The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-04-29
Whole Number 1862.
A HOT TIME.
strenuous Session of the Common Council
Monday Evening.

The common council held an eventful
session Monday evening, and quite
number of citizens we're present to see
the fun. All the board were present ex-
cept Trustee Shepard.
The street committee made a report
on the condition of certain streets, which
was referred back to the committee for
fuller report and recommendations
Trustees Anderson and Whitman of
the electric light committee signed a
recommendation that w. f. Coats of
Grand Rapids be employed to make plans
for new cement dam, the same to be
constructed by home labor under a suit
able foreman.
At this point the Paw Paw Milling Co.
offered to sell their waterpower and
buildings to the village, and asked for a
conference with the committee before
any definite action as to power should be
taken.
! The recommendation Of the electric
/ light committee was laid on the table, so
that opportunity might be had to get
this new proposition in shape
The Milling Co. did not make a def
mite offer as to price, but were ready to
do so to the committee, ard this matter
will doubtless be up at next Monday
evenings session of the council. 1t is
claimed the company has 200 horsepower
or better.
The matter of filling in the approaches
/ to the Main street bridge was referred
| to the street committee with power to
act.
! The president made the following ap-
pointments, which were confirmed with
out opposition:
Board of review-W. J. Thomas and
W. j. Johnson.
Special assessors-M. o. Rowland, +.
G.. Thayer and j. G.. Horning.
The druggists bond of j ohm H. Charles
was approved. with L. j. Cavanaugh aud
W. L. Miller as suretes
1t was moved by Trustee Avery, sup
ported by Trustee Anderson, that James
Whelpley, assistant electrician, be given
notice that his services would be dis
pensed with at the end of 30 days and
his contract with the village terminated
/ Adopted by unanimous vote.
! Then came the life of the meeting. 1t
was moved by Trustee Killefer, supported
! by Trustee Snow, that Willis Clapp be
appointed marshal for the purpose of
collecting electric light and other bills
due the village. 1he president declared
the motion out of order and refused to
entertain the appeal of Trustee Killefer
from his decision.
1t was moved by Trustee Snow. sup
ported by Trustee Kllefer, that S. h.
Allen be retained as superintendent of
the waterworks for the coming year.
/ Carried unanimously, the president de-
claring, and directing it to appear on
the record, that he took no part in the
appointment except to put the motion
as required of him by parliamentary
law.
Claims were allowed amounting to
1921 AS, and there was less than S25 In
the village treasury for their payment.
The finance committee reported that
they had been unable to sell the sl 500
water bond authorized last fall at the
time of constructing the big we'll, and
that no effort had been made to borrow
the 81 900 for current expenses recently
authorized by the council.
Among the claims allowed was one for
Sl050 to Willis Clapp the dismissed
marshal, for six days work, rendered on
authority of the fire and water commit
tee. Chairman Shepard of that commit
tee was not present, Trustee Snow, also
a member OF the committee, said the
work was authorized, and Trustee An
derson, the third member, knew nothing
about it. President Titus declared to
the council that he did not think the
committee had any authority to hire
men, especially the former marshall. to
perform part of the duties of that
office, and at a price greater than the
marshal's salary, and gave notice that he
would refuse to countersign the order
until compelled to do so by the courts.
No appointments for marshal or street
commissioner were presented. Trustee
Anderson had read by the clerk an opin-
ion from Village Attorney Heckert that
the president had no authority to divide
the offices of marshal and street com
missioner under existing ordinances.
The council then adjourned
AN entertaining little after session was
held by President Titus AID Trustee
Kilefer, leader of the democratic major
ity on the council, a verbatim report OF
which would make interesting reading.
Among other things, Trustee Killefer
advised the president to follow the die
tation of the 1.-TWO cent organ" by which
it is supposed he meant The True
Northerner. The advice was doubtless
good, although we have to confess that
our influence over President Titus is not
of a very positive nature. Those who
know Mr.. Titus best we're not at all sur
prised at his quick retort.
Altogether, in session and out of it,
the Paw Paw common council is certain
ly a warm proposition, and it promises
to be some time before harmony prevails.