Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-07-18
COUNCIL MEETING.
The City Fathers Convene in Spec
ial Session,

The City Council convened in
special session at the council cham
Ter Tuesday night.with Mayor Hen
shaw in the chair. CLERK A. f. Lam
bert read the minutes Of the last
meeting, after which the council
proceeded to transact the business
on hand. Mr.. Kinsey Creque APP
peared before the council and stated
that on Saturday last he got into
trouble, after which be surrendered
himself to the Mayor, who imposed
a fine of FIVE dollars and costs, which
he thought was too severe punish
ment, and asked that the council
take some action in the matter.
Mayor Henshaw reviewed the entire
case, giving the evidence. The vote
of the council sustained the action of
the Mayor. During thtse proceed
ings Msyor pro tenn E. D Gardner
occupied the chair. Clerk Lambert
suggested that the council decide on
tie corporation levy for the coming
year, as Mr. Pitzer vas ready to fix
the books. The council decided that
the levy should remain at 60 cents
on one hundred dollars, as it was
last year. Mr.. George W. Johnson
appeared before the council on behalf
of the Martinshurg Electric Com
pany and asked PERMISSION to erect
new poles on Raleigh street, where
none have ever been erected. He
was informed that such work was
done under the supervision of the
Street Committee. Mr.. johnson said
that complaint had been made to him
about strangers coming into Mar
tinsburg with inferior goods, and re-
failing them at price that Injuries
our own merchants. He said that
he had drafted an ordinance, estab.
fishing license for conducting such
business, at ten dollars per day. The
ordinance does not apply to persons
selling goods by sample. The pen
atty for violating the ordinance be
fixed at not less than SIS nor more
than $50. The ordinance passed
through the first and second reading
before the council, and discussions
on the law offered by Mr.. johnson
followed. A motion was made that
the license be five dollars per day
instead of ten, and it was carried.
The ordinance as corrected was read
and adopted, and went through the
final reading. It was then passed,
to take effect on July 18th. 1t was
ordered that it be published in the
daily papers. Mr.. johnson asked if
council had taken any action in re-
gard to revising the ordinances and
bylaws Of the corporation. He was
informed that motion had been
passed TO the effect that the work
mentioned be done by the Ordinance
Committee, in conjunction with the
corporation attorney. He then stat
ed that it would take an unreasona-
BILE amount of work, and would con-
sumo six months, and he was of the
opinion that extra compensation
would be due him. No action was
taken. Mr.. Kline referred the atten-
ton OF council to the ordinance,
adopted some time ago, in regard to
fire escapes being placed on all large
buildings. The council decided that
the ordinance be strictly enforced.
The necessity of having the code of
West Virginia in the mayors office,
was spoken of, and the clerk was in
structed to purchase one. Mayor
Henshaw stated that Mr.. David
Shaffer wished to lay stone pave.
menL on the south side of the Cont
mental Hotel, as the bricks would
not stand the heavy trunks. The
matter was referred to the Street
Committee. The old crossing stones
which are lying along the pavements
were spoken of, and it was ordered
that they be hauled to the rear of
the mayors Office. A communica.
ton was received from E. G. Will
liams, stating that complaint had
been made of offensive odors arising
from buildings on the premises OF
John Teller, on Queen street. The
matter was referred to the nuisance
committee. Mr.Larkins spoke of the
bad condition of Mr.. David Russler's
property, on Liberty street, North
Martinsburg, and the matter was re-
ferred to the Nuisance Committee.
Council adiourned