The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-09-02
CITY SOLONS IN SESSION
A Former Market Clerk Who
Was Short
ABOUT $40 IN ACCOUNTS
Alderman Rainbow Made the Matter Public By
Asking City Attorney Lowe if the
Shortage Had Been Settled.

The regular monthly meeting of the
city council was held last night. Alder
man John McCartin presided in the alb
sence of Mayor Evans, and the follow
ing aldermen Were present. Lynaugh,
Wheeler, RAINBOW, Kerr, Mcknight,
Moore, Williams, Drennen. Altman, Ora
ham, Hamilton. Hentschell.
There was lots of talk and very little
important business transacted. A -num-
Der of assessments for street. improve
ments were mad final ard this pracipitat-
cd lively discussion participated in by
Attorney Allen. who represented Mr.
Taylor, who claims to have been DAM
aged by the city's side walk improve
mants.
Attorney Allen said the property of
Mr. Taylor had been levied ON for the
street improvement assessment. He pre-
snu.d petition to have this stayed. He
said Mr.. Taylor's property had been
damaged by the frequent changes in
grade made by the city. The lot is on
Eighteenth street and Avenue II, and
WIS onlee, he stated. on he proper g'rade.
The city saw fit to change it, and the
Let was seriously injured. mir. Taylor,
said nc, has been made to pay the cost
of constructing a side walk in front of
e1is property twice b fore, and this makes
the thirdtime.'
In tnis connection Mr.. Taylor said:
"Mr. Grgg, the city attorney under the
furnsr administration promised that il
L would not sue the city for damages the
city would fill up my lot The lot wasn't
filed UP, but the city built another pave
merit. | put 400 loads of dirt from Rid
mountain on my lot and still the city
came along and changstd the grade again.
My lot isn't good fer anything now eX-
cept for lake or a duck pond
Chairman McCartin said it was dlis un-
dCrStan1inQ that the grade had been
raised twice, and each time Mr.. Taylor
was Deft in a bad fix. IF 1 remember
Alright" said he, "Mr. Van Hose, when
he was mayor said it would be proper
fer the pavement to be BUTT at the ex-
penss of the city I remember that the
city promised to fill up the OF and did
NOT do 1t. 1 reallythink MIR. Taylor has
bel5n badly used"
At his suggestion the matter was refer
red to the street committee ard all pro-
cesdings stopped.
IAN effort was made by Alderman Moore
to have the license of $3.50 for each per-
foilmance of Theatrical company an
nuged. The motion was to accept $50
additional license from the opera house
lessee IN lieu of The $3.50 for every per-
formarlce until January 1. The motion
was tabled.
A petition from the Powderly and Bes-
semer Railroad company for charter
from the city to lay track on First ave-
nue. and run over the fine of the Rirming-
ham Railway and Electric company was
received. "a representative of the COM
pany appeared bsfore the board, and said
1t was their intention to greatly improve
The line If they could get convenient ter
minal facilities in this city. He desired
an action in the matter at once. The
question was left with The street COM
mfttee chairman of the Judiciary COM
msttee and city attorney to investigate
and report back to a special meeting Fri
day night.
The question of meat market again bob
bed UP. 1t all came about through petit
tion from j. r. Copeland to run meat
market ON Eighth avenue and Twenty
Fourth street. Alderman Moore cham
pioned Ills petition and said the citizens
of that ne'g'hoorhood needed it badly.
ARderman RAINBOW brought up the Pc
tition of Griggs & Co.. to run market on
Twenty-fourth street. between Fourth
and Fifth avenues, which was tabled at
the last meeting
Aldermen HentscneH then moved to al
bow meat markets to open an over ;Iha
cry. "It seems to be the determine ton
to destroy the regular market" said he.
He received no second, and the two peti-
lions were allowed
"A sensation was sprung just before adj
Jourrment by question from Alderman
RAINBOW 10 City Attorney Lowe. "Has
the shortage in the former market clerJx's
account been settled?" asked Mr. Ram
bow.
every one seemed surprised and glanced
at The reporters with shudder. Said At
torney Lowe: "I don't think this Is a
matter to be mentioned here and allowed
70 get in the newspapers. The account
mas been presented TO The guarantee com.
pany which made his bond. He Is now
trying to effect a settlement with the
company"
No names were mentioned and the
matter was treated with profound air
or secrecy The party Is said to be w.
IL. Grant, who was market cl-rk during
former administration. Tt II, allerai
that he was short in his accounts to the
extent of about $40.
The officers reports were as follows.
The fire department responded TO six
alarms during the month of August.
Twenty-Five building permits were is
sued which yielded a revenue of $12.
The report of ths poll tax collector
shows the following collections for Au.
gust:
Poll taxes and fees ....... ....$ S42 40
Licenses $500. .....$ ...... -. 2,7S2 so
Iotal 81 SID SO
The total funds collected for street
and poll taxes so far this year amounts
to 900, an increase of $3.50 over last
year. The receipts from thu pound Of
ficer amounted to $3.50 for August.