The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-24
NETTING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
odin Avenue Is Exempted From the IIse of
the GroOved Rail.
rhe Mayors Veto OF the Proposition to Sue the
Houston Water Company Was Sustained
by a Vote of Five to Six,

=. ~, council met In regular session
~, afternoon with all the aldermen
- :, s,sept Alderman Tuffly. Alderman
-, insisted that an officer be sent
Js.,man Tuifly and that the council
"a with no business pending his ar.
| Mil A.. A., ~
'..ssA ,6r Alderman TuffIy returned and
- that Alderman Tuffly said he
la NOT come unless warrant was
.,,.5 and the patrol wagon sent for him.
!, rss finally agreed to proceed without
|in
later on motion was submitted by
,gs,msn Miller that Alderman Tunly he
rreuaed for sixty days for falling to
sr the summons 10 be present at the
,ntIpi which was carrieG<N
~
luCrg the more important matters be.
h. he board was the veto of the mayor
IN IN action OF the council in adopting
Ia. resolution Of Alderman Thompson "a
|re he Water company for the value of the
|rnm house destroyed by fire last June.
|Ybs reto was as follows:
ID the Honorable Board of Aldermen:
l,satleren. | feel il my duty % inter
~ Ny objection and We to the rcsuhl-
|Ioa Introduced by Alderman Thompson
lad passed at the last meeting OF ,our
|L5rlabe body, IN which the city at oincy
|vn Instructed to tle suit against the
|Hosioa Water company In response to. or
ID gaef to meet the condl Ions of the set
IneHtlt Of the fire losses on the market
|AMxlO be imposed by the insurance com.
|shA My reasons Tor vetolng the reso-
4 gk1 are as follows.
10 unwilling as mayor Of this city TO
Etsnli to any dlctation on the part Of the
|rsEinces companies as to the attitude the
~ sAall assume towards the Water com
lslF The Insurance companies have alb
EeNtg nothing to do with that. They
HMpeed the premiums paid by the city for
htnnlty III case of loss by fire, and /
FsAa that they should be compelled
fhnsh the courts, If need he, to settle
fsf losses, for that Is their contract.
Etnpllanee by the city with such beh st
FNt set a bad precedent. and the next
M Of the insurance companies wo1ld he
rtqulre everyone who loses their home
a rte to Institute suit against the Water
lipny In order to get their loss az
Bhled This position Of the Insurance com
yves Is arbitrary. dictatorial and absurd
4 q deseryes severest condemnation. AS
n chief executive of this city, | shall NOT
fla mo collision with them as agallst
fe Water company.
That company Is answerable 10 this conn
toi any failure to comply with its CON
Prd and should be made to answer for
~ failure 10 do so. Our contrac with
~ Water company Is one thing and our
4Iau win the insurance companies Is
I@aeT, and the city of Houston has its
Isai hereunder and they should be en-.
esa nut respectfully submit that
Il Insurance comp hes are not sponsors
" oiher contract as between the city and
fT operations or persons, ana their et-
% MAKE II so Is an warranted inter
Eae III the affairs Of other people. Re-
fNuaN!' j. ID. Wool'nrl,
rn Mayor.
Alderman Thompson called the attention
me council to the minority report Of
COUNCIL adopted al the time the change
/ contract with the water company was
In consideration, which report recon-.
kaaea suit against the water company.
4 y report was then adopted by the coun-
ana ne did not think the veto covered
Il ieconMendation In the minority report
as council and even If the veto he sns-
Sln ne held that the attorney would
IN Wv llsut 10 bflng Sult, acting upon
gspoft, lie contended further that
I veto assigned no legal reasons. In
aa q the city being placed In the posi-
q pulling chestuuts out of the fire
.ae Insurance companies, 1t was the
" y, way and in his opinion the bringing
~ SUIT made the insurance companies
ae chestnuts for the city. He said
|Nsaa OF the city assisting the insurance
WA me Insurance companies in this
y ~ would he assisting the city. Alder
\ !. thompson was quite certain that the
aanGe companies would not pay unless
.fut were brought. hut that they
Isa pay as soon as this suit was brought
'Y1clnded by moving that the mayors
3easrnan Halverton did not favor the
g.os Of the suit and would not upon
wuer assurance than tho written as
I, x Of me president of each company
\, 'e insurance would he paid. He
/ s-l laen change his mind. hut not till