Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1902-03-18
TILT IN The COUNCIL
Att mpt 10 R PEAL Railroad
Gate Ordinance Gre ties
Warm D. bate.
WATER COMPANY TO BE MOTT.
FLED TO FLUSH ALL ITS
MAINS.
Improvement District Ordinance
Passed and New City Hall Now
Up to the People.
OTHER DoINGs OF CITY DADS

IN the dingy council chamber Of the
now doomed city hall the regular
council meeting was held Monday
night The city fathers went int,
session with Alderman Meyer in the
chair. Mayor Bell was out of the CITY
1hefe were only five members pres.
eht when the session opened The
meetlng was characterized by one of
the sharpest fights seen in the conn.
chamber for many months. On last
Saturday the ordinance passed three
months ago, providing for railroad
gates on five streets in the city, went
into effect. 1t seemed as if Attorneys
NJ. A. Austin, for the Iron Mountain.
and j. M. Taylor, for the Cotton Belt,
had just been notified of the passage
of the ordinance, for both appeared
in the chamber and addressed the
council at length upon an ordinance
introduced by one of the aldermen,
formulated by Mr.. Taylor, providing
for the repeal of the ordinance provid-
ing for gates. The arguments were
stubbornly contested by Aldermen
We'll and Boyce, who spoke forcibly
against the repeal of the ordinance.
Several times the verbal tits became
somewhat personal.
Aldermen Fox and Bruce were out
spoken in favor of repeating the ordi-
nance, while Alderman Wilkins en-
tertained compromise views, favor.
ing the appointment of a committee
to confer with the railroad companies
before the ordinance was repealed.
His views finally were acquiesced in,
and committee was appointed.
Mr.. Boyce thought that the railroad
companies lawyers had come to the
council meeting to poke ridicule at
the aldermen, and he said he did not
appreciate it at all. He did not favor
tive gates and opposed that number
at the time the ordinance passed, but
ne did favor gates on Main and Pine
streets. The cost he knew would not
be half as much as Mr. Austin had
stated. He did not think that Mr..
Taylor's argument was good or prop.
er. He had given the matter much
attention and he thought that other
members of the council had good
common business sense. He stated
that the ordinance was not passed
unadvisadly as Mr.. Taylor inferred.
Mr. Boyce made strong defense of
the council, and concluded his re-
marks by stating that he thought the
necessity for gates at Main and Pine
streets was urgent. and by announc-
ing that he would never vote for the
repeal Of the ordinance. He appre.
ciated the position of both attorneys,
knowing that they were both talking
for salary.
Mr.. Fox took the floor and stated
that he thought the idea of maintain
ing gates on Fourth avenue was i'm
practicable. and he did not see how
they could ask the Cotton Belt to put
in the gates without the Iron Noun
tain doing so. He, therefore, spoke
in favor Of renealing the ordinance
He thought that the gates would
cause a congestion of traffic. He
thought that the presence of flagmen
was sufficient
Mr.. Clement stated that Mr.. Fox's
remarks voiced his sentiments. He
thought tn" citv could get along just
as we'll without the gates. He did not
favor puttire the extra expense Oh
the RAILROADS and street railway.
Mr.. Bryce made some further re-
marks reiterating his former state
ments.
Mr.. wilkins ctated that at the time
the ordinance was PASSED he was op-
posed to the ordinance requiring
gates at f've crossings. He was not in
favor Of that footure of the ordinance
and was not clear az to having two
gates. He thought committee