The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1900-02-08
LOCAL LEGISLATION.
The City Solons Met On Monday Night and
Transacted Business New and Old

on MONDAY night, mayor Reuman presl-
ding. While there was much oratory a
great deal of work was done Of a prime
quality. The new council bid fair to in
troduce strict economy and business
methods into affairs OF the city and the
. two watch dogs Of the treasury, Messrs.
Reed and Sinclair may be relied upon to
supplement- the public spirit Of the re-
mainder of the councilmen.
The saloon men of the city, eight in
number, petitioned the council to reduce
their licenses from 81 900 to $500. They
allege that there are but three or four
cities in the state where such high license
as in North Yakima prevails. They state
that the expenses of this city last year
were $4,000 and of this amount they
contributed 10000 The low price OF
hops has materially contracted the money
circulation and they have suffered there
by as we'll as from the closing of the
nickle in the slot machines They COM
plain that the war tax OF 81 on every bar
rel of beer is another draw back to their
profits, and take it all in all if relief is not
extended by the council by the cutting of
their licenses in two they will be forced
out of business. On motion of Keck the
petition was tabled until the next regu.
lar meeting.
A petition signed by leading banks
and business firms asked for an appro-
priation of $3.50 to be added to the 5000
in hand from the Fourth OF July and sol.
diers' reception surplus for the purchase
OF town clock. Mr.. Weed spoke on
the question and stated that Mr.. Larson
would agree to keep the clock in repair
for ten years if allowed to mount it on
his theater. The tower would be eighty
feet high and the four dials being five
feet in diameter could be seen long dis.
lance, while an S00-pound bell would
three miles. AT the end Of ten years the
clock could be disposed OF as the city
deemed best. Mr.. Keene, the jeweler,
had also agreed to keep the clock in re.
pair without cost On motion of Mr..
. Reed, the city attorney was ordered to
| draw up the necessary contract and the
appropriation was unanimously passed.
The petition of citizens, Woman's club
and others to prohibit the sale of Gig
arettes and liquors to minors was unan-
imously granted and the marshal in
structed to enforce the law and to ring
the curfew bell as formerly, at O'Clock
in the evenings. Mr.. Lowe complained
that he deemed his taxes oppressive and
that he had reconsidered his proposition
to donate right of way on Cherry ave-
nue. to the city, worth 500 more or
less. Fred Parker addressed the council
in favor of opening the street and the
matter was laid over for future action
and referred to a special committee COM
posed of Shaw, Sinclair and Wilgus.
The reports of the various city Officers
for January was read and referred to APP
proprate committees. The sexton re-
ported $50 collected. The police judge
turned over to the city treasury $ll3,
which would have been larger but, ac-
cording to communication, houses were
too scarce in the community.
The report of the committee on streets
and bitches approving the sidewalk on
A street, between First and Second
streets, was approved and a warrant in
favor of d. H. Bell ordered drawn for
$l3s.6O.
Councilman Sinclair criticized the en-
gineerng work on the Third street side
walk as being sup and down"
On motion OF Reed the abutting own
ers on street improvements are only TO
pay for the material and the labor per-
formed, the city to stand the cost OF
printing, engineering, etc.
The clerks annual report of the city s
finances was referred to the finance COM
mittee. The bonded Indebtedness is
10000; warrants outstanding and un-
called, So, 1857 81; current expenses not
paid, 81 ,293 so; 10 per cent of liquor IL
cense due state 5000; warrant interest,
81 ,239.l7; cash on hand 81 300 81 War
rants amounting to $500 rs for 1896, pre-
sented and paid The clerk stated there
were about $1,000 in warrants in 1896
and prior that Expert Bosdet gave ex-
Treasurer Pressey credit for which could
not hp accounted for in the above show