The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-05
Eight improvement Ordinances
Are Adopted BY Aldermen,
4 FRANCHISE DISCUSSED
Wards Letter to Antwine Referred to,
But No Action Taken-John c.
Forney Elected to J. F.
Graham's Seat.

Eight Improvement ordinances were
adopted at a meeting of the city eoun-
Gil last night. The council was in session
an hour and thirty minutes and trans
acted great deal of business of
routine nature.
The proposition of Alderman George B.
Ward to resign from the board under
certain conditions, set forth in letter to
John F. Antwine chairman of the city
democratic executive committee, did not
come up for consideration. 1t was refer
red to at the latter part of the session
and a recess of ten minutes was taken
to await the decision of the executive
committee on the matter. The executive
committee did not meet, however, until
after the council adjourned las 1t desired
to use the council chamber. An informal
discussion was held before the council
adjourned, and it was evident from sew
eral gentlemen going to and from the
council chamber, and the informal dis
cussion of the committeeman that an eff
fort would be made to have the matter
taken up by the council, But this was
mteemen decided to table Mr.. Wards
communication. Later, when the commit
tee met Mr.. Wards letter was tabled,
but before it adjourned was reconsidered
and the committee acceded to the ex-
press wish of the alderman from the
second ward.
An alderman said last night during the
hat hp-
fore the council and that the body there
fore, could take no action whatever on it.
A number of bills were ordered paid
and the report of the finance committee
on the monthly pay roll was adopted.
Assessments Ascertained.
Assessments were ascertained on i'm
provement ordinance No. 40, which pro-
vides for grading, matchmaking and
curbing on Avenue 1 from Fourteenth to
Seventeenth streets, on Sixteenth street
from Avenue l to Avenue L, on Seven
teenth street from Avenue F to Avenue
l..
The judiciary committee recommended
that the city attorney be instructed to
appeal the case of the mayor and board
of aldermen of Birmingham against E.
Solomon, decided against the city in the
was concurred In.
Want Franchise Tax.
The judiciary committee reported IA
vorably on granting a franchise to the
Birmingham District Coal, Light and
Power company, T. II. Aldrich and T. II.
Aldrich, Jr., trustees. The franchise was
read and a discussion arose over the
matter. Alderman Altman said he
thought 1t was time the city was receiv-
ing payment for valuable franchise priv
ileges, and he said he thought now was
a good time to begin. He. thought the
company should pay for the franchise.
Alderman Ward said the city had here
tofore given away franchises, and as this
company proposed to give lower rates
on lights than were at present secured
by the people he did not think the coun-
ell should ask it for tax AS the city
had already given away so many he
did not think one more would make any
difference.
Alderman Altman, for the judiciary
committee, said that while the granting
of the franchise was reported on favor
ably the committee wanted some agree
ment reached first as to the maximum
and minimum prices to be charged by the
company. He made motion to the ef-
feet that the franchise be referred to a
special committee consisting of the may
or, chairman of the light committee,
chairman of the finance committee and
chairman of the judiciary committee to
meet and consider this point before it
was granted the company by the coun-
ell. and also that it consider what would
be a reasonable fee for the company to
nav for the franchise. The motion was
carried.
Forney Elected.
Alderman Jones moved to suspend tho
regulac order of business and that the
council proceed to the election of an al
derman to fill the unexpired term of j.
r Graham, who resigned several weeks
ago when he moved from tho Sixth to the
Seventh ward This was done and the
council proceeded to the election. John Q.
Forney was nominated and elected with
out opposition to serve on the board. Al
dermen Moore and Harrington conducted
Mr.. Forney to a position in front of the
mayor. who administered to him the oath
of office. Mr.. Forney was nominated In
the primary Monday for alderman from
the Sixth ward for the term beginning
the first meeting in May
Alderman Harrington introduced reso-
luton that the sanitary commission be