The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-04-16
NEW COUNCIL SWORN IN.
Minutes of Regular Council Meeting Held
Last Night.

Council met in regular session
at s o'clock p. m. last Wednesday.
Present, Mayor a. B. Stuckey I;
Aldermen Boyle, Chandler. ". H.
Epperson, Finn Hurst, Purdy, Row
land, and Aldermen elect G. ". Dick
and j. A. Schwerin. Absent Alder
man G. F. Epperson.
The minutes OF March 9th and
April 4th were read and approved.
Mr.. Clifton Noise appeared and re-
duested that Council appropriate fifty
dollars towards building grand stand
at the base ball park. He spoke of
the lack of public interest in athletic
games, and attributed it largely to
the absence of comfortable accommo-
dations for spectators, and thought
some support and encouragement should
be given by the city. At a later stage
of the meeting the request was consid-
cred and denied on motion OF Mr..
Schwerin for the reasons that the
financial condition Of the city does not
warrant such expenditure, and further
that Council has no legal right to
spend money for such purposes.
The annual report of the Clerk and
Treasurer was presented, and on mo-
tion of Mr. Hurst ordered published
in the Daily Item if the finance COM
mite desires.
The finance committee reported ap-
proyal of bills referred to them, ex-
cept one bill for repairs of police
bicycles, which the police committee
had declined to approve because the
debt was contracted without authori-
ty, contrary to a rule of Council.
This action was approved. A further
report in writing was made by the
finance committee which was made
part of the minutes by motion Of Mr..
Purdy and is as follows:
To the City Council: We have ex-
amined the annual report of the Clerk
and Treasurer, which we find correct.
Our floating debt has been increased
during the year from lS5, 800 to SILL
614.62. This is due entirely to the ex-
traordinary Improvements made on
the streets at cost of s11, ,013. Add
to this ST. ,233 for scavenger cart ser
vice and we have paid on this account
more than $4,000; an excess Of ST.
$50 over the preceding year. In 1900
the expenditure on these accounts was
Sc, 243. .92. In 1889 81, 65S. 13 and in 1898
S3, III. 80. By these comparisons we
more readily appreciate the relative
increase of expenses. All these i'm
provements are very desirable. Drain
age and general condition Of streets
ard sidewalks are better than ever be-
fore, and we hope will be kept up to
the present standard. But Council
should discontinue extraordinary i'm
provements until the floating debt is
paid. It will be bad policy to run up
the deficit to a point beyond our abil-
ity to pay. We note that there is a
large amount of taxes and licenses due
and unpaid. Every consideration pos
sible has been shown to taxpyers and
The Clerk and Treasurer should now
be directed to force collections with
twenty per cent. penalty as provided
by law.
The Opera House account shows an
excess Of expenses over receipts OF
s125, but a piano costing $500 has
been paid for. Besides this the build
ing has been used by schools and
other local institutions at nominal
charge, which has made receipts con-
siderably less than if it we're under
private management.
Respectfully submitted,
E. W. Hurst,
c.. G. Rowland,