The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-05-07
MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL.
Proposed New Contract with Water Conn
pany Submitted.
The Effort to Abolish the Office of City Electrician
Renewed Bids for More Fire Engnes-Ques-
tion of Retrenchment Up Again.

at the council meeting. yesterday after
noon all the Aldermen were present
except Alderman Ilalvcrton of the sixth
ward.
The most important matter before the
meeting was the report " the special com.
'nittec OF proposed new contract with
the water company having for its object
the liquidation OF the debt due this com.
pany. the full text OF which appears else.
where.
Before this report was submitted how.
ever. communication was read from
DR.. william Brumby of the health depart.
ment protesting against making the health
of the city subordinate to The protection
of the property interest, as was contem-
plated IN the proposed new contract by
permitting the water company to al Its
mains with Bayou water whenever 1t be-
came necessary 10 do SO Ia order TO nght
fires
The report as submitted by the commit
tee was not signed and before the sccre-
larry was permitted to read motion pre-.
vailed that recess be taken IN order TO
permit the members Of the committee to
sign II.
After rc-asscmbllng Alderman Miller
chairman of the committee reported that
ne could not get the full committee to
blSH. Tue report as Alutfmhn iiHlfpftOu one
oi me members was absent aud Alderman
Tunly and Rue, who were on tbc commit.
tee declined TO sign the report as they were
not Thoroughly familiar with all of It's
provisions. The signatures, however, OF
the mayor and Aldermen Miller. Robinson
and Auhcrtln were attached and In this
form the report was read and referred to
Inc council as Il COMMITTEES of the whole
for report within two weeks.
49,
The question Of retrenchment was again
brought M by motion submitted by Al
dermau Thomas that all actions heretofore
taken reducing working force or the pay
OF any department of the city be recon.
sidcrcd.
Alderman Thompson favored this motion
as he did not believe in making ish of one
and flesh OF another. II believe" said he,
In retrenchmeut. but moi In discrminu
tion. thus far he only cues that have
been made are la the police aud street
departments, aud ! think all departments
should be treated alike The plan OF re-
trenchmcnt worked along nicely enough
until some taForltcs were reached aud
thert II stopped
Alderman Milcr moved that all city EN-
pioyes laid OF under inc rctrenchment rule
he rtnstated ON July /,
Tbs motion was tabled
On motion of Alderman Mueller the mat
ter was referred 10 the huuucc committee.
~
Just before the close Of the meetings
Alderman Miller called up the ordinance
10 abolish the office of city electrician.
Alderman O'Leary opposed the abolishing
Of this Office and was charged by the
alderman from the Second with having
mad a change, OF heart upon tho subject
Up t g o Mis only $ SO to m SGt
N The way of revenue from H. lie said
me nre Insurance companies would look
Rftcr the Inspection of wiring houses, as
was to their Interest to do SO
Before Alderman Miller could get any
PETITIONS.
Petitions were read from the following
citizens asking for relief On taxes bY cur
rectlon of erroneous assessment. scparat ,uu
or otherwise. H. 5, Nillct. W. l., Scot,
TERED to dnanCo committee
FROM the Fratcrual order of Eagles, ld-
NiUi"h lo ihclr Anniversary h1nqurt IN the
Auditorium, sunday, May -, l;du y. IN.
Accepted with thanks.
Fr6m William knal'-ns ct al, for settle.
mont Of tax sun, Rperrcd 10 finance,
street and bridge committees ana attorney.
From George AnhIz, tor permission 10
place a fruit stand ON cprucr at Main and
1cNas avenue. Referred tu nrc and otll.
From Booth 4 MclIush for permission to
place a corrugated iron Clubhouse lu rcaf ot
premises occupied by them on Main street,
corner of Prairie avenue Referred To hrc
committee.
From l. L, blackburn. chief Of police.
inviting the council to attend the meeting
lice. to be held In New York city May
rs. and asking that he be granted a leave
Of absence for same. Granted
From rltlHcaS asking thar street be
named recently opened up and graded Ia
front of thch property, Referred to stree,
and bridge rommlttcc.
From james Butte, asking that city ex.
tend the north wall of the tiirard street
tunnel. Referred to street and bridge cn,n
mlttec.
From pr W. NJ. Brumby, obiccting to tho