The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-27
THEY WANT A BID
City Council Encourages.
Street Railway Building.
MANY SIDEWALK PETITIONS.
BARRIERS Demands Are ReCog-
nized in Part

At the meeting OF the city council last
night, J. Giles Smith, chairman Of the
finance committee, presented a resolution
authorizing the city clerk to advertise for
propositions from firms wishing to build
an electric street railroad and an electric
light plant in this city. The city guaran-
tees in the resolution to grant the party
making the best proposition q franchise
for twenty years embracing ali the privi-
leges in the one formerly held by the
Church people. The resolution was adopt
ed with little comment.
Mayor Ross and all the councilmen were
present, with the exception Of Schell and
Guthrie of the Second ward. An electric
fan was placed in front OF the mayor and
arranged conveniently TO shoot wind at
the different members, which enabled the
council to expedite business and do
great deal Of it. The spirit OF public i'm
provement was manifest in all the deliber-
atoms OF the body. and especially in the
petitions for Improvements submitted to
the council. As an evidence OF this fact.
there were more petitions for concrete
sidewalks presented at last nights meet
ing than have ever been presented to any
other one meeting of the city council. The
cinder and board sidewalks are bound to
go, judging from the way the petitions
were disposed OF last night.
The opposition to the Sunday concerts
in the parks did not mater,alize as stFeng-
ly as was expected. An anonymous petit
tkon was read asking the council to re-
scind its previous action relating TO Sum-
day concerts. but the petition was simply
handed to the clerk without any action
whatever A petition without names has no
weight with the council.
The council took up and passed the bar
Der ordinance, which has been up before
several meetings in the past month. A
great deal of horse-play was INDUCED in
by the members during its consideration.
Councilman Herbig opposed It vigorously
from the first. It was finally passed by a
vote Of to 8. A rider was attached TO it
which may invalidate It. II was provided
that the publication Of the ordinance be
paid out Of a fund provided in the last
section. 1t is a question whether the or
dinance will be published until there Is a
fund until the ordinance becomes effect
i've. The ordinance is a copy OF the one In
force in Omaha. 1t provides for a board
of examiners and specifies the qualifica-
ttons necessary 10 procure license. The
sections are filled with whereases, there
fores and other long legal phrases. One
section providing for compensation TOT
the board was stricken out in whole.
The question of whether or not the city
should pay Police Judge Mitchelrs salary
was taken up, but the council decided To
have nothing to do with the matter until
the contest case of Judge Enoch Is decided
by the courts.
The city is having a good deal OF
trouble to decide the ownership OF Will
lam street. The city claims that the land
was dedicated to It. while the Santa Fe
and the Rock Island roads also claim IT.
City Attorney Helm was instructed to
look up the matter and render his opinion
as to who is the owner. AS soon as he
renders his decision steps will be taken
in he matter.
The assistant city clerk was given a
raise or salary by the passage of an ordin-
ance making his salary so a month.
Heretofore he has been allowed s55
After the consideration of a number "
minor ordinances the council went into
regard to the streets Of the city.