The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-02
REGULAR MEETING
OF CITY COUNCIL
Alderman Altman Reports That
Charter Will Pass.
A SPLENDID DOCUMENT
The City Will Give $500 to Aid Mardi
Gras Celebration Two New
Horses to be Purchased for
Fire Department.
SPLENDID DOCUMENT

Last nights meeting of the city council
was devoid of any special features. Rou-
tine work held sway during the session,
which lasted two hours.
Alderman Altman, chairman of the
committee sent to Montgomery to look af-
ter the city's legislative matters, made a
report, saying that he thought the charter
would go through. There would be some
opposition, because in adopting the charter
the council had trod on the toes of certain
parties This was always the case. The
charter, if passed, would be one of the best
held by any city in the United States.
He thought that the bill authorizing the
city to fund its debt would go through. This
was an important matter. He believed the
debt could be refunded at much lower
rate of interest than is now paid. Two
| commissioners should be named by the city
in the bill The council could select them
now or defer action, and it was decided to
postpone their selection.
The Routine business
When the mayor raped for order there
were present Aldermen Lynagh, Wheeler
| T. ]. Parker, RAINBOW, Kerr, Meighan,
| Moore, Altman, Hamilton, Gray, Parker
Hentschel, Alderman Graham coming in
| late.
| Mayor Evans did not read his annual re-
| port. A neatly printed pamphlet contain
| ing it, and also annual reports of all other
| city officers was placed on each alderman's
| desk.
| Under the head of monthly reports from
| officers, the city engineer reported the col
| lection of $751; chief of fire department had
issued Is building permits; the market clerk
had collected 1895, and the street and poll
tax collector $34, 1890
Chairman Lynagh of the fire committee
reported that two horses were needed, one
on the Southside and one on the Northsde.
At present two of the horses were not fit
for service, and the department would be
badly handicapped in case of big fire.
The committee was authorized to purchase
the horses
Alderman Moore asked several questions
about the matter.
Il want 10 make sure" said the alder
man, that we not getting in an extra
supply for mayoralty candidates to ride
Chief Mullen stated TO the board that
horses would cost about $3.50 EACH
Miscellaneous Committee
Alderman Moore, of the miscellaneous
TSpOTlSQ ldNOIdUly lHS lOilOW-
ing petition:
Carnival society-To set aside ordinance
against maskers for dates of Mardi Gras;
to allow bands from outside towns to visit
the city and play. Carbon
Light company, reduction in license from
$1OO to $780, Reported concurred in.
The following petitions were reported on
unfavorably: j. R. Smith and A. r. Dear
born, rebate in license; M. Winston for sa-
loon corner Avenue and Fifteenth street.
R. c.. Hemphill, reduction in license Re-
port concurred in.
Alderman Altman did not want the ordi-
nance against MASKS set aside and he
voted against the petition.
The Legislative Committee
Alderman Altman reported for the COM
mittee that went to Montgomery to look
after certain legislation for the city. They
found many live wires. Here was a
talking annexation, another talking state
revenue bill When you thought you had
found a peaceable spot came
along discussing the trouble between the
county commissioners and the governor.
When you escaped this you found the
Invest wire of them all--the "dispensatory''
bill.
Colonel Altman said that his committee
did not have instructions to advocate ex-
pansion and went along working for the
bond bill, the city charter and the munich
pal ownership measure. They had had
satisfactory results.
Mayor Evans made an amendment to the
report. He said that he thought the an
nexation bill one of great Importance to
the city and he had had two satisfactory
meetings with friends of the measure in
Montgomery today.
"Ours was not an expansion committee
was it?" asked Alderman Altman.
II beg your pardon" replied the mayor,
but the committee was instructed to look
after all legislation that bore the endorse
ment of this board.
Some one brought up the question of
whether the annexation bill, now being
considered in Montgomery was the one en-
dorsed by the board.
Alderman Gray said that it was not
Mayor Evans explained that the Jeffer-
son delegation had under consideration
several amendments to the bill. One to in
clude East Lake and one to cut out the
cotton mills. The delegation knew thar
these amendments did not come from the
board of aldermen.
appropriation Committee
Alderman Gray offered a resolution do
mating $500 for the Carnival society. Alder
man Moore moved as a substitute that this
be reduced to $3.50 and this sum was appro-
priated. Later on the vote was reconsid-
cred and the appropriation made $780,
The anti-fakirs ordinance came for a
lively discussion Several petitions were
presented for street privileges, by a
| man who wanted sell patent medicines.
Alderman j. l.. Parker objected to this
! and had several backers.s The petitions
were finally allowed.
| Second Avenue Chase.
| An exciting chase occurred in Second