The herald., 1897-09-20
A LIVELY SESSION
IN THE COUNCIL
CHAMBER TODAY
A Report on the Legality Of the Water
Contract-0ther Matters Of
Interest

The regular session Of the city council
today promises to be one of the liveliest
and most interesting that has been held
for some months. 1t will also be an i'm
portant session to the property owners,
In that several matters of more than
ordinary Importance will be considered
in which all tax payers are directly in
terested.
PROBABLY the most important matter
to come up will be the opinion of City
Attorney Dunn as to the legality Of
the present water contract. No one ex-
cept Mr.. Dunn and the attorneys who
are associated with him in the litiga-
tion growing out Of the present effort Of
the city to control the water supply,
know just what his report will contain.
Its preparation has already consumed
several days of the city attorneys time,
and he will probably go into detail in
explaining whatever position he may
take upon the subject. II he holds that
the contract Is legal he will be handi-
capped by that opinion in any proceed
ings that may arise before the water
question Is settled. It is possible that
in event of such a finding on his part
he will simply make statement to that
effect without entering into his reasons
for that opinion. This is all that he
would be expected to do to comply with
the motion made by Mr.. Grider, two
weeks ago, by which the opinion was
requested. The motion was simply that
the city attorney express an opinion up
on the subject Whatever may be the
opinion it will doubtless have an i'm
portant bearing upon the future action
odf the council in its endeavor to secure
municipal ownership of the water
works.
The report Of the finance committee
on the matter Of ordering a special elec-
tion for the issuance of school bonds to
the amount of $340, 900, is another i'm
portant matter which will probably be
voted upon. The report will recommend
that the election be held and that an
ordinance Of intention to hold such an
election be prepared. On this matter
there will probably be no contest or diff
ference of opinion, and 1t Is expected that
the report will be concurred in.
The matter Of the proper protection of
the people against the practice of some
butchers In selling meat unfit for use
Will be the subject presented to the coun-
Gil in report from the board of health.
This report will include paragraph ad-
vising that the city cease the sale of
sewage for irrigation purposes. The
matter has been carefully investigated
by committee of the board of health
and later an ordinance will be presented
providing severe penalties for selling
diseased or tainted meats
Whether the board of public works
will be ready to make its report upon
the much talked of boulevard matter is
not now certain. The board has put in
much time in the investigation of this
subject, and as it is desired to make a
voluminous report when one is made, it
may be that the matter will not come
up for another week.
The report of the special committee to
whom was referred the charges preferred
by Health Officer Powers against Street
Sweeping Inspector Mcclellan is await
ed with interest not only by the per-
sons directly concerned, but also, by the
citizens and business men who have re-
peatedly objected to the manner in which
the work is being performed The report
Of this committee had not been prepared
up to late Saturday night, but the men,
bers got together yesterday and it is,
understood that they came to some
agreement, the exact nature of which
they would not make publis. 1t is ex-
pected that the charges will be sustained
and that the committee will recommend
that the inspector be relieved of his posi-
ton. Even If this action Is taken by
the committee it does not necessarily
follow that the report will be adopted
without lively contest. McClelland
owes his appoin tment to Councilman
Blanchard, and If the report is adverse
to him it Is considered probable that
that councilman will take up the cudgels
for his appointee. If he does, he may get
the support of Councilmen Ashman and
Grider. Mr.. Mathuss stated on Satur-
day that he would probably be absent
from today's meeting and Councilman
Hutchinson is now out of the state. III
Messrs. Nickel, Toll and Baker, who
constitute the committee, unite in sup
port of their report. which is probable.
President Silver may have to cast the
deciding vote on the acceptance of the
report. All OF these suppositions ara
based upon the expectation that the re-
port will be unfavorable to McClelland
and that Mr.. Blanchard will have the
support Of Grider and Ashman in what
ever fight he may chose to make. What
ever action will be taken will doubtless
be watched by-a crowded lobby and also
by numerous interested citizens.
The question Of allowing the several
saloonkeepers the requested rebates up
on their licenses will not come up as the
finance committee, after practically de-
Gliding the matter Saturday, reconsid-
cred it and deferred action for week.
In addition to the matters mentioned
there will also be an unusual amount Of
routine business to be disposed Of On
the whole, today's session of the council
will be a very busy one.
Encouraging Great Evil
Long ago It became apparent that the
wholesale denudation of our forest lands
was the source of great injury to many
interests Arhor dov ho baoo