The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-02
COUNCIL RESCINDS CONTRACT ..:.
 TO REMODEL BILLING PLACE

with the Mayor on the subject and ne understood that the Billing property, in its present shape, could be used by a portion of the Boys High School. It was the impression, he said that the larger boys could be sent to the Billing building and If this could be done without making any change, the city might get an opportunity later to sell the property as residence. There was, opposition, he said, on the part of the School Board to using the building as school and he thought if the building could be sold later 1t would be we'll enough for the city to construct a new school building.
 Was to Be Used as School.
 Alderman Gunter said the Council had purchased the Billing property win the view to using 1t as a school building ana this was the only exouseea any Alderman could offer for his vote. to. purchase the property For himself, he said he was ,unalterably opposed to giving so valuable a piece of property over to the use or about eighteen boys. The School Com- mittee had agreed that the building should be used as a grammar school and the committee he said should not be thrown down. in any such manner sas was pro- posed. +d
 At this juncture Alderman Mcintyre introduced a resolution resembling the contract with the Riverside Brick Com- pany for repairing the Billing building.
 Alderman Roeder said the Mcintyre resolution would not lead the Council out of it's difficulty. He said It's adoption would leave the matter where 1t was sev- eral months ago. He said the City En- gineer had reported that the Chiffon school building was unsafe and, acting on that report the committee had pro- f-- Ex-- &ta to take it's place. The Council had acted upon the recommendation of the commit tee and 1t had met with the approval of the Mayor.
 Alderman Mcintyre said final action should be taken upon the matter tonight as a matter of justice to the contractors.
 Alderman Anderson said he would sec ond the resolution of Alderman Mcintyre rescin6ing the contract
 There was a discussion as to whether the motion of Alderman Roeder or the resolution of Alderman Mcintyre had pr ecedence.
 Alderman Rushton solved the contro- versy by introducing a resolution direct ing the Mayor to sign the contract with the Riverside Brick Company to do the work of remodeling the Billing building.
 Alderman Roeder withdrew his motion and Alderman Mcintyre withdrew his res- 
 olution.
 Mayor Makes Statement.
 STpon suggestion of Alderman Hartley, Mayor Joseph was asked to appear be- fore the Council to explain how he ar- rived at the conclusion that the work would cost $2b0O. The Mayor said if the walls of the Billing building were torn away 1t would cost fully s2.50O to make 1t a residence again in case an opportunity was had to sell 1t for a residence.
 Mayor Joseph went on to say that with certain suburbs annexed there would be additional school problems and this was one of his reasons for opposing the im- provement of the Billing building at this time. The building, he said, could be pr epa: ed for a grade of the Boys High school for $50 Three rooms of the Billing residence were available for temporary school purpos3s, and it was the part of wisdom, he said, for the Council to make this temporary arrangement. Next spring he said, with a greater Montgom- cry, the city could then put up an ade- quate school building for the enlarged schools.
 In answer to Alderman Hudson, Mayor Joseph said he was advised by the City Engineer that the Chiffon school building could be made absolutely safe with an expenditure of $100.
 Rushton Resolution Lost.
 The resolution of Alderman Rushton was put upon its passage and was lost by the following vote:
 Ayes-Gunter,' May, Roeder. Rushton. Tcole-5
 Neys-Fleming. Anderson, Farley, Hart- ley, Haygood. Hudson. McIntyre.-7.
 Alderman Mcintyre again introduced a resolution to rescind the contract be- ween the city and the Riverside Brick Company to remodel the Billing building, Alderman Roeder introduced resolu- tion to refer the matter to a select com mittee and insisted that his motion had precedence. President Fleming ruled against him and the Mcintyre resolution prevailed. the single negative vote cast by Alderman May.
 Alderman Roeder, who voted in the af- native. gave notice that he would, at the next meeting of the Council, move to reconsider the vote by which the McIn- tyre resolution was adopted.
 Veto from the Mayor. s,..
 The following veto message from Mayor Joseph was read:
 "Ofice of the Mayor.
 November 2S, 1902 ITO the City Council:
 "Gentlemeh-I return herewith without my approval a resolution adopted at your last regular meeting instructing the City Treas surer to advertise for bids for paw ing sidewalks around capitol hill school etc.
 This is a work that I have been anx- ious to do. but the present financial con dition of the city, in my opinion, does not permit it. As you are aware. with the closest economy, the expenditures of the city still exceed It's income. There is no balance to the credit of the street paw ing found but on the contrary. deficit. T especially called your attention to the condition of affairs in my last an- nual message. to which invite your most careful consideration.
 While 1t has not heretofore been cus- tomory, for the executive department to exercise its veto power on resolutions of this character, I have taken this course in the present Instance rather than await executive action on final ordinance ap- the money. so that in the event the City Council should concur in the views herein expressed 1t will save the expense of advertising for bids as re- quired by said resolution.
 Respectfully,
 "E. B. Joseph. Mayor"
 A Protest on Record. When the Mayors message had been read Alderman Roeder, arose and said he merely desired to express regret that the Mayor should put up a poor mouth