of the cOun-
ell was that of knocking out Alder
man Hollis resolution requiring all
city employees except day laborers to
speak and understand the English Ian
guage intelligibly. 1t was defeated
by vote of to ). This resolution
had caused considerable controversy
and the result had been anxiously
awaited by number of the city en-
plOyes.
About the only other measure of
Importance considered by the council
was resolution of Alderman Mackey
directing the issuance of warrants to
city employees in payment for services
This matter has frequently been sug-
gested as a temporary relief of the
present condition but the right of the
city to issue such warrants unless
there is money in the treasury with
which to pay them has been question
ed. City Attorney Minor reported
yesterday that the city had the right
to issue warrants under such cireum-
stances, and a majority of the alder
men declared themselves in favor Of
the resolution which was laid over till
next meeting in order that some de-
tails may be agreed upon.
1t was shortly after 8 o'clock when
Mayor ElmendOrf raped for order,
all the aldermen being present except
Aldermen Kerble and Robards.
After the minutes of the previous
meeting had been approved Mayor Ell
mendorf announced that he was too
sick to remain at the meeting and ask
| ed the aldermen to select one of their
Richards not being present Alderman
| Hoefiing was chosen and the follow
ing petitions were read:
Constance M. McMahon-Permissi
to pay taxes on one-sixteenth Of es-
tate of Chavez Barbe, deceased. Re-
ferred to assessment committee.
Emanuel Seffel-To be reimbursed
cost of relaying pipes destroyed by
street commissioners force on Nolan
street. Referred to finance commit
tee.
CitiZens-That an electric light be
| placed corner California and Kings
bury streets. Referred to public i'm
provement committee.
r. Frederick-Proposit to sell the
city a strip of land on Labor street
to open same. Referred TO public inn
provement committee.
Alderman Meerscheidt for the public
improvement committee reported IA
vorably on petition of citizens that Go
lad street be repaired, such work to
be done as soon as practicable. Adopt
ed.
At this time Mayor Pro Tenn. Ro-
bards came in and presided over the
remainder of the session.
Alderman Hoefling brought up the
petition of Henry Fest to be relieved
as bondsman Of Contractor Marshall
for building the storm water sewer on
Presa street. He said the city en-
gineer would not receive the work
because an alley was not filed with
dirt as required in the contract. He
said the contractor had twice filled the
alley, but each time the dirt had been
washed away by rains and for this
reason he did not think the contractor
should be required to fill the alley
again.
Aldermen Holt and Meerscheidt.
members of the public improvement
committee, refused to sign the report,
saying they had not investigated the
matter. After desultory discussion
the petition was referred to the city
engineer for report.
Alderman Dreiss, reporting for the
finance committee, presented resolu-
tons making appropriations as fol-
lows: Nine dollars and ninety cents
from the general fund for refunding