The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-21
REGULAR MEETING
OF CITY COUNCIL
Mayor and Aldermen Hold an
UnintereSting Session.
VACANCY WAS NOT FILLED
Salary of City Clerk and Assistant Re-
duced-Matter of Theatrical Lii
oense Broughtto Attention of
Board-Special Meeting

| The Birmingham city council met last
night in the dim light OF dim gas in the
dim chamber in the city building.
The mayor and all the aldermen except
Alderman Gray were present. Alderman
Gray being kept away by domestic Attic
ton.
The vacant chair of the late Alderman
Pierce remained vacant until the end of
the session, no attempt being made to fill
the vancancy. Upon the desk of the late
alderman rested the Grape emblem of
morning around the wells, black in the
dim light, were festoons of mourning cloth
for him who SO recently passed from the
earth.
| The scene in the council chamber was not
bright nor was it even cheerful. There
was no mirth there-only business Mayor
Drennen, thoroughly practical and his
keen intelligence thoroughly awake, dis
patched business with the precision and
thoroughness of a veteran.
The vacant place from the Seventh ward,
caused by the lamented death of William
J. Pearce, was not filled; nor were formal
resolutions presented regarding Mr..
Pearces death. These resolutions are in
preparation, and will be presented at the
next regular meeting.
The salary of the city clerk was reduced
from $500 to $1,000. The salary of the as
sstant to the city clerk was reduced from
| 81, 200 to $720.
The pay of the day warden at the city
prison was increased from $50 to $40
month; the pay of the night warden being
reduced from $50 to 500 a month.
Otherwise there was no notable change
in salaries. The reductions mean a saving
to the city of $i2O year.
The Proceedings
After Mayor Drennen called the council
| to order, Alderman Altman made a motion
that Sheriff OBrien be heard in respect to
| theatrical license, and the motion was
agreed to.
Sheriff O'Brien thanked the council, and
proceeded to say that If the council would
revoke it's previous action in respect to
| theatrical license, it would give deserved re-
| lief to some of the largest taxpayers in
| Jefferson county. He had himself been en-
gagged in the theatrical business for many
| years, and he could speak from experience.
The rates. fixed by the council were not adj
visable from a business standpoint. Two
of the best citizens were now building a
new theater CThe Jefferson) They also
owned O'Brien's opera house They had a
great deal of money involved. Travelling
companies paid no taxes themselves. Local
managers have the burden to bear. To
reach Birmingham theatrical companies
have long distances to travel. If the in
creased taxes We're imposed many compa-
mics would be kept away. The new schedule
imposed a tax that unjust
T. II. Motion presented a petition from
C. J. and j. r. Smith, proprietors of the
opera house and the new jefferson theater,
asking for a special committee to consider
this matter Nashville imposed only 800
for the theatrical season. In Atlanta De-
Give paid 5000 for 1900 seats, and $500 for
1000 or more. Three hundred dollars was
the highest license in the United States,
except in New York and New Orleans. The
license, as it stood, in Birmingham would
amount to $1,000, and virtually that was
confiscation.
Audtorium'o Position
Major Frank Y. Anderson spoke for the
Auditorium. There was no selfish motive
behind the builders and managers of the
Auditorium. 1t had been builded to meet
public necessity To impose the license tax
named would mean the closing of the Au-
ditorium.
B. Steiner urged that the Auditorium oc-
cupied the place of a struggling industry.
The building was erected, not for the pur-
pose of making money; but as a public
benefit-for large school gatherings, and
social and political gatherings. The owners
did not wish to make profit. If the 5000
be imposed, he knew not what would be-
come of the enterprise. The building would
have to be closed. The owners were willing
to turn it over to anybody who would
guarantee to maintain it for the purposes
for which it was erected. He begged the
council not to trample on a public enter
prise.
Mayor Drennen suggested the appoint