The age-herald., 1901-03-07
REGULAR MEETING
 OF CITY COUNCIL
Award of Bonds to Steiner
 Bros. Approved
A BARE QUORUM PRESENT I
Several Important Matters Up for Con- sideration - Improvement Ordi- nances Introduced-Petition
 DisaIlowed-Proceedlngs.

The question of the sale of improve ment bonds under contracts already pro- vided for was given a thorough airing in the City Council meeting last night Two bids for these bonds had been received, or rather three bids from two persons or firms. Steiner Bros. of this city some time ago guauranteed the sale of the bonds at par and at the same time agreed for the city to dispose of them to other parties should higher bid be received within twenty days from the date of the agreement. One day before the expira- tion of the agreement between Steiner Bros. and the city expired Roby Robin son of Atlanta submitted a bid in which he offered one-half of 1 per cent pre- mium for the bonds. This bid was raised one-quarter of 1 per cent by Steiner Bros, who submitted an amended bid offering to pay par and three-quarters of per cent for the bonds. The Finance Committee recommended that the amend ed bid of Steiner Bros. be accepted and this proposition the Mayor and Alder men concurred in last night.
 E.J. Smyer was present at the meeting of the board to represent MT. Robinson, who protested against the acceptance of the Steiner bid. He urged that the com mittee should not have entertained the second bid for the. Steiners In his re- marks he intmated that Steiner Bros. had been advised of the higher bid and that their amended proposition followed this information. This intimation was indignantly denied by Aldermen Kerr and Jones of the Finance Committee A colloquy between Mir. Smyer and All dermen Kerr, Jones and Moore ensued but the matter was finally disposed of by the adoption of the report of the commit tee recommending that the bonds be sold to Steiner Bros. at par and three-quar- ters of per cent premium.
 The Meeting.
 When Mayor Drennen called the board to order at S:30 o'clock last night a bare quorum was present, but the temporary hall was we'll filled with citizens who were interested in pending city legisla- tion. The members of the board present were Mayor Drennen and Aldermen Lynagh, Rainbow, Kerr. Camp, Moore, Graham, Heidt Thach and Jones'
 The treasurer reported receipts in the month of February, S45,s2224 and dis bursements, s35, 496.25, and available cash balance, S59,73S.24.
 The tax collector reported collections for February, $21,32s. 66.
 Street and Poll Tax Collector and License Inspector Gambill submitted a comparative statement of collections for 1900 as follows:
 Licenses collected in 1889, $107, ,31475; in 1900, ,$135, ,432.74. Increase, $2s,117.99.
 Street taxes collected in 1S99 $15,012 in 1900, $12,030. Decrease, $2,9S2. This de- crease was due to the reduction of the street tax from 8 to $2. Had the tax re- mained at 8 In 1900 the collections would have shown an increase of S3033.
 Poll taxes collected in 1899, s73905O; il, 1900. $S104. 50. Increase, STA.
 The finance committee recommended the appropriation of $500 to the Hillman Hos pital for it's new building. The board made the appropriation.
 Finance Committee.
 The finance committee recommended the adoption of the following resolutions:
 Whereas, TheMayor and Aldermen of Birmingham. by a resolution adopted February 6, 1901, authorized the Mayor to borrow such sums from time to time not exceeding $10000 in the aggregate, with which to pay contractors estimates for street Improvements in process of con- struction until the assessments levied could be collected; and
 "Whereas, This amount and the pre- vious amounts heretofore authorized to be borrowed, aggregating $4O,000, have been reached and there are no available funds in the city treasury that can be properly used for said payment; now, therefore, be 1t
 Resolved, That the Mayor be author iZed to borrow on the best obtainable terms an additional amount not exceeding $l0000, with which to pay such future es- inmates for work which this body may specifically order to be done under i'm provement ordinances; the proceeds of said loans to be used for no other pur- pose except as set forth herein"
 This recommendation was adopted.
 The finance committee submitted a fur ther report as follows
 ''The committee further reports that on February 26, which was the last day under the proposition made by Steiner Bros. to the Mayor and Aldermen on Feb ruary that the city would have tho right to sell bonds therein described to other parties and retain their guarantee of sale of said bonds at par, bid was filed with the clerk and referred to this or,oiff GiOnad hU Inv Dol of Atlanta, Ga, following in detail the terms of the Steiner proposition and offering par and half of one per cent premium,
 i'd bonds. A meeting of the com .-..e.Oe was called at which a letter was read from Steiner Bros. amendinf their proposition by offering par and three quarters of one per cent premium.
 "The committee after full consideration and discussion, recommending the sale of the bonds to Steiner Bros
 Protest Against Action.
 D. J. Smyer asked permission to dis cuss the report of the committee, saying he was there to represent Roby Robin son of Atlanta, who had bid on the bonds He said that Robnson's bid was made after that of Steiner Bros. was in the hands of the committee, but that the lat ter were permitted to amend their bid, raising their first proposition one-half of l per cent. He said this was unfair to his client and would result in keeping out siders away from the city in future when bonds are to be sold.
 Aldermen Kerr and Jones replied to MT. Smyer, disclaiming any unfair treatment to Mir. Robinson or any one else.