The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-20
GHOSTS STALK
 IN CITY HALL Campaign Measures Have Inning in Council. WATER RATES DISCUSSED Aldermen Talked Much. But
 No Reduction. Ordinance to Tax Franchises is Re ported by Council and Bid for
 stanapipe is Debated.
WATER RATES DISCUSSED

Several ghosts roamed through the haiIa of the City Council last hlsne durine the regular semi-montnly meet ing of the legislative body Of the Ci'y of Montgomery. .,,.t.
 Some were spirits or phghteo poi caI homes. some were spooks or at tained political ambition. Anynow' thev were SO entirely fantastic, weird, unreal, ghoulish and gloomy: that one is tempted to use Poe's word ratioci- nation" in writing of them.
 Clad in their ghastly garbs. came up the spirit of the Forbes ordinance to reduce the water rates. Aioerma.. Torbes was a candidate for Mayor then if was introduced. The appari- tion Of an ordinance introduced py Al derman Kohn for the same purpose also appeared. Alderman kohn was candidate for Alderman n-at-larse WheIi this ordinance was introduced. Again came the spectral form of Alderman n strauss's ordinance to cause the peopie 10 spend less money for water. All dernan Strauss was a successful can didate for Alderman at-large. Last, but not least, the vaporous form or inc ordinance of Alderman Jackson to reduce the price of water appeareo' Alderman Jackson made futile at- tempt to inject some life into the ghost of his measure. But the campaign has been over many weeks. It was dead' quite dead.
 Jackson and Cheap Water.
 When the Committee on Waterworks reported that owing to the extension of the waterworks system, now Tn progress, it would be inadvisable to reduce the water rates. Alderman Jackson said that his ordinance was no campaign thunder. He rather insinu- sin1i L. lar to his measures were. He also handed the committee a jolt by saying that they could have reported on his ordinance the week after 1t was intro- duced, but that would have put the matter up to the Council in mid-cam- paign season. He made an appeal to give the citizens credit for the water less than 10000 gallons used per quar- ter. He. spoke on this subject for sev- eral minutes. the burden of his re- marks being that the other ordinances were for campaign purposes and that Jackson's wasn't. Action on the mat ter was postponed.
 And again a spectre more pale and ghastly than any of the rest arose. Ii was the spectre of that myriad of or dinances introduced during the cam paign, providing that every franchise to corporations should be literally paid for. It came up in the shape of a re- port from the Committee on Franchises and Privileges, which submitted an or dinance, providing that when fran chise was applied for, the City Clerk city shouid receive from the first years receipts of the receiver of the fran chise one per cent. of the gross earn ings and that the receivers should make proper bonds to insure the city that the franchises applied for would be installed within a reasonable time
 Action on this ordinance was de- ferred until the next regular meeting of the Council.
 All Present But Maddox.
 The Council was called to order at o'clock. Vice-President Forbes pre- siding.
 All of the Aldermen were present except MT. Maddox of Ward 5. Messages from Acting Mayor Me- Intyre were read vetoing the ordi- nance creating the office of day Lieu tenant of police, conveying an invita- tion from the American League of Municipalities to attend the ninth an- nual convention in Toledo. O., and dismissing pipeman J. M. Loughman of the fire department for continued violations of the rules of the depart ment. Ex-Alderman Paul Roeder and AL
 
 the privileges of the floor. The Committee on Finance reported favorably on a number of petitions for transfers of licenses. The reports were adopted.
 The Street Committee reported fa- vorably on a number of petitions for hanging signs. erecting verandas, etc, and the reports were adopted.
 The petition of Mrs. William Knox haVa lawna fin nf trimmed by the city was reported ad- versely. The report was adopted.
 The Committee on Lights reported favorably on the resolution requiring the Montgomery Light and Water Power Company to extend gas mains on the extension of Perry Street The report was adopted.
 The Committee reported favorably on the Gunter resolution to have the Mayor and City Electrician ascertain if there are any lights that may be dispensed with. The report was adopted.
 BId for Water Tower.
 The Committee on Water Works re- ported that the lowest bids for the steel stand towers was made by the Hartley Boiler Works, which bid was $l5,69S. The Committee explain ed that the bid exceeded the estimate made in December on account of a raise in the price of steel of SIP per ton.
 Alderman Kohn. while disclaiming any reflection on the Committee, thought that the Council members should have been given opportunity to examine the specifications.
 Alderman Lobman said that the specifications had been on the table and the Aldermen had ample oppor- tunity.
 Alderman Teague said that he did not know about the steel prices in December but he did know that the price in January was $1.35 a ton high CT than Is the price of today. He ad- vised that no action be taken.
 Alderman Lobman said that he knew nothing of the price of steel or the specifications. His information was given him by the Consulting Engineer and the City Engineer.
 cross fire of questions and an- swers was indulged in by Aldermen Kohn. Lobman and Teague.
 Alderman Sullivan moved that the matter be re-referred to the Commit tee with leave to report at a special meeting.
 Alderman Mcintyre said that, owing to the fluctuations In the steel mar ket, 1t would be unjust to the bidders to postpone action.
 The Sullivan motion was lost.
 Alderman Sullivan moved that all bids be rejected.
 Alderman Kohn made his fourth speech explaining his position. He moved that the City Engineer be granted the privilege of the floor, in- asmuch as he was the only man who