Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-08-15
Council Passes SpericI Law at
Session Thursday Night.
MEETING AN IMPORTANT ONE
Properly Owners on Queen Street Propose
to Pave One BIock-other
Busine.s Transacted.
Business Transacted.

order bv Mayor Evans. who occupied
the chair. and there were present
Councilmen Emmert, Thomson, Nc
Donald, Kline. Barry, HODGE. Schll
and Stewart. After the inmates oil
the previous meeting We're read and
approved the members plunged lmme-
diately into business.
The finance committee submitted
it's estimates of receipts and appropia-
tions for the fiscal year just entered
The receipts are estimated at $2S.665
from all sources. The estimated ex-
penditures for all purposes will be
500, 495.
The ordinance to regulate the speed
of vehicles within the corporate limits
was then introduced by the committee
that prepared it. This is the measure
popularity known as the automobile
law, and number of persons who had
been attracted to the council chamber
to hear it discussed listened with in-
terest to its provisions. 1t had been
dinance committee that the maxium
limit would be placed at six miles per
hour. bnt the gentlemen of the COM
mittee got together before the meet
ing of the council and decided to in
crease the limit to eight miles per
our. The ordinance as amended III
committee meeting was passed with
out dissenting voice. AMI in the fu-
tire all vehicles will be prohibited
from travelling at greater rate than
eight miles per hour within the CITY
limits.
A report of the real estate commit.
tee was submitted, in which it was
proposed to the council that the city
purchase the lots now occupied by
Stephens street from Raleigh to VIM
chester avenue, and open up and re-
pair the same. The committee was
instructed to proceed with the pur-
chase under certain conditions. Ste
phens street. between the points
named, is owned by private individ.
uals, who could close traffic without
a moments notice, and the action of
the council was commendable one.
Mr.. Emmert was excused from voting
on the proposition, he being one of
the owners of the lots through which
the street runs.
The fire department submitted its re-
port for the past six months, showing
the number of fires and the losses.
a communication from the Colum-
bus Carnival Co.. asking for the priv
ilege of holding street fair in the
city, was referred to the ordinance
committee.
Residents on East High street asked
that the city open up and improve the
same. The street committee will in
vestigate.
L. E. Matthews asked that water
mains be extended TO his residence, so
he NAV get the benefit of the CITY
water. Referred to the water board.
Mr.. Schill introduced an amendment
to section 80, chapter 8, OF the city
laws. 1t provided that all saloons in
the city be required to keep closed on
Sunday as heretofore. and allowed to
keep open from a. M until ~ D.
M. one hour longer than is now the
case. The amendment, which was in.
dorsed by Schill, Barry and Stewart,
was read the first time, in order to get
it properly before the councll. II was
then, through motion, proposed for
"a second reading, but the motion was
defeated by the following, vote Ayes
-Schill, Stewart, Barry. Nays-Era-
inert. Thompson, Mcdonald. HODGE,
Kline. The refusal of the council to
order the amendment to its second
reading killed it.
Mr.. Kline reuorted the purchase Of
two $500 bonds by the finance COM
mittee. The price was 81 ,040. The
bonds were those issued by the city
some years ago and which would fall
due in 1921. The coupons were order
ed detached and DESTROYED, which
ceremony was performed BY the mem
bers of the finance committee in the
rear of the council Gambler. Mr.. Kline
piled the scissors. Mr.. Thompson car
ried the coupons to the stove. Mr..
Mcdonald held the door open and Mr.
Emmert applied the match which re-
duced the coupons to ashes
The Whole proceeding was narrow
ly watched bv big blue-coated guar
dian of the law and newspaper man
who wanted to be positive that there
wasn't lob concealed somewhere
in the ceremony of DESTROYING the
coupons. There was no job
Andrew Grady asked for 20 loads of
stone for use in front of his residence.
and the street committee was instruct
ed to look into it.
Attorney X. Poole appeared before
the council and presented petition