The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-05-26
wEsrM1NsrER,s CITY GOVERNMENT
Mayor Miller and Old Council Close Up
Business and Retire-The New Mayor
and Council Take Hold.

| Mayor Fred d. Miller and the Council
elected in May, 1899, met on Monday night
and closed up the business of the year, and
retired. Henry B. Grammer, clerk and tax
collector, reported the receipt of $273. 80 from
licenses since last meeting, as follows: From
private carriages and delivery wagons, Sl04. 90;
from hawkers and peddlers, $1,000; from ten
pin alley, $1,000; billiard and pool table,
500 from hotels, $l37.50; from sale of
medicine. $500. Also. from taxes, $66S. Sc.
Considerable license money has not been paid
in, although all license money was due May
| 1st
Deeds for certain streets aud alleys from
Ira J. Young and John 7. Cassell were or
dered to be accepted. The Councl then ad-
/ journed sine die, after passing IL few bills,
mostly for salaries and work and material.
Before leaving the Chamber Ex-Mayor Mil
| Ter, addressing Mayor Gilbert, said
Mr.. MAYoR.-It gives me great pleasure to con-
gmtuiate you upon your election as Mayor of this
cesful administration and lind you the keys of the
City aud the securities S2s1, now In the Sinking
| Fund
| We lad passed at the last Legislature bill to
allow us to refund the City's Improvement bonds.
now bearing ~ per cent. AZ lower rate OF inter
ordinance to place them at 81 per cent. but first
pay of six of these bonds July LIST, 1909, with the
| money now in the sinking Fund, and to take up
two bonds each year thereafter, making saving to
the City of about $500 year, and doing away with
the Sinking Fund feature as this ordinance will
compel all succeeding Councils to pay oil slOOO
worth of these bonds every year. which in course
of 20 years every dollars worth of the Ctys debt
can be wiped out. In reference to this ordinance
would say 81 per cent was the best rate we could
get in the short time had to float these bonds,
lie sale possibly they can be Heated at less rate
and bring premium In that case would suggest
| to you to repeal the ordinance we passed.
As stated at the Citizens Meeting held in these
rooms May LIST, there is due the City about IS 900
uncoliected taxes, upon which suit is now pending
| for about $50 of this amount.
We reduced the taxes last year from 3715 to 30
cents, and If you eau collect this money think
| you can pay off all borrowed money now due by
the City and have a surplus of over 5000 and be
able to reduce the taxes during your adininistra-
ton TO 80 cents and keep up the Improvements;
about 81 000 about onequarter of what 1t cost be-
| fore and without any money in the treasury We
the City limits withoua cent of cost to the
City, and in the future to be kept in repair by the
| Washington and Westminster Turnpike Company.
| The new sewer we are putting in at Main anu
Church streets is not quite finished You will mod
the contract for same on record. We have left in
In reference the electric light contract for
lights at $50 year for 10 years, passed by TINS
Council and approved by me, understand IL Is
the lowest rate of lighting in the State. As you
know coal and all material connected with the
electric lighting have advanced from 50 to 100 per
cent in the past year. as Mayor considered il an
excellent contract for the City. As u tax payer
| and for Ctys interest would approve II again
under the same conditions Before this contract ex-
pres the City will thank this retiring board for
making that contract l mention this because
meeting at Odd Fellows Hall in reference to this
contract. say to you not as Mayor, as my Time
has expired, but as stockholder of the electric
light company will urge the company to annul
the contract made by this retiring board, as the
electric light company has never paid n dividend
or never can at the price they are furnishing the
City with the light, $50 year for arc lights all
night wish to say for the stockholders of the
electric light company they are progressive men of
benefit of the City and not financial investment
When came into this office two years ago
stated that we would have business administra-
ton 1t has been one and the records are on the
minute book tn show it and we are proud of the
record. again extend to you my congratulations
and wish for you successful administration. Any
thing do at any time to assist you for the best
| interests of the City command me and am ut your
service.
To the retiring board, your youngest member
/ wish to extend my sincere thanks for the many
courtesies you have shown me and your valuable
assistance during the past two years, and for your
hearty cooperation in all matters relating to the
best interests of the City.
Our relations have always been the most pleasant
and we have never had n word of discord in any
way / also wish to extend my since thanks to the
city attorney Mr.. Fink to the clerk, Mr.. Grammar,
and the bailii. Mr. Beaver, for their valuable as
sstanee, and to the citizens for their cordial sup
port
THE NEW GOVERNMENT.
Oscar D. Gilbert, elected Mayor Oh May
7th, took the oath of office before Clerk of
the Court Billingslea, and presented certih-
cate to the clerk The members of the Com
mon Council-Harry X. Schaeffer, Nelson
Gilbert. John j. Reese, John I. Iahn and
Gershom Huff swore IN before Justice G.
W. Crapsier.
The Mayor appointed John J. Reese sec
rotary pro TEN, and the Council organized by
electing Nelson Gilbert president. The Mayor
nominated Henry B. Grammer clerk and
tax collector, John J. Reese treasurer. Will
liam N. Beaver bailiff aud street commits
sioner, and j. Milton Reifsnider city attorney.
The nominations were confirmed.
Mayor Gilbert appointed the following
standing committees-on lights, Harry X.
Sehaefler and John J. Reese; on finance,
Gershom Huff and Nelson Gilbert; on streets,
John T. Zahn. Gershom Huff and Harry X.
Schaeffer.
The Council pissed an order directing the
clerk to advertise for proposals for sprinkling
the streets for one year from June LIST. The
advertisement appears in this issue. Coun-
ell then adjourned until $50 O'Clock next
Monday night.
BANQUET TO EX-MAYoR MILLER.
The retiring Council and City Attorney
Fink had banquet to the retiring Mayor pre-
pared, and after they had finished their work
they went to the Hotel Westminster. where
the Ex-M Mayor was taken completely by sur
prise. Still, he enjoyed the banquet and some
time was spent in discussing the good things
prepared by host Crout.