The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-25
THE FINISH
City Council
Hopeful
OF CLEAR DOCKE 7.
And an Adjournment Sine
Die, Tuesday.

Members of the city council. hope TO
finish the business of the year at the
meeting, Tuesday but whether they will
or not depends entirely on circumstances.
AT least one contest is. expected which
may result in . deadlock. That is over
the report OF the COMMITTEES on ordinap--.
ces in regard to giving the superintendent
of streets certain powers when the high
ways are TO be opened for any purpose.
Another matter which may be cause for
trouble is the jubilee fountain. The spe-
cial committee which has the offer for
the fountain under its consideration has
received 4 communication from the Jubi-
lee fountain committee, of which NJ J..
whittall is chairman That communities
ton win be acted on at meeting Of the
committee Of the city council which has
been called for Tuesday afternoon. 1t was
received yesterday afternoon by President
B. w Potter of the board of aldermen.
Neither he nor Mr. WhittalI would divulge
The contents of the communication.
But it is the ordinance relative to The
powers Of the street commissioner that
will occupy the attention of at least one
branch of the city council. 1t is due to
come before the common council, having
been laid on the table at the meeting Mon
day evening The matter was first taken
up by the board of aldermen. two reports
from the committee on ordinances being
received. The report of the majority was
signed by Alderman N. p Huot, Council
men Frank B. Hall and George G. Hunt
The draft as reported by the majority re-
quired that a. person, corporation or de-
as-4v4a n frfT 70. q cfr ircf
obtain a permit from that department UNI
der whose jurisdiction the work would
come. A permit to open the street was
then required from the superintendent of
streets. Then another. permit from the
same superintendent was required to per-
form the work a special permit being
necessary if the street was macadamized
or paved
After a long fight a minority report,
signed by Aldermen g. VI. Potter and
James H. Mellen, was substituted. The
minority report, which was passed, re-
uuires that after the proper permit is re-
ceived, a notification shall be given the
street commissioner before work is begun,
and after the work has been performed
notice to that effect shall be given the
street commissioner.
While the discussion in the board Of all
dermen was at its height, a recess of the
other board allowed several members to
hear the arguments. Among the auditors
were Couneilmen Hall and Hunt who
signed the majority report, and they
didn't enjoy the criticisms by Alderman
Potter a little bit. Other members Of the
common council who listened expressed
themselves in favor of the minority report
and were prepared to champion it when
it reached the common council chamber.
The minority report, after being ac-
cepted, went TO the committee ON bills in
second reading, and coming back to the
aldermen was passed to be enrolled. The
matter did not get beyond the reading OF
the reports in the lower board as a con
test was expected. and the hour being late
both sides were willing TO throw up the
nag Of truce and declare an armistice I'M.
I'll Tuesday evening.
The necessity Of giving the street com.
missioner more authority in the opening
OF highways appeals 60 every member Of
both branches. but the difference Of opin-
ion comes on the amount Of authority nee
essary 70 delegate him to cover ths
ground The present superintendent com