The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-08-16
A BUSY MEETING.
The Board Of Mayor and Aldermen
Pass the $50 O'clock Law.
Mayor Cameron Sprung a Surprise by
Tenderlng His Resignation, But
1t Was Not Acted Upon.

The meeting Thursday night of last
week of the Board of Mayor and
Aldermen was one of the most
interesting and important that has
been held by that august body in
a long time Besides making final dis
position Of the early closing and public
school ordinances, several other weighty
subjects were brought up and discussed,
and Mayor Cameron sprung somewhat
of sensation by rendering his resig-
nation. AltOgether-in the vernacular
of the dramatic repOrter-'it was one
continuous round of fun" from the
time the Mayor called the meeting to
order until Aldermen McClanahan and
White succeeded i'll getting their ad-
journmenJ motion through.
The calling Of the roll showed all the
members of the Board present. This
was an adjourned meeting from Tues
day night, and the first matter taken
up was that of opening certain streets
through the Athenaeum property.
This WAS continued until the next
meeting Chairman Payne of the
Street Committee, asked for an appro-
priation of $500, which was allowed.
The ordinance giving the Board of
Education power to elect the principal
or assistant principals of the public
schools from any section of the country,
and not restricting them to the limits
of the city. was then brought up or
its third and final reading. An amend
ment inserting the word "superin-
tendent'' before principal was
adopted, and the ordinance passed
unanimously.
Then the fun commenced.
THE EIGHT O'CLOCK LAW,
which had been passed upon its first
two readings, and had been hanging
fire some time, was called up for ite
third and final reading Alderman
White moved to insert the wore
mine in place of EIGHT, " and hi'
motion was seconded Alderman Payne
moved to table the amendment, ano
his motion carried by the following
vote: Ayes-Aldermen BrownlOw, Nc
Clanahan, Payne, Cant and Nicholson
IS; noes-Alderman Voss, White anC
Crafts. ,s .>.s-'+.'
Alderman McClanahan offered al
amendment making the ordinance reaC
"S 80 o'clock in place of ''S O. clock, ,
and this motion was seconded by Alder
man Payne. This amendment wal
carried by the same vote as that whicl
: defeated Alderman Whites amend
! ment. The ordinance as amended was
; then passed upon its third reading
Aldermen Brownlow, Payne, Cant
+ McClanahan and Nicholson voting aye
and Aldermen Voss, White and Graf
: voting noe.
! Thus ended long, hardfought bat
! tie. The Board had been evenly di
, vided ON the eight o'clock proposition
= out Alderman McClanahan, who ha
favored nine clock, compromised witt
the eight o clock men on $50.
T. The ordinance provides that it shal
q take effect from and after its pas
! sage. = The city bell will be rung eac
: week night at half-past eight O'Clock
+ warning the keepers of all place
\ where whiskey, beer or other spirituou
n liquors are sold, to close at that hou
and remain closed until 80 O. clock i
9 the morning. The penalty for viola
+ ting this ordinance is not less than ~
nor more than $50 for each offense
Though this bone of contention wa
y kept their lines taut, and the fu
II grew fast and furious. Alderma
e McClanahan moved to adjourn, bU
e Alderman Payne claimed the floor an
" moved that the Board go into the ele'
IS tion of City Attorney stating tn;
IS it was necessary for the city to hay
|; a regular attorney, and that it woul
be money in their pockets.
Alderman White made speech
1t opposition to this motion
's Alderman McClanahan called for h
J. motion to adjourn, which he elaine
IS had priority over Mr.. Payne's motion
n But Mayor Cameron had somethir
te to say himself before adjournment. T
n stated that he had thought of II,
10 signing either the public school
e early closing ordinances, but the OF
had received the unanimous vote
the Board and the other one almost s
andfOr that reason he had decided to sis
them both. He then called Alderm;
III Brownlow to the chair, as he had ma
ter affecting himself individually
10 present. He handed a paper to k
corder Erwin to read to the Boar
which proved to be
THE MAYORS RESIGNATION.
The substance of the paper was tn
s. this Board had started out with the i
tentiOn of giving the city a business a
ministration they had succeeded
ee reducing the debt of the city the fiji
ID year. but they had recently contract
y heavy liabilities, and that witho
= making provision tor the payne
s of the same. The members of q
r Board were not harmonious amoi
5. themselves nor harmonious with hin
ge and for these reasons he had thoug
at 1t best to sever his relations with {
t. Board
be The Aldermen were evidently TAX,
by surprise. and for awhile were son
what frustrated. Alderman McClaI
han moved not to accept the resign
tion, which motion was secOnde
It, Alderman White moved ID accept, b
R. his motion had no second.
n Alderman Payne stated that
to thought the Mayor, in speaking
or the heavy liabilities contracted by {
rk Board. had reference in part % I
I'd purchase Of a road machine by
be committee. He had been under |