The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-05
GRAY SEEKING TO
CUT OFF PASSES
Introduces Measure Against Al
dermen Accepting Books
SHORT WEIGHTS DISCUSSED
The City Council Had Under consld.
Grafton knotty Problem Relating
to Weights and Measures.
Mr.. Heidi Cites Examples.
SHORT WEIGHTS DISCUSSED


paratively easy time of it the City Coun-
ell jumped right square in the middle OF
knotty proposition before the members
hardly knew 1t last night and for an
hour rose and fell on the question of
equipping the public weigher with the
necessary tools, measures and weights
for gettings things straight other than
the measurement of coal
AS an eye opener to the session Alder
man Gray introduced a resolution pro-
hibiting members of the Board of Al
dermen or other city officials from &C.
cepting or using free passes on the cars
o. the birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company. His resolution was re-
ferred to the proper committee and the
beard was then prepared for the worst
Resolution Precipitates Debate.
Tie debate on the weight and meas
ure question was precipitated by Alder
man Heidi, who introduced a resolution
calling on the Mayor ito supply the public
weigher with the necessary weights,
scales and measures to carry out the pro-
visions of the ordinance passed last Oc-
tober. He explained that the public weigh
er was provided with scales for weighing
coal but that the other necessary ar
ticles had not been furnished.
Almost in chorus aldermen began ris-
ing in every part OF the room for the
purpose of asking questions At the same
time several aldermen withdrew from
their inside pockets copies of a circular
letter from Mayor Drennen which in
formed them that certain provisions of
the ordinance would work a great hard
ship on some business establishments and
suggesting that the ordinance be amend
cd Alderman IJetdt araordiury n his Ia for
statement, did not receive one of these
epistles.
Some Short-Weights.
Now, they are enforcing the coal
ordinance to the letter." said Mr.. Heidi
land / think it unfair and unjust that
the law should not be enforced against
men in other lines of business. The law
is just as plain as the nose on your face.
l want to know why it should not be en-
forced? There is something back of this
and l want to know what 1t is.
II. was just informed today" continued
Mr. Heidi, 'of lady who bought a 16-
pound turkey and when she took 1t home
and weighted it it only weighed 1914
pounds. Another person bought ten
pounds of tin or rrather paid for that
much, and when he weighed it himself
it only weighed 6A pounds. Now If the
coal men are to be inspected why not
iHtSc ONhtiS' 4 WdAi tiiiS AVoOAtsioh
passed.
THAT calls for the measurement of
lumber also. doesn't it?" asked Mr. Gray
Mr. Heidi is a lumber dealer.
II don't know about that" said Mr..
HEIDI ''but you can come down to my
place and have the lumber measured
any time you say so,' replied Mr.. Heidt.
Mr.. Jones suggested that in view of the
fact that the Mayor was out of the city
that out of consideration to him the
board should wait until he returned. "He
may have had some good reason for writ
ing these letter. /, therefore, move that
the resolution be referred to the judiciary
committee"
Mr. Heidi Immediately jumped to his
feet for the avowed purpose, as he ex-
planned, of preventing any further delay.
1.-THE Mayor has had since October to
find these things out and put the law in
force
A vote was thereupon taken and the
motion was lost.
Mr.. Gray.
Before the question went back to the
original proposition Mr.. Gray was given
the floor to ask question. He said that
he was not well informed on the subject,
but he was told that If the ordinance
was enforced 1t would cost some mer-
chants as much as 500 year to pay for
Inspections The city would get only one
fourth of this and the inspector three
fourths.
Alderman Cooper, to avert any further
argument moved that the resolution go
to the miscellaneous committee. After 4
short wrange in which every alderman
wanted to explain his vote, tie resulted.
The lineup was as follows: Ayes
Wheeler. Greener, Barbour, Cooper, Quinn.
GRAY, Jones, Forney. Noes-O'N eill,
Copeland, d. r.. Copeland, j. r., Thach,
Heidi Stockmar, Simms.
This lineup was maintained on every
succeeding vote until Alderman Jones
moved that the matter be postponed for
two weeks. D. r. Copeland then went
over to the other side and the matter
was postponed until the next meeting or
the Council to weeks hence.
At the beginning of the meeting Al
derman Gray, chairman of the finance
COMMITTEES. made report recommending
that the monthly pay rolls of the city
be paid and that the Mayor be author
lied to borrow $4,000 to meet these pay
rolls. The report was accepted and adopt
ed
Strict Law Passes.
Then II was that Mr.. Gray introduced
the following resolutions which evoked
a murmur of comment all over the hall:
BE 1t resolved by the Mayor and
Aldermen of Birmingham, That it is
inimfcal to the best interests OF the
city of Birmingham that any alder
man or other city official accept any
pass from the Birmingham Railway,
Light and Power company, and that
in the future no alderman or city
official or employee shall accept such
free transportation"
The resolution went to the judiciary
committee and will be heard from at
length at future meeting of the board.
The following assessments for street
improvements were made final:
las. For paving First avenue between
Fifteenth and Eighteenth streets, and
for paving Third alley below Fifteenth
street.
The assessments in the following ordi-
nances were ascertained:
POS. For paving sidewalks on Avenue G
between Seventeenth and Twentieth
streets.
1872 Sidewalk on the north side of Sec
ond avenue for 1872 feet below Eighteenth
street.
222. Sanitary sewer in Avenue II.
Alderman Gray introduced a resolution
increasing the salary of the city health
officer from $50 to 800. This was adopted.
Alderman Thach introduced resolu-
ton to change the name of Washington
street to Iriquois avenue, as 1t is merely
a continuation.
Alderman Heidi. chairman of the light
committee. recommended that lights be
placed at Eleventh avenue and Fifteenth
etraaf cacoud avenue and Ei0htaenth