Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-03-08
Town Council.

Those who wended their ways 70 the
Council Chambers Monday evening to
witness the exit OF the old Council and
the advent of the new will not soon for
get what they saw and heard. 1t was
another history-maBing evening in
municipal affairs
The old Council met at 7;30, disposed
of large number of regular monthly
bills for February expenses, and held
over one or two small items for inves-
tigation.
Tax Collector Slater asked for exon
erations amounting to $2412 on the
taxes of 1904. The bulk of these ex-
onerations were made necessary by re-
ductions in the assessments OF property
by Court, the reduction on the Standard
Plate Glass works amounting to over
5000.
The most important matter before
the retiring Council was the ordinance
of the Pittsburg and Butler Street
Railway Co. asking Council to grant
them franchise over Chestnut street
between Cunningham and jefferson SITS,
thus giving them loop on which 10
turn their cars This matter had Deen
hanging in the balance for a month
past, the sticking clause with the street
car people being one inserted by Clty
Solicitor Campbell providing that an
acceptance by the Pittsburg and Butler
Company meant that the Butler Pas-
sepger Railway Co. would release their
claims on Clay, Miff1in, North. wayne,
Water and Race streets, which tney are
pushing with the purpose OF keeping
the Butler and Harmony company OUT
of the town, and withdraw their OBJ
sections before the State Department at
Harrisburg to the Butler and Harmony
company using Wayne. Water and
Race streets. Councilman LantZ was
on his feet first for the Pittshurg and
Butler company and made speech
which grew SO wild that he was finally
called to order. George Heard OF
Pittsburg, who is secretary and treasur-
or of the Pittsburg and Butler company
and manager of the Butler Passenger
Railway CO., made speech in which
he told the Council that his companies
were not fighting the Butler and Har-
monv company, that there was no con-
nection between his companies, and
that if Council would only grant them
the small piece of street they asked for
they would then give the Butler and
Harmony company terms by which
thew could reach Main street. Council
man Greenert said that the Council OF
the people of Butler was the only body
which should control the terms by
which apy company could reach Main
street, and that Council should keep
control of those terms. Solicitor Camp
hell was called upon, and briefly out
lined the situation in way that made
IL plain to all. He said the small piece
of street asked for by the Pittsburg and
Butler company was in itself unim-
portant, but IL granted 1t made them
masters of the town for all time, and
now was the critical moment which
should determine whether the town
should control itself or be controlled.
Chairman Millinger asked what he ad-
yised them to do Campbell replied,
'sDo nothing until they give up these
claims to streets they are not using,
and applause broke from the audience
which packed the lobby. The Pittsburg
and Butler people then withdrew their
ordinance.
After the adjournment of the Old
Council sine die, Burgess Elmer Il.
Bell, who had been sworn into once IN
Court earlier in the day. administered
the OdIQ 10 Luo new IuchDCio. oo@'SS
Green was elected temporary chairman,
Herman c. Greenert permanent chair
man, Hunter Coulter was reelected
clerk over Chas q Miller by vote OF
0x5. His salary was fixed at $500 a
year. Propositions to act as treasurer
for nothing were received from John
Berg 81 Co., the Farmers Bank, and W.
r, Rumberger OF the Guaranty Safe
Deposit 81 Trust Co. Russel Dixon OF
the Farmers Bank, Rumberger, and
Bergs were placed in nomination and
Rumberger was elected. A. N. Christ
ley was elected over T. G. Campbell for
solicitor, and the salary was increased
to 5000 year. G. f. L. McQuistion
was reelected City Surveyor; James
Birchfield was elected Street Commits
sioner at salary Of $G5 per month; w.
Fl. Craig was reelected Sewer Inspector
at 25 cents an hour for each hour en-
pfoycd Edward Hoover was electcd
Chief of Police. Miss Nettie Payne was
reelected night clerk. Council then
adjourned to meet Tuesday evening
The street car company gave no ban
quet this year.
At the meeting of Council, Tuesday
night, it was decided to place a tele-
phone in each mamber's house at the
towns expense. during his term OF Of
dee; Borough Treasurer Rumberger was
voted q salary of one dollar year; some
street grades and sidewalks were dis
cussed and referred to the proper com
mittees, and some bills were ordered
maid.