The herald., 1896-04-21
IT WILL Be DECORATED
C0uncilmen Afraid of an Uncer-
tain Ghost
CITY HALL AND LA FIESTA
Another Incident in the Municipal Owner,
ship of Water
Councilman S.ockwslI Introduces Series Of
Resolutions Which Are Referred-Yes-
tsrday With the Council

Whether or not to decorate the CITY
hall and thus formally recognize the
Fiesta occupied the attention of the
majority of the members of the city
council for several hours yesterday.
The deliberations upon the subject
were of a secret character, because the
issue as defined was the result of the
action taken by the advisory board of
the a. p. A., which, upon behalf of that
order, had passed u set of strong reso-
lutions insisting that it's membership,
Doth in public life and out, as far as
possible. boycott the celebration
a week ago the council instructed
City Clerk Chas. A. Luclsenbach, as the
custodian OF the city hail, to decorate
the buildig with the paraphernalia OF
last year. This action was taken after
the supply committee had recommend
ed that $50 be allowed for the purpose.
This requisition was thrown out, it is
an open secret, by the explicit instruc-
tions of the advisory board of the 4. p.
a., other resolutions being during the
past week adopted in every council of
the A. p. A. endorsing the action then
taken. The old decorations were found
to be unfit for use. and then the Gus
todian awaited further Instructions.
These he did not obtain.
Yesterday morning Fire Commits
sioner Jack KuhrtZ, happening by the
Hiuiiicipdl puuui1S, Steppeu lHslue anu
asked why the building had not been
decorated. The city clerk informed
him of the facts-partially-as they
exist. kuhrtz went up into the council
and interviewed President Teed, who
promised him all the aid in his power
Other councilmen seen insisted that
Councilman Blanchard who is the
chairman of the building committee,
ought tot make the first move in the
matter, but Blanchard declined abso-
lutely to move upon the subject, having
only yesterday morning received ofi-
cial notification of the action taken by
the advisory board of the A. p A, which
he at the time had in his pocket. Va
rious councilmen pleaded with tears
in their eyes with the custodian to take
the initiative, but he declined to do so
unless instructed as a matter of record.
He was told that his bills would go
through unmolested for whatever sup
plies he might need for the decoration.
To force the issue squarely the Fiesta
management sent in the following:
The executive committee would re-
spectfully request that your honorable
body take the necessary steps to declare
the afternoon of Wednesday. April %. Il
legal holiday. This action is especially Y
desired. as it will enable the federal OH
ces in this city to close on that day.
as we'll as the leading business estab-
lishments.
Gen. John r. Mathews. as the post
master, came before the council during
the morning hour and requested that
Wednesday (tomorrow( afternoon be
by the city made legal holiday, which
would enable his employees to also Sc
cure a partial vacation. lie could get
no member to bring the matter up, on
the ground that the council had no jul-
iSdiction in the premises. The genera
left the august presence of the council
very much disgusted
After several secret caucuSeS had
been held it was finally decided for the
protection of all concerned. from the
wrath of the powerful secret political
organization, that Sam Adams. dec
orator well known, be employed, the
amount to be spent in beautifying the
front of>the city hall not to exceed $50.
Who employed Sam Adams neither he
nor ans one else knows for certainty,
as studious care has been taken to keep
all reference to the matter from the rec
ords.
The city hall will today be decorated,
because the building committee has Sc
cretly ordered the work to be done
The request that Wednesday be de-
clared legal holiday was filed although
Councilman Snyder came as usual to tn :
front by moving that the city's employ
es be not required to be on duty tomor-
row, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
afternoons.
BEGINNING THE FALL CAMPAIGN
Councilman George Stockwell sprung
something of a sensation, SO far as some
of his colleagues are concerned. when
he yesterday afternoon presented the
following far reaching set of resolu-
tions:
Whereas, the contract with the city
water company, by which the questions
arising between it and the city have
been regulated will expire in two years;
and,
Whereas, it is provided in this con-
tract that the city may purchase the
plant of said company in the provisions
in said contract contained and
Whereas, an expensive litigation is
now in progress between the city and
said water company; and
Whereas, The question of the purchase
of said plant will have to be submitted
to the people under any circumstances,
that they may vote for or aginst the
bonds, which will necessarily be issued
for such purpose. now, therefore be it
Resolved. That the water supply COM
mittee be instructed to confer with the
officers of the water company. with a
view to arriving at a reasonable pur-
chase price for the plant of said COM
pany, and If such price can be agreed
upon, to recommend a submission of the
matter to the people by way of a vote
upon the issuance of bonds therefor.
The above caused the usual amount
of feeling generalities to be indulged in
by nearly every member upon the floor
After the surprise incidental to it's read
ing had subsided. one of the council
men was anxious to know what the
resolutions really meant, and was in
formed that they We're intended in the
nature of a beginning. They were then
referred. Councilmen state that d start
will have to be made upon the subject
and the sooner it is done the better.
City AttorneyDunn Informed the coun-
Gil during the day that the legality of
the refunding bonds would probably at
an early day be again taken before the
supreme court for a rehearing
DEPARTMENT OFFICERS REPORT.
The city attorney reported an ordi-
nance appointing commissioners for
the widening of Ninth street between
Spring and Pearl streets. Adopted.
An ordinance amending ordinance No.
253, adopted September Is, 1886. so that
the same shall read thirty minutes in
stead of one hour, and including GER
tain other streets named in your in
structions. Referred to the board of
public works.