The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-04
1rrAxc1AL srArrnrzler
or CITY THNA1uHE1

z R. s. Williams. & C City Treasurer. x \ *N*x*xeaeasiaesassaseAasetaeaa , The regular semi-monthly meeting of tha Montgomery City Council took place last night The city fathers were in session less than an hour and 1t was the most uninteresting meeting the Council has had in many months. The only matter that threatened discussion was a message from Mayor Joseph relating to a contracts for furnishing lights for the city. This matter was referred to a committee to investigate and report to a special meeting of the Council to be call ed for that purpose.
 It was nearly o'clock when the Alder men assembled and the Council was called to. order by President Fleming. The only absentees were Aldermen John- son and Mcintyre.
 Alderman Kohn, Chairman of the Finance Committee reported that his committee had investigated the com plaints made by the county grand jury relative to dealers in county scrip and said the committee recommended that the city license for such dealers be re- duced from $50 per annum to s50. He said an ordinance on the subject would be submitted. but no such ordinance was introduced.
 purpose reported adversely on the peti- ton of H. H. Matthews and others for the opening of Donaldson Avenue from Amanda Stret to Virginia Avenue. The sfcommittee said the present condition of city finances you'd not permit of the ex- 'penditufe. The report of the committe- was concurred in. The Street Committee asked for. and was granted further time to make an in- vestigation of the condition of whitman Street under the Gunter resolution adopt ed at the last meeting of the Council. Alderman May, Chairman of the Com- mittee on Public Works reported recom- nending the acceptance of the bid or J. M, Gailaspy & Son at s1,1so for the im- provement of the City Market , Alderman Kohn suggested that the matter be deferred until the next meet ing of the Council. He said the city bonds had not been sold and probably if the bonds were not sold the improve ments on the market could not be made. He did not believe the city would have money to spend on the market or any thing else unless the bonds were sold.
 The motion to defer action on the com mittee report was lost by the following VOtS, A&uGIiudh xNVhh aN'sAe the ayes and nays:
 Ayes-Messrs Fleming, Cheney, Hart ley, Kohn--4.
 Nays-Messrs Anderson. Farley. Gun ter, Hudson, May. Roeder, Toole.-1.
 On motion of-Alderman Tooie the re- port of the committee was adopted
 Numerous petitions of little import arce and no public interest were read to the Council and were reported to ap- propriate committees.
 An ordinance amending an ordinance relating to the building of factories in the fire limits was read and Alderman Kohn moved that action upon it be de- ferred until the next meeting of the Council. The ordinance seeks to require operators of cotton ginneries to secure permission from the Council before build ing within the fire limits and is directed against the Montgomery Cotton and Gin nery Company, which owns lot on Jef- ferson Street between Lawrence and Me- Donough Street
 Alderman Roeder opposed further post ponement of the ordinance. He said It had been pending three weeks and should be passed or defeated.
 Donald Macdonald. president of the rinnery company was invited before the Council meeting and explained that action upon the ordinance might prejudice the sale or disposal of his. property and Alderman Roeder withdrew his objection
 The motion of Alderman Kohn defer ring action until the next meeting or the Council was then adopted.
 An ordinance appropriating SiS.Sl Tor the relief of Mrs. L. H. Scott for taxes enormously assessed and paid was unanimously passed.
 The following communication from Mayor Joseph relative to lighting con tract was then read to the Council:
 Ohice of the Mayor,
 March 3. 1902. To the City Council of Montgomery:
 Gentlemen-At your last meeting the following resolution was adopted:
 Be 1t resolved, by the City Council or Montgomery, as follows: That the City Treasurer is hereby directed to advertise in the local morning and evening papers by two weekly insertions, for sealed bids to be received not later than l2 o'clock, noon, March IS, 1902 for lighting by means of electric lights, the public buildings parks and streets of the. City of Mont eomery, after the expiration of the pres, ent contract, that is, December 3l. 1902
 In my opinion this. resolution Is so in- definite that 1t will fall to accomplish what 1t is your duty as well as mine to do; that is, to obtain as cheap lights un- der proper specifications, as possible, to liRhtsthe public buildings, parks streets, etc With a view of obtaining this rec omnend that the Council advertise for hids for lighting the streets. parks pub lie baildin9s, etc. of the city for alter native terms of one. two. three. four and i've years, and that said specitications should state definitely the terms of the contract to be agreed upon, the number of lights required for street purposes and alao incandescents, and the amount of bond to be required for the faithful per formance of said contract when awarded. and also state that all bids are to be ac- companied with a certified check to se cure the faithful carrying out of the con- tract if awarded.
 I renew my recommendation in my last
 '"rhe contract for street lighting eX- pires January 1. 1903. and I suggest the propriety of your taking the matter ur at an early date 50 as to give every op- portunity for competition and investiga- tion of the question of the adyisability