Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-21
DADS IN WORKING CLOTHES
City Councils Session Last
Night a Busy One.
MANY THINGS TOUCHED UP
And Some With No Light Hand-The Pool
Rooms and Fire Protection in the
Foreground.

previous meeting, which were approved as
read.
Mayor VanHoose reported that he had ar
ranged the matter Of the poll tax of one
Reed, he being over age. Also the recon-
mendatfon of the building committee in
reference to the petition of Mr. PettyJohn
as to GREETING building The petition was
recommended to be disalowed. on motion
the recommendation prevailed.
Ihe mayor offered an ordinance in refer
enee to suppressing gaming, insofar as 1t
pertains to pool selling on races.
Alderman McCartin asked II 1t would not
be better to await the action Of the supreme
court.
Alderman Gillespy said the action of the
supreme court would have no bearing on
the passing of an ordinance to suppress the
pool selling.
City Attorney Evans said the ordinance
prepared was perfectly constitutional and
that the action of the supreme court had no
bearing on the ordinance.
Alderman McCartin said II the ordinance
would stop the gambling he was in favor of
it,, but he did not think the council should
take up the matter unless it could be a
success.
Mayor VanHoose was clearly of the
opinion that the ordinance would stop pool
selling in the city limits vide chicken fights
City Attorney Evans said it was impos-
sible to convict the pool sellers under the
intended to cover this matter.
Alderman Pearce asked for a reading of
the ordinance. Clerk Camp read the ordi-
nance.
Alderman Parker moved that the ordi-
nance go through the regular process. Sec
onded by Alderman Ward and SO ordered:
Mayor VanHooSe recommended that the
street committee investigate the report of
the superintendent of the telephone ex-
change as regards the imperfect work of
the Birmingham Railway and Electric COM
pany in erecting wires to run the electric
cars. He stated that Chief Mullin of the
fire department made verbal report as to
their condition, and reports the work as be-
ing very imperfect.
Mr. John s. Cox appeared before the board
Ill
ferred to Alderman Gillespy, who has the
matter in charge.
The clerk read a list of bills which had
been audited, and on motion they were Or
dered paid.
Alderman Gillespy from the judiciary
have taxes refunded. ali Of which he recon-
mended allowed. Carried.
He also reported a petition from simmons,
Durham & Co. as to land which they claim
ed to be outside the city limits. Recon-
mended the petition be disallowed. Con-
Petition from Mrs. Tomlnson relative to
improvements on the street. Petitioner has
paid her part of the improvements and he
recommended the property be released from
further obligation. Concurred in.
Alderman Csillespy referred to the ordi-
nance requiring ice wagons to carry scales
and weigh all ice Sold
Alderman Parker reported that he had in
formation that the City Delivery company's
wagons had scales, but the drivers refused
Alderman Mcknight asked that the ordi-
nance be passed requiring all ice sellers to
weigh ice when offering to sell same.
The committee to whom the ordinance
was referred was granted more time to pre-
pare proper ordinance.
Considerable time was used in discussing
the matter of settlement of claims by the
city against certain property at Avenue q
and Nineteenth street On a vote on the
recommendation of the committee to effect
a settlement in the shape of compromise
the recomme ndation was lost and the claim
remained against the property.
moved that
ter be referred to the committee with power
to act.
in view of the fact that the city engineer
said the work had been done at a greater
cost than was charged 1t were better to
stand a lawsuit and lose all or get. what
was charged The matter was settled as
per report of the committee. The same re-
manned final, the charges standing.
The committee, through Alderman Giles
Ply, reported final action In a number of
citations and same was concurred in.
Alderman Jones, from the cemetery and
parks committee, reported the fencing of
the cemetery and parks completed and a
balance of the appropriation IN hand and
asked for further appropriation of $50 to
have same painted.
Alderman MoCartin moved that the com.
mittee be authorized to have the fences of
a figure as possible. Carried
Alderman Jones stated further that a
and that Prof. Henri Weber's band had
rendered their services free for open air
concerts during the summer.
Fred L. Grambs and Henri Weber deserved
the greatest praise for their noble charity
i'm that direction, as he considered 1t
Alderman Enslen of the street committee
recommended that the claim of Mr.. Fulton
for damages to shade trees be not allowed.
Ordered back to street committee.
Alderman Ward presented petition from
the citizens in the neighborhood of Seventh
avenue and Sixteenth street asking for foot
walk across the street. Referred to the
Alderman jackson from the fire depart
ment committee reported In the absence of
the chairman, recommending the purchase
of a fire engine.
tinctly understood that he was in favor of
Alderman Pearce asked the mayor when
in the, last three years another engine was
needed.
The mayor called Alderman Jones to the
chair and stated that for eight times since
his administration there was only one en-
CINE in use. There was at one time for ten
days only one engine fit for service. One
other eleven years Possibly in one hour
we may lose an immense amount Of proper
ty. He had never heard anything relative
cine The merchants want more fire pro-
lection and are willing TO pay tax for the
purpose. He saw one of the engines get out
Ave large fires during the interval of its re-
pair. Instead of three engines there should
be four, one on the NOrun anu one OH -tne
south Highlands and two in the center of
the city. Then we could fight any large
fires which should come. II have never
seen anything in my life more needed than
more fire protection" he said. you have
quadrnpled the taxes of the merchants and
they are entitled to more and better protec-
ton Let the Morris, OBriens, the Chali-
foux Salos or any of the other large build
ings be burned, and venture to say they
will not be rebuilt with the present fire
protection" He then earnestly asked the
board to purchase another engine for the
CITY in Justice to the property holders.
Alderman Mcknight moved that the mat
ter go over until the next meeting
Alderman Gillespy favored Immediate ac-
tion and seconded Alderman Jacksons mo-
ton to purchase an engine.
on the motion to let the matter lie over
the vote resulted in it's favor.
Alderman Jackson recommended that the
AWNINGS In front of the new market be re-
placed. those at present in use being rotted
out. The matter was referred to the proper
committee. -4.a.,ss..,l.,
and Electric scompany's action IN putting in
tracks in the city was brought up and their
rights to lay tracks where and when they
choose without grants from the city, was
discussed and the matter left 10 come be-
fore the street committee atfts meeting this
afternoon
sanitary committee recommended that the
ba xo1 III MIR ma IN