The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-04-15

, - - IT
stop to the peddllng of fresh meat
around the city in the spring. sum
mer and fall by countrymen. The
license is now only s.. 80. per year, and
the country meat men come in and
5 take out license for three months and
haul their wagons right mp on the
square or main streets and sell out
: their meats, in competition with the
local dealers who are at heavy expense
in the way of keeping ice. etc. with
! which to keep fresh meat for the city,
, and it is heavy hardship upon them.
The countrymen for Sl.50 license for
three months, almost ruin the town
butchers business. and the latter have
a just grievance. Therefore, they
asked to raise the license to $50 per
year, and make it payable annually.
believing that would stop the present
condition of things.
Refunding the City's Debt.
Mayor Brownlow then arose and
stated that he thought it advisable to
call the Board s attention to the city S
| financial condition, in order that ii
might take such steps as might seem
best to protect the city's interests. He
stated that some of the old warrants
of the city had been presented for
i payment, but tho city was not able to
| cash them. He thought these old war
| rants, and all the warrants outstanding
npon which holders could demand pay
| ment, ought to be retired in some way
and he thought the best way and in
fact, the only way, would be for the
city to issue $50 900 worth of bonds,
and refund the debt. The last legis-
lature had passed an act, allowing the
city to do this. He asked the board to
consider the ACCESSIBILITY of calling an
election and submitting the question
to the people. The law required this
to be done.
Alderman Dale.
Alderman Dale said he thought to
call an election was the only thing |
that could be done. If the holders o.
the city's warrants were demanding |
payment and the city could not pay, |
he thought the city had better issue
bonds and refund the debt, because if |
any creditor of the city should sue the
city, it would be an embarrassment |
and would hurt the city. Be
sides, he thought it would be
matter of economy to refund the
debt. The bonds could be sold at pei
cent interest whereas. the present
warrants bear per cent interest. 1t
would be saving to the city in the
long run to issue the bonds.
Mayor Brownlow stated that if the
bonds could be refunded at per cent,
it would save the city SIP, 600 i'll the
course of 20 years. AS it is now, he
said the city may be sued, and thus
5he City Council might be criti
Used by the people for allowing the
,ity to be thus embarrassed. To
submit the matter to the people, and ii !
hey should decide not to refund the |
lebt, then it will be their response
,ility, and not the Boards.
Mr.. w. 8. Fleming.
Mr.. w. s. Fleming, who represents
dr. G. S. Bigelow. the largest holder
f the city's warrants, was present, ! 6
nd was asked to make a statement. &
lie said he thought the city would be
oolish not to vote for the bond issue. |
t the present condition should con
inue, and some one should sue the y
ity it would precipitate a panic !
mong the other holders of the city
aper, and all of them would come
onward and sue, also. Mr.. Bigelow,
e said, was not threatening to sue
he city. He had been extremely
,nient, which he thought everybody
'Ould admit, as a large part of his .
-arrants dated back ten and fifteen o
ears. Mr. Bigelow, he said, had st
indy interest in Columbia outside OF q
is business interests here. and he had r
lanifested that several times. Mr.. =
igelow recently offered, he had un
erstood, to donate very literally
ward training school for Columbia.
Mr.. Fleming said he thought the only
ling the Board could do under the 4
"reminiscences was to order an election
I'D. He himself favored the refund
e of the debt. He said he was not
IL OF TIC, g who had night MAZE
cry time 1t was proposed to issue
,nds. Il never could see any reason
7 the fear some eople have for sad
ing Indebtedness on future genera
)ns. The future generations inherit
the wealth of the present genera
On, and for myself | don't mind
aving them some of the problems to
restle with. like we have had to do.
concern myself with trying to leave
Y children in the best condition thar
IAN, and l don Z mind letting them
are some of my burdens.
Al Election Called.
The Board then passed resolution,
ling an election to be held at the
ty Hall. on Saturday, May Z, as to
lether the city will issue $50. 000
nth of interest bearing coupon bonds
A per cent, with interest payable
nj annually. the election to be held
der the general election laws of the
to-
dayor Brownlow appointed w. E.
stick to take the scholastic census of
city, by request of the Board of
ucation.
he Street Committee was allowed
0 and the Board then adjourned.