The age-herald., 1901-01-22
SPECIAL MEETING
 OF CITY COUNCIL Time Consumed in Consideration
 of DiStiIIery Question STREET RAILWAY FRANCHISE Referred Back to Judiciary and Street Railroad Committees After Heated ument-Brunswick's Invita-
 ton Accepted by Board.
STREET RAILWAY FRANCHISE

The City Council met last night to con- sider the franchise applied for by the Met ropolitain Rapid Transist Company, but it spent nearly two hours discussing the much agitated distilery now being built at Seventh avenue and Thirteenth street final ly disposing of the question by declaring that they had nothing to do with 1t.
 All but three members of the council were present, the absentees being Graham, Meighan and Heidt, and without going through with the formality of reading the minutes the board took up the question of the distillery which offered such great op- portunities for oratorical display by the al- dermanic class and few attorneys. The stars in the performance last night were R. B. Smyer and B. M. Allen attorneys for the distillery company, Capt Frank s. White, attorney for the citiens who are opposing the location of the disttllery in that vicinity, and Aledrmen Kerr. Jones, Altman and Gray.
 Nearly half dozen aldermen took a hand in framing resolutions to cover the case but none succeeded in originating one that was acceptable to the majority, the result being that every resolution offered was tabled and the matter finally referred to the legislative committee.
 The judiciary committee reported a street railway franchise ordinance to be entered into by the Mayor and Aldermen on the one side and E. F. Enslen and associates on the other.
 The ordinance was discussed for an hour or more and finally referred back to the Judiciary end street railroad committees to make further report to the council on February G.
 Other Matters.
 Before hearing the report of the special committee to which the distillery question had been referred, c. w. Deming of Bruns- wick was given permission to address the board on the proposed Brunswick and Bir- mingham Railroad.
 Mayor Drennen stated that he had re- ceived report from Dun & Go. on Stam- sen x Blome, who were the lowest bidders for certain street improvement work, and that he would sign the contract. .a
 MT .Deming of Brunswick stated that the Board of Trade of that city had sent him here to interest the people in the move ment to build the road and to urge the sending of a good delegation to the Bruns- WICK and Birmingham Railroad convention III Brunswick on January 24 He said that all the money necessary for building the road had been secured all the stock sub scribed for, and that but two things ccr- j tain had been decided upon, and that was that Brunswick and Birmingham were to be the termini of the road.
 The Bessemer City Council, he said had appointed delegation to go to the con- Vention, and towns and cities along the line would be represented.
 Alderman Jones moved that the invita- ton be accepted and that as many mem- bers of the Council as possible go to the convention. The motion was adopted.
 The DistilIery Question.
 Chairman Kerr, of the special committee appointed to investigate the location of a distillery in the vicinity of Eighth avenue and Thirteenth street.
 Alderman Kerr offered the following reso- lution:
 Be it resolved by the Mayor and Alder men of Birmingham that the establishment Of distilleries in any portion of the city where the local conditions are such that it would be liable to injuriously affect the health, security and welfare of the residents of such portion of the city is a matter that should be unequivocally within the power and discretion of the Mayor and AL dermen to regulate or prohibit
 Be it further resolved, That the legisla- tive committee be instructed to prepare a bill to present to the present Legislature giving to the Mayor and Aldermen of Bir- mingham the authority by appropriate dinance to regulate prohibit the erection of distilleries within the city limits.
 Be it further resolved, That the General Assembly of Alabama be requested by this beard to pass said bill granting such author ity in the premises.
 Alderman Kerr moved the adoption of the resolution.
 R. B. Smyer, B. M. Allen, Frank s. White addressed the board for and against the distillery and several resolutions and mo- tions Were offered and after a heated dis cussion the following substitute offered by Alderman Gray was adopted: Whereas it has come to the notice of this board that a distillery is to be erected within the city limits, and petitions have been presented to prevent the erection of such distillery, be it
 Resolved, That this board has no au- thority to prevent the erection of any man. ufacturng enterprises within it's limits, inasmuch as such enterprises are regulated by police and sanitary laws. and further that this board deems it ineXpedent to at tempt to interfere with the erection of such enterprise
 Alderman Jones offered the following resolution which was referred to the street committees: aF
 Be it resolved by the Mayor and alder men of Birmingham that the city engineer be and he is hereby instructed not to issue permits for excavatng in any street or avenue that has been paved on a concrete foundation within period of two years after said paving has been completed. ts
 When the report of the committee on the Il ufp r1j1 1rTnU 1n1n hn