El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-08-06
THE CITY COUNCIL.
Proposition to Remove MagOffin Ave
me Street Car Line

Proposition to Remove MagOffin Ave
nue. Street Car Line.
Just a quorum of the city council
answered last night to the roll call.
but Aldermen Drummer and Cold well
showed up before any business was
transacted.
The chief of police reported that the
alley back of Van Patterns corral had
been blocked, but would shortly be
cleared out and connected with the
sewer system.
The city treasurer handed in re-
port giving again in substance whist
has alreay been reported. Referred
to the fn1nce committee.
Judge Coldwell read the ordinance
prepared by him, providing penalty
of not less than S25 and not more than
$500 for tampering with the sewers.
The judge was severe on such offenses,
and declared that any one who will de-
liberately tamper with the sewers
ought to be punished severely. Offenses
against the health OF the city are very
serious. A good sewer system adds
five years TO the life of every person in
town. In London 100 years ago before
there was anything like a sewer sys-
tenn, the death rate was 40 in 1000. But
after system of sewerage had been
devised and put into operation the
death rate was redu ed to % in 1000.
Judge Coldwell' S o,oirauc was adopt
ed by an unanimous vote.
Mr. Clifford for the finance commit
tee repo ted toe bill for Sc xer work for
the week at 50: for engineering depart
ment, So; street conn issiOner, $40: for
repairs on hose cart $3.50. He recon-
menoed payment and warrants be
drawn on general fund with which to
pay the bills. Carried.
On Mr.. Robinson recommendation,
Terry Pearce's petition for abatement
of double taxation was granted.
MIR. Drummer for the fire and water
committee, reported adversely on the
petit on for an arc lamp at the inter-
sect on of Oregon and Overland streets.
Mr.. Clifford seconded Mr.. Brunner's
adverse report, and the Times Office
will be left dark corner indefinitely.
Harry r. Wood for the Ell Paso
street railway presented the following
petition:
The undersigned respectfully petit
tion your honorable body for your
permission to construct a track, and to
grant it the right of way for its street
railway on Myrtle avenue, beginning
at the point of intersection of its pre-
sent track on San Antonio stree: aud
Stanton street; thence down the middle
of Myrtle avenue, or its cross streets,
to include from Myrtle avenue to
Magoffin on Cotton street to the point
OF intersection of Cotton avenue and
said Myrtle avenue. Said track to be
commenced within six months from
the date of the graz ting of such right,
and to be completed within any such
time as designated by your honorable
body"
Judge Cold ell said he had no objec-
ton at all to Mr.. Wood or his plan,
but he held there should be more de-
fniteness as to the time within which
the work was to be done. He was
against giviuga francise with no posi-
tive assurance that the work would be
done without delay, or that it might or
might not be done for years to come
Referred to the committee on streets
and grades.
A big batch of accum ulated bills were
referred unread to the finance COM
mittee.
A respe eta BILE woman clad in deep
appeared to ask for help to
reach Cotton, Cal, where she had
FRIENDS. The mayor was authorized to
secure her transportation
A petition was presented from sew
eral policemen asking that $3.50 each
be made up to them on account of the
depr eciation of the scrip in which they
were paid. This started half an hours
linen maStlcatlOn on the subject of
salaries and the low price for scrip.
The chief of police showed that the
of the patrOlmen were low COM
pared with the cost of living, and
what was paid elsewhere. Judge Cold
we'll declared the city had deprecated
its own scrip, burning the candle at
both ends. The police ought to be paid
n q a har hnr
Of raising scrip was illegal and that
,he issuer of raised scrip could be
held responsible.
Mr.. Clifford who seemed to labor
under sense of having wandered from
5he correct financial path spoke apollo
yeticaIly on the methods of the finance
Judge Coldwell questioned
such methods and said the special fund
could be increased by adding back
axes TO the special fund. The mayor
wanted to apply the receipts Of fines |
"a Sed such howl that his horror re- |
,reated within himself and had MOTH |
pg more to say. Toe council finally |
decided to pay the policemen SIS per
month with the mpunted police at |
,S5.
Judge Coldwell objected to further
Increase in salaries. The cold report
IL tne proceedings would Iedl people
o believe the council had nothing TO
10 but increase salaries.
It was agreed that the chief of police
md the night capita n should receive
percentage equal to the discount on
ity scrip.
Mr.. Whitmore thought the whole
natter of raising salaries should not
'e rushed through as suggested by
lr. Clifford; but ought to be referred
0 the finance committee for investiga-
ion.
On Judge Coldwell's motion the
ouucil reconsidered it's action in or
ering an increase of salaries and re-
erred the matter to the police commit