The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-18
MOBILE BOARD IS THROWN OUT General Gcicil Gusts
 Men. FIRES : oBLle WORKS BODY Charged With Negleeting Gulf City
 Streets. Councflmau Inge Leads the Movement and the Vote Is With Him Over wheIminsIy--Other Business
 Transacted.


 Mobile. Aug. l7.--(speeial)-5y vote of 13 to 1 the General Council passed a resolution tonight abolishing the board of public works. It Is to go out of existence on September l.
 The resolution came without previous warming and grew out of discussion over the appropriation of S23.6oo for repairs to pavements- Councilman Inge led the movement declaring most emphatically that the board was doing nothing and further charged that the present unsatisfactory condition of the paved streets was a direct result of the neglect of the board.
 Alderman Faith tried to stem the tide but in vain the entire Council seemed to have suddenly made up its mind that the board must go.
 The matter of the Mayors removal of the chief engineer of the water works, W. H. Hinckley, has been made a subject for 6 special meeting of the Council Wednesday evening.
 There were fourteen members of the General Council present when that body was called to order this evening. There were present in addition, City Attorney B. B. Boone. Attorney F. O. Hoffman and others who were in the Council chamber to represent the vari- ous petitioners whose names appeared on petitions to be introduced.
 The reading of the receipts and dis bursements from the departments caused tae first discussion of the even ing. An item of 3S,S00 for paving did not appear clear to Councilman Hale. who insisted on knowing just what 1t meant in view of the paving ventures out.
 It was successfully explained by Clerk Dame and the report received and the bill ordered paid.
 Hale Not Satisfied.
 In registering his vote no Mir Hale said he was not satisfied to pass a re- port that was not sufficiently Itemized.
 Mayor Lyons sent communication to the Council relative to the status of the money borrowed to pay the city's part of the bonded indehtednsss. It was received and filed.
 Another communication officially, in. formed the Council of the removal of W. H. Hinckley, former chief engineer of the water works. He recommended that a committee be appointed to hear MT. Hinckleys side of the question. Action was deferred until later in the evening.
 In the reports from city officials that of the wharfinger was interesting in that it was the first presented to the council since the wharves came into the city's possession. The collections for the month were sS.611.Ss.
 Over & claim for $7.O00 made by Att torney Hamilton. which claim repre- sents the amounts disallowed by the chancery court in settlement of the old bonded indebtedness, there was discussion and Alderman Craft said that since the courts had thrown out this claim the council ought not to consider 1t.
 Chairman Lyons took the floor and argued that If Mir. Hamilton had slept on his rights 1t was none of the coun- cil's business.
 Let us refuse this claim and let MT. Hamilton go into the courts, 1" The said.
 Alderman Norville thought Mir. Ham iIton should be heard and that if he has a just claim he should be paid.
 The matter was referred to the mayor and city attorney.
 Special Tax Committee.
 A resolution was introduced creat- ing a special tax committee. consist ing of the mayor. the chairman of the general council and the chairman of the finance committee. this com mittee to have power to adjust tax bills. The resolution also provided for the compiling of new set of tax books at cost of not more than $z,50o.
 It was objected to by Councilman Hale on the ground that 1t placed too much power in the hands of three men. At his request the words giving them full power were stricken out and the resolution. thus altered. was adopted.
 As a result of meeting of a special committee of the council with promi- nent citizens, a set of resolutions was presented to the council calling atten- ton to the breaks in the paGementS and also asking for an appropriation of $3,500 for the purchase of a repair plant and $2O.00O for the purchase of material to make the necessary re- pairs.
 The resolutions also called upon the board of public works to proceed with the work immediately. The resolutions were unanimously adopted. over the matter of the suspension of s. H. Hinckley, Chief Engineer of the water works, a petition was received signed by number of citizens calling on the General Council. to reinstate him. alleging that the Mayor hedf removed him without cause.
 On resolution 1t was resolved to re- fer the matter to the Council as a com mittee of the whole and for this pur- pose the Council will hold a special meeting Wednesday evening.
 Chief Price of the Fire Department. was given a leave of absence in order that he may attend the convention of Fire Chiefs in Columbus. Ohio, and he was gfiranted $l3O for travelling ex- penses.
 Board Is Abolished.
 Alderman Craft offered a resolution abolishing the Board of Public Works.
 objection was made to its considera- ton at this meeting but the objection was overruled. the City Attorney giving it as his opinion that the resolution could be acted on.
 Alderman Faith urged the members of the Council to consider the resolu- ton carefully before acting on 1t. on account of the paving ventures now I out.
 Councilman Inge said he thought the Board had waefully neglected It's work; | that a beginning had to be made some where, and he thought there was no time like the present. On a vote there were thirteen in ia. E Syor and but ona against The Board