The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-19
City Auditor Instructed to Pur-
 chasethe Necessary Equipment INVESTIGATION IS ORDERED
Committee to Look Into B. R., L. & P. Co.'s Contracts for Supplying Gas and Electricity-Reductio of
 Police Judges Salary.

The city council at its regular semi monthly meeting held last night instruct ed the city auditor to purchase the weights and measures requisite to en- force the weights and measures ordi- nance. In taking this action the council gave its approval to the resolution offered by Alderman Heidt of the Seventh ward at the preceding meeting of the council
 The resolution was adopted after a rapid-fire debate, indulged In by several aldermen and the Mayor. Alderman Heidt, on the floor of the council cham Der, charged last night that Mayor Dren- nen was responsible for the non-enforce- ment of the weights and ordinance meas ure.
 That is only your opinion," said the Mayor to the alderman from the Seventh ward But you will observe that the ordinance has never been enforced" This was not the only important mat ter transacted at the meeting. Alderman Moore offered a resolution providing for the appointment by the Mayor of com mittee of five to investigate and recom- mend with reference to contracts for
  consumers in Birmingham, and the com pliance of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power Company to it's contract along this line.
 A resolution was introduced by Alder man Forney providing for the reduction of the salary of Judge N. B. Feagin of the police court from $240O to s1,5oO per annum.
 The meeting last night began at 7:SO o'clock. These members were present:
 Mayor Drennen, Aldermen J. G. Greener, John W. O'Neill, D. R. Cope land Walter Moore, J. R. Copeland. B. T.. Cooper W. R. Gum, Fred A. Full ghum, c. c. Heidt, R. H. Thach, Henry B. Gray and Harry Jones. The minutes of the last meeting were approved as read.
 Miscellaneous Matters. A report was read from Bailiff J. J. Curran. showing that during the past year the collections on forfeiture bonds amounted to s19645O. The bailiff stated that he still held many forfeited bonds which would be collected as rapidly as possible.
 Upon motion of Alderman Gray, chair man of the finance commit tee, the regu- lar monthly bills and accounts were or dered paid. The sum of $15, GOO was ap- propriated to the Board of Education to pay salaries and meet other current ex- penses.
 Assessments were made final on the fol- lowing improvement ordinances.
 No. 162, which provided for sidewalk
 
 nue to Alley B, and Avenue from Eighteenth to Twentieth streets.
 No. 2O7 which provided for grading, curbing, and macadamizing along Avenue G from Fifteenth to Seventeenth streets. Assessments were ascertained on ordi- nance No. 221, which provided for im- provements along Magnolia avenue from Twentieth to Twenty-third streets
 Street Committees Report.
 The following report of the street com mittee was adopted:
 ''The street committee beg leave to make the following report
 We recommend that the petition of property owners for improving Four teenth street, south, from Eleventh ave nue, south, be referred to thIs commit tee for investigation.
 We recommend that the petition of MT. Coleman with reference to the open- ing of certain streets, be referred to the Mayor, city attorney and city engineer, to prepare a contract to be reported back to this committee.
 We recommend that the matter of interest charges on certain street im- proyement assessments be referred to the city engineer and city attorney for report.
 ssyxye raoononoand that tha foIIouino ros olution be adopted:
 " Be 1t resolved by the Mayor and Aldermen of Birmingham that improve ment ordinance No. PA be, and the same is hereby repealed
 we recommend that the city engineer be instructed to furnish this committee with a list of all the unpaved side walks on the streets of this city where curbing has been placed along the sante.
 "We recommend that the city engineer be instructed to notify the proper of fieials of all the steam and electric rail- ways in this city to have their street crossings at once put in proper condition and to report to this committee at its next regular meeting the replies received from said companies. "We recommend that the contract for paving Highland avenue under improve ment ordinance recently awarded to Messrs Dunn & Laliande Bros, be trans- ltIIeu to lne cHieSu otdtco 'Oou I " serving company and that the Mayor be authorized to execute said contract, when 1t has been approved by the city attor- ney and city engineer. Respectfully, WALTER MOORE, Chairman" Alderman John R. Copeland-"As I understand it, three-inch block is to be used instead of four-inch, in paving part of Highland avenue with creosoted wooden blocks"
 Alderman Moore-"That was the deci- sion of the committee
 The Griffin-Drennen Suit. The following resolution, drawn by Mayor Drennen, was adopted, Alderman Gray voting in the negative:
 "Be it resolved. by the Mayor and