The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-17
SELMA'S NEW COUNCIL
RECENTLY ELECTED ALDER
 MEN ASSUME OFFICE.
President V. B. Atkins Delivers . Speech in Which He Outlines
 the Needs of the City. > Standing Committees.
Advertiser Bureau,

Advertiser Bureau,
 Selma. May r.
 The old City Council passed out of existence last night and those men chosen at the recent election took the two years. Mayor Mcleod addressed the new. Council at some length, and made some suggestions as to what he thought the best interests of the city required. He suggested that a special committee be created to look after the new city buildings that 1t is proposed to put up. and strongly urged that the street tax law, passed by the Legisla- ture, be enforced. This law leaves it optional with the City Council as to whether a street tax shall be enforced. The law is so drawn that the amount to be fixed by the city for the street tax cannot go above $4 per capita, but it can be reduced to any amount under that sum, ct the discretion of the Coun- cil.
 The recent Legislature took in a good slice of the outlying territory north of the city, which is thickly settled with non-taxpayers, so far as their owning a great dell of real estate is concerned, and the street tax is intended to reach them particularly, but in doing so. it reaches every other man in the city eligible to the tax
 It is thought that the street tax will bring into the city treasttsss. $5,000 to $7,o00 annually, owing to the amount at which 1t is put. and as the law stip- ulates that this sum shall be spent in improving the streets, 1t would be good thing for Selma if the Council would enforce the law and thus beau tify the thoroughfares.
 Just before the old City Council re- tired. Councilman Allen of the Third Ward, arose and made a touching lit- tie speech. He said that he had been member of the City Council for twelve years, and if, during that time, he had said anything that had wounded the feelings of any member of the body who had served wit1 him, it had been done in heat of passion and he was sorry for 1t. MT. Allen then withdrew the charges that he had preferred against the retiring market clerk, John G. But Ter, and said he had made Q good, faith full. conscientious official.
 President of the Council V. B. At kins then assumed the gavel and ad- dressed the body. telling the members what he thought the city's needs are. His address follows:
 MT. MdyOT dHQ SeHticiilSn Oh tuC Council-The good people of Selma have bestowed upon me great honor, In choosing me to preside over the delib- erations of this honorable body. ac- cept it as such. and appreciate it with my whole soul, yet accept it with the pardonable apprehension which arises from the knowledge of lack of ability to properly discharge the high and im- portant duties of the position, rend- cred more difficult by the fact that it is 8 new office in the governmental system of Selma, which furnishes no precedent to guide its incumbent. but as for me, am content to take in lieu of the precedent, as my guiding star, the spirit of courtesy. forbearance and impartiality, which shall characterize my official dealings with the individu- als composing this -hedy, and the the ..Hss= selfish and honest conception of those measures, which are best calculated to subserve the interest and advance the