Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1901-03-05

Lumber Company. Mayor Alexander asked the Councilmen if they wished the contract read Here Alderman Meyer moved the adoption of the Boards report. Alderman Veil ask ed the Mayor if the Council had to approve the contract. The Mayor stated that the Board had the author ity to close the contract and had same already signed up. Mr. Veil said if the Council had no voice in the matter the reading of the con- tract was unnecessary. He again questioned the Mayor, asking if the City Attorney, MT. Reinberger, was at the meeting when the contract was drawn up. Mayor Alexander re- piled by saying that the Board had employed the services of an outside attorney in the person of Mr John M. Taylor, and he drew up the con- tract in legal form.
 City Attorney Reinberger said the reason why he was not present at l the meeting of the Board was because he was not asked. q met Mayor Alexander on the street last Wednes- day" said the official, "and he said we have made arrangements to have the contract drawn up and want you to draw it.. I then told him to let the attorneys for the Bluff City Lumber Company furnish me with such items that they wished to have inserted and l will draw it up. The next day At torney John M. Taylor called at my had said that as he was under bond as member of the Board of Public Affairs of the city he desired him l (TaylOr) to assist me in getting up the contract. Dr. Withers also re- quested this on the grounds that Mr. Taylor was his regular counsel He also promised Mir. Taylor that the Board of Public Affairs would pay him a nominal fee for his work. never heard any more of the matter until Monday morning at 11:30 o'clock, when MT Taylor presented me with copy of the contract al- ready prepared, for my approval. He asked that the same be returned to him by 3 o'clock, as the Board was going to meet. l went to Taylor's of flee and presented report on the contract and recommended that cer- tain alterations be made therein. which, l believe, would be instru- mental in protecting the city in fu- ture Mayor Alexander was present at the time and he and MT. Taylor saw my proposed alterations have been informed that the original con tract has been signed up and granted. while my recommendations were completely ignored"
 Alderman Fox seconded Mr. Mev- CTS motion to adopt the Boards re- port and same was adopted without being read. The Councimen were not aware as to just what provisions were in the contract, but Alderman Fox stated that lie had enough con- tidence in the Board to pass upon it's work without an investigation.
 An ordinance to lay a switch at Sennett & Thompsons warehouse, on East Third avenue, was read first. second and third times and adopted.
 An ordinance appropriating $175 for repairing streets and bridges and other purposes tooks it's regular hur- ried course and was adopted
 A petition was presented by resi- dents of Tennessee street between Sixth and Eighth avenues s.respectively representing that they were destitute of any means of protection against losses by fire, there being no water plugs in their vicinity They prayed for relief in that particular line.
 Alderman Veil moved that the pe- tition be referred to the Water & Light Committed Carried
 There being no other business be- fore the meeting the Council adjourn