The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-22
COUNCIL HAD A TALKFEST City Fathers Worked Four
 Hours. THERE WAS MUCH DEBATE Court Street Crossing Matter Finally Decided. Opened Bids to Build Heron Street School House and Passed Over Matter of Raising Salary.

The meeting of the City Council last night was four hours long, and a veri- table talkfest.
 After remaining in session from o'clock until nearly midnight, the finished work the Aldermen left with the city clerk was not extensive or impressive.
 The veteran North Court street ordi- nance was. however, finished for. good and all. Some of the Aldermen, no doubt felt that in the disposal of this ancient issue alone the Council had done a good nights work. The Court street ordi- nance occupied the larger share of the time of the city law makers. Those fa- miliar with the cityis history will re- member some time ago that an ordi- nance was introduced closing North Court street north of Railroad street, and conveying 1t to the Western Rail- way. In return for this the Railroad Company was to open agnew street from worth Court street to the Washington Ferry Road. The object of the ordinance was to close up the North Court street crossing.
 Fought by Forbes.
 The ordinance was bitterly fought by Alderman Forbes. Defeated in his con- tinued efforts to prevent the passage of the ordinance he had spread upon the minutes of the Council a long type writ ten protest against the Councils action.
 The Council decided that a thorough inspection of the sanitary conditions of the city should be made. To make this inspection the resolution, introduced at a previous meeting of the Council pro- viding for three extra sanitary inspec- tors was passed. The resolution author ized the Mayor to have the inspection made at once.
 The ordinance providing for the fumi- gation of all public hacks in the city was killed by an adverse report from the Sanitation Committee.
 The Council took no action upon the messages of the Mayor sent in at a pre- vious meeting of the Council for bond issue of $3OO,O00 for schools and water works for the annexed territory. The messages and the ordinances carrying them into effect were passed over until the next regular meeting of the Coun- ell.
 The bids for the rebuilding of the Heron Street School house were opened and referred to the Committee on Schools. There were four bidders. Their bids were as follows: Joseph Hodgson $11.- 976 Graves and Anderson, $1l 200. c. Y. 'Bogaeki $10.s75. Hngger Brothers $12,- 640 The bids were based upon the plans and specifications already adopted by the City Council.
 There were present at the meeting President Mcintyre. Aldermen Sullivan. Ryan, Griffith. Maddox. Roemer, Kohn, Teague, Forbes. Strauss. Ruth, Coins and Gunter.
 Highland Park Sewers.
 The Streets Committee reported ad- versely upon the resolution for the re- pairing of certain sewers In Highland Park.
 MT. Gunter wanted to know why such a report was made.
 Chairman Roemer replied that the resolution was too indefinite.
 Don't you think 1t would have been courteous to those interested to have en- qujred about the sewers?" questioned MT. Gunter.
 "The report speaks for itself." replied MT. Roemer,
 The report was received and filed.
 Chairman Roemer reported too that the Streets Committee had adversed the resolution providing that Highland Ave nue should be gravelled. He asked tho adoption of the report.
 
 to have their votes of mo" recorded. This was granted, but the Committees report was adopted.
 The Streets Committee reported favora- bly upon the resolution to require ware housemen to have the sidewalks near their places of business cleared of cotton bales.
 Chairman Roemer moved that the Com mittee's report be adopted.
 AldeEman Strauss demanded an aye and nay vote so that his negative vote should be recorded.
 The report of the Committee was adOpt- ed.
 A favorable report was made by the Streets Committee upon the petition of the Atlantic Coast LSne for permission to take up the gravel on Columbus and North Court Streets near the company s warehouse and put down brick or stone.
 The report of the Committee was adopted.
 The Finance Committee reported favor ably upon the petition of Baker. Watts and Company, The firm Is a Baltimore corporation. It owned three bonds of the city of Montgomery. Tn the great Baltimore fire these three bonds were destroyed. Baker, Watts and Company asked that duplicates of the bonds be given them by the city. The Committee recommended that the petition be granted and this the Council did.
 A largely signed petition from the southern portion of the city was read asking the Council to open McDonough Street from Winnie Street to Fielder Street
 The petition was referred to the Com mittee on Streets.
 Court Street Matter.
 Under the head of unfinished business the North Court street ordinance came up. This ordinance has been unfinished bus iness' for the Council for several weeks. The ordinance proposes to close North Court street from Railroad street out, and allow it to be occupied by the West ern Railway. The railroad proposes to open in lieu of this street, another street from Railroad street to the Jackson Fer ry Road. The Council has struggled with this ordinance, turned 1t around and about and laid 1t down unfinished at practically every regular meeting for three months. Alderman Forbes had proposed an amendment, by which Court street should be kept open from Railroad street to Prince street.
 Alderman Forbes opposed the ordinance in an exhaustive argument. It was fin the first place deeding away the city property, he said.
 You propose" he said, ito give away property worth $2O,0O0. What does the railroad propose to give in return? Prop erty on the western side of the track property which already belongs to the ctf