El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-01

After n Long and Hard Fight the Ri
val Company is Granted Full Per-
mission to Operate in this City.
The city council met at the usual
hour last night and every member an
swered to his name, except Aldermen
McDuffie and Clifford.
Many minor matters were offered for
consideration, but there was nothing
of general interest except the grant
ing of the franchise to the Southern
Telegraph and Telephone company.
City Engineer Wimberly reported
that the citizens of North FL Paso
street wanted the sewer system ex-
tended one block further north and
recommended that the petition be
granted. The board approved his
recommendation and granted the pc
tition.
In his regular report Chief Lockart
of the police force stated that he had
ordered the street lights on the oath,
25th and 26th when the sky was cloudy
He said that he understood that he
had this right but afterwards learned
that he had not but wanted the council
to give him that right as on cloudy
nights the moon gave SO little light
that it was of no use The council
granted his request and in the future
lights will burn on all cloudy nights.
City CIery Catlin offered the report
of City Treasurer Fassett showing that
S10.77S.75 had been collected. The re-
port was referred to the finance COM
mittee.
The clerk also read a report on build
ing permits for the months of Novem
Der and December. The report showed
that Sc permits had been issued rep
resenting the investment of SS2.55O-
The report was referred to the build
ing committee.
The chief of police reported that
during the month of January he had
assessed a total of $4,000 in fines and
had collected 81 sos. Many fines were
vet due but some had escaped. The
report was referred to the police COM
mittee.
Alderman Ogden presented a request
from the G. A. r. that the city keep
the United States flag floating from all
public buildings. He thought the ide
a good one and recommended that the
board SO order it. The matter received
favorable consideration and the flags
were ordered up.
Franchise Adopted.
The franchise of the Southern Tele-
phone and Telegraph company again
came up for discussion. Alderman
Grant of the ordinance committee read
the ordinance granting the company
franchise and recommended that it be
adopted. In some clause the ordin-
ance stated that the company was not
to charge more than $50 per year for
business houses and not more than $50
per year for residences, and in cases
where the phones were not used the
company must not charge more than
the yearly rates or 81 50 per month.
Attorney Bridgers, who is a mem
Der of the company. made strong pro-
test against this clause. He stated
that the company could not afford to
put III telephone for two or three
months at the yearly rate and as the
matter was explained in the petition
for the franchise he thought it unjust
to force that clause on the company.
He said the company wanted the same
privileges in that matter that the old
company had. which was to settle the
matter on short term contracts with
the patron.
r G. Lyons, also a member Of the
company, stated that under that order
men who possessed malice toward the
company could order one hundred
phones put in adobe houses on the
river which would cost them several
hundred dollars and not use them at
all. Under the state law a telephone
company must put in a phone for any
one WdHtlHS II anu lie tHOuSHC II uu-
just to place the company in that po-
sition.
Chairman Grant agreed to the
amendment and so changed the pro-
vision ofthe ordinance.
Alderman John Drummer. who has
opposed the new company from the be-
ginning with all his power. treated
the audience to a surprise by moving
that the ordinance be adopted as
amended. The motion was promptly
seconded and passed with a unanimous
vote
Bills Allowed.
The chairman of the finance COM
mittee submitted the reports for the
week and the city pay roll for the
month of January. The pay roll for
the month of January amounted to
s4.o71.35. The electric light company
also had a bill of s535 for lights fur
nished during the carnival which was
ordered paid in cash.
The Southern Electric company also
had bill of $500 for wiring the plaza
and other streets for the carnival,
which was increased to S435 that the
company might have cash and not dis
counted scrip.
Ogden Not a Farmer
Alderman Ogden reported that the
street committioner had asked him for
more trees to plant in the parks and
streets He said he did not favor
spending any more money for trees
unless they could be made to grow and
so far they had been a failure The
cause was discussed and Ogden said |
that he was no farmer and din not |
know what was the matter with the |