Smyrna times., 1897-11-17

The members were anxious for de-
bate on the matter and asked that the
motion be withdrawn. This Moore
agreed to, but Anthony would not. The
question was put and lost by vote of
4 to 3. The President thou allowed a
twO-minute discussion.
r. L. Cummins mada Il strong ap-
peal for Mr.. Taylor. He said that the
tax payers wanted him md for that
reason if no other the E1ard should
elect him. He spoke of MS ability as
an engineer and said he was not to old
to learn the electric light department.
DR.. Moore asked Mr.. Cummins 'if he
was positive in his mind that Mr.. Tay-
lor could take the shift of the chief en-
gineer and run it.. Mr.. Cummins re-
piled ''that he was not positive that
any one could take it. He was not pos
tive that Mr.. Albert Mabrey could
take it. Accidents can happen to the
best of engineers. The question was
to put man there and give him trial. "
Mr.. Cummins rambled of at a great
rate and not only occupied his own
time but consumed that of Messrs.
Anthony, FAIRIES and Moore.
j. G. Robinson said "his motive
from the first was pure. He believed
Mr.. Mabrey was a competent engineer,
but he believed Mr.. Taylor more com
petent of taking charge of pumps than
any one the Board could elect. The
latter was in charge of the water pumps
for 10 years and no complaint had ever
been made until recently. He thought
Mabrey and Taylor could arrange the
work between them satisfactory. He
wanted Taylor; the people wanted him
and he would feel perfectly safe with
him at the plant. He did not think
the Council should disregard the
wishes of the people" "
A. Lee Cummins said ''his mind was
made up. Mr.. TaylOr's chances had
been as good as Mr.. Jackson's and the
only difference was, that the latter had
put himself to it and learned it, when
the former declared he did not want it
and was afraid of it. Mr.. Jackson could
discount him in everything. It was
Mr.. TaylOr's own fault and no one is to
blame but himself. He could have
been chief engineer of the plant to-day
had he applied himself and learned the
electric light system, but he had failed
to do soand because he did not, he had
hard words to say of the commission
ers."
On motion to proceed to ballot the
following vote was given in favor of
Samuel Jackson for assistant engin-
eer:
Abel Taylor-3
Samuel Jackson
Il. l.. Cummins called for a yea
and nay vote, and the president sat on
him saying it was a thing unprece-
dented in parliamentary law to take
vote after it had been decided by bal
lot.
Hiram Johnson and r." onas Harris
were the only applicai ., ion fireman,
and the former was elect !. bv six votes.
the odd one being a blank.
DR.. Moore moved the salaries of
clerk and collector be fixed by giving
the clerk, $G25 per month, and the
collector, $15 per month. Carried. H.
). Anthony was elected clerk by accli-
nation. There were two applicants
for cOllector-W. H. Baggs and Joseph
NJ. Reynolds. The latter was elected
by vote of to 3. w. A. FAIRIES. H.
). Anthony and A. Lee Cummins were
appointed to take the collectors bond.
which was afterwards fixed at $1,000.
On motion of II. S. Anthony. Mr..
W. B. Start was given the sale of
lamps and in return was allowed his
store electric light rent free.
Mr.. Anthony called for a report of
the committees on Opera House and
Sand Lot. Both reported progress and
Chairman Moore was allowed the priv
ilege of procuring a new carpet for the
stage.
II. S. Anthony was given the au-
thority of having the stand pipe cleaned
out. DIR. Moore made complaint of its
condition and said the drinking water
might result in bad effects.
After appointing Messrs. FAIRIES and
Anthony to prepare a contract for the
chief engineer, the Board adjourned
to meet on Friday night the 18th.