The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-19
Citv Council Petitioned for Nec-
 gssary Appropriation MORE POLICEMEN NEEDED
In the Absence of Mayor Drennen Act ing Mayor Thach Presides-Elec- tion of City Tax Col
 lector Postponed.

of aldermen last night the police com mission petitioned for an appropriation sufficient to employ ffty-three additional patrolmen.
 The petition was a verbal one and was presented by J. H. McCary, as repre- sentative of the commission. Towards the close of the session he was accorded the privilege of the floor. He said the time had come when Birmingham should have more policemen and that conditions de- manded it. Mir McCary referred to the tact that at the present time patrolmen were required to be on duty twelve hours a day. He did not think this was ex- actly right and said it was longer than the time which patrolmen had to be on their beats in other large cities. He fa- vored three shifts of eight hours each, which, he said, could be arranged if addi- tional patrolmen were put on the force. The petition was referred to the finance, the police and the sanitation committees.
 Prohibiting Opium Dens.
 The board adopted an ordinance prohib- iting opium dsns in the city and making 1t a mIsdemeanor for any person to go into any room and assist in any way persons to smoke opium or kindred drugs. Anyone violating the provisions is sub iect to a fine of not less than $1 or more than s10O
 Mayor Drennen did not return yester- day and the election of tax collector | to succeed Capt James T. Meade who recently died. was postponed. A resolu- ton was introduced declaring the office of l city tax collector vacant and authorizing A. J. Grubb, assistant tax collector, to act as tax collector until the election takes place. The resolution gives him all of the powers vested in the holder of the ] position.
 1 Alderman R. H. Thach who is acting mayor during the absence of the chief executive presided at the meeting and read the list containing the names of the prisoners whose fines had been re- mitted.
 l Alderman Kerr read the report of the finance committee including recommenda- tions for the payment of a number of bills and the payrolls of the garbage | u6DdTlIneHt WHICH WdS duOPtCu I hC Po5 roll of the garbage department for Feb ruary amounts to s2S5.5O.
 Alderman Kerr presented an ordinance providing for the issuance of improve ments for s1,5OO under ordinances 123 and 12S, and it was adopted.
 No Steam Traction Cars. Alderman Jones, chairman of the street committee, reported unfavorably on the petition of J. J. Hunnicut and T. F. John son to be allowed to operate steam trac- tion cars in Birmingham. Alderman Jones stated that MT. Hunnicut resided In In diana and that the petitioners desired to have traction cars brought to the city 1 to transfer baggage. etc. The report of the committee was, adopted. | The city engineer was instructed to advertise for bids under Ordinance 15z, which was confirmed. It provides for sanitary sewers on Alley B, between Eleventh and Thirteenth street and on | Alley c between Tenth and Thirteenth street. The estimated cost of the work is s1,50O.
 Aauerman Stockmar, chairman of the  ton from the sexton of Oak Hill ceme- tery asking that the board arrange for a number of prisoners to go to the cemetery and assist in repairing the driveways. The sexton stated that on account of the recent rains the walks and driveways were in bad condition. He said with a guard and several prison CTS he could repair some of the damage that had been done. The sexton also asked be increased s5 a month, each. The peti- tion was referred to the city engineer, the chairman of the cemetery committee the chairman of the street committee and the mayor.
 | The city engineer was authorized and instructed to communicate with the Bir- mingham Water Works company and ask that the streets torn up by them for lay ing pipes be put in good condition and that if it was not done to have the work done at the expense of the water com pany.
 Additional Hose. The fire and water committee was au- thorized to purchase additional hose for | the Southside fire department l petition from the Alat.ma Brewing | company to be granted a license to con duct a saloon on the corner of Twenty sixth street and Third avenue was ai- l lowed.
 Alderman Wheeler presented petition from people residing in the vicinity ot Seventh afd Eleventh streets. on First