The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-01-18
SEWER BOND ELECTION
COMES ON FEBRUARY 9TH
Council So Decided Monday Night
Mayors Appointment of Hunter
ON Police Force Goes-Coun-
Gil Proceedings.

Monday nights session of the city
council was busy one. The application
of John Steiner for a retail liquor Ii.
cense was refused; a mistake was dis
covered in the ordinance creating as
sessment district No. ~, and the same
was ordered corrected; the street and
ditch committee, acting with the city
attorney, were given power to settle the
claims of Mrs. Mary A. Espey for dam
ages resulting from an injury caused by
an obstruction on the sidewalk; the city
engineer submitted the report on the
matter of paving for tine streets of the
city asked for at the last meeting of the
council; Mr.. Dudley introduced a reso-
luton providing for the lessening of the
crime of gambling, which was adopted
by unanimous vote; Mayor Fechter ask
ed the council to reconsider the action
taken at the previous meeting by which
George Hunter was turned down when
his name was presented for position
on the police force, and upon the pro-
posal of his name for the place, he was
confirmed by vote of to 2; the or.
dinance providing for a special election
to decide the sewer bond proposition was
passed, and Feb. 9th set as the date of
holding the election; an ordinance pro-
viding for a paid fire department was
presented and read, and referred to the
proper committees; an ordinance was
passed appropriating the sum of $50
a month for the services of stenograph-
er for the city attorney; bonds of the
city officials were filed and approved;
polling places and election officers for
| the special election were selected, and
the council instructed the city attorney
to prepare an ordinance including blocks
2lO and Pill on the west side within the
fire limits.
| The matter of John Steiners applica-
ton for saloon license called forth a
prolonged discussion. The application
was voted upon by ballot, and was re-
fused, the vote standing to against
granting it. Later in the evening Attor-
ney Fred Parker appeared before the
council in benalf of his Client, Mr.. Stein.
err, and stated that the latter had gone
ahead with the understanding that his
application would be acted upon favor
ably, had leased property and improved
it, that the lease had been transferred
and the money paid over, and while he
was not himself in favor of promoting
the liquor interests of the city or grant
ing licenses without limit, he felt that
it was but just under the circumstances
to reconsider the matter and grant it in
this case. Councilman Sinclair said he
had voted against the licensing of this
particular saloon on general principles !;
he was sick and tired of applications,
he thought that here were far too many
saloons here now, and he believed That
it was the duty of the council to pro-
tect the young boys and girls of the
city by refusing to grant more licenses.
Mr.. Bull spoke with some feeling against
the saloon, and said he would not vote to
license this one. Mr.. Marsh called at
tention to the fact that the council had
a right to revoke license in case sa-
loon was being improperly conducted.
Mr.. Sinclair stated that while this was
true. it was difficult to get proof suffi-
Gent to warrant revocation; the very
ones who were injured were least in
clined, in many cases to assist in the
prosecution. A father who had seen
his own son drinking in one of the sa-
looms had complained to him, and at
first agreed to furnish proof of violation
of the law in order that the council
might take action in the matter and re-
woke the license, but later concluded he
did not care to assume the notoriety, and
refused to prosecute. The mayor and
Councilman Marsh were OF the opinion
that if parents had recourse in a case
of this kind and did not protect their
children, it was not the duty of the city
council to do so. Mr. Sinclair strongly
objected to this view, and said he be-
lieved that it was the councils duty to
protect the innocence of the boys and
girls of the city, even ii their parents
did not do their duty. Councilman
Thompson moved the granting Of the ap-
plication, but the vote, by secret bal
lot stood four against and two for.
| Jay Scdgewick, of Tacoma, represent
ing the Northern Pacific, objected to
the ordinance creating assessment dis
trict No. ~, on the ground that it was
improperly drawn, containing errors
in the description of boundaries, result
| ing in an iniustice TO the railroad com i.