Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1908-02-08


collections on account Of
lakes - lZbb
Water. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1878
lOtal.......... ............ ......Sl, fit0Z
Clerk Peter Lammert reported cOllec-
tions on license account as follows;
Shooting gallery, l month $1,000
Poultry show. Observation-Disclosures. 0OO
Moving picture show, / months. 1866
lOtdl .-Olb
Street supervisor Jacob FRESHMAN re-
ported work done-cleaning culverts,
crossings, etc, at cost of S14 "a.
Bailitf Frank Spates reported fines
collected in sum of $ll.
Water superintendent Conrad Knieri-
EN- reported details of work done in his
department, including supplies used, etc.
3 tons coal q So. 10, $50. 80; labor 81 .32 ;
total $l632
Clerk Peter Lammert reported having
rendered bill in sum of Sl04 30 for meals
furnished to county prisoners and com
mitments to town Jail, as he had been
instructed by Council to do.
Mr.. Dillon, of the committee appoint
ed to appear before the County Commits
SiOnerS concerning real estate assess
ments of certain corporations doing bus
mess III the town of Frostburg, reported
having performed that duty.
1t appears that the trouble lies in the
assessments of the Western Maryland
Gas Company and the Western Mary
land Telephone Company. When the
officials of the former company appeared
before Council asking for the franchise
to use the streets, alleys, lanes and other
town highways for installing and oper
ating plant for the distribution of nat
ural gas, they argued that a great bene-
tit would lnure to the town i'll an addi-
ton to its assessment basis of from
$50, 900 to $4,000. When the assess
ment was made last spring. however the
Gas company had not made return to
the County Commissioners, as required
by law. So the town assessors made
the assessment at the lower figure named
by the company's own representatives.
SD 900. Later the company made a re-
port to the Commissioners and named
SD 200. Protesting against the town
assessment, company declared that pay
ment would be made only ON $4,000.
This Occasioned much confusion, and
Clerk Lammert was sent to Annapolis
to find a solution of the problem, but
failed. Attorney Clayton Purnell was
present and advised Council to make as
sessment same as that of county, and
render bill accordingly.
The same conditions were found in
the Western Maryland Telephone Com
pany'S assessment, and the same diSpO-
sition made of that case.
Mr.. Purnells statement was clear and
conclusive, leaving no doubt about the
helplessness and hopelessness of the
towns plight in almost any instance af-
ter it has been progressively euchred. :"
Mr.. Purnell next read memorandum
of suggested changes in the town Char
ter in order to make it consistent in
strument, and, after some discussion, the
proposed amendments were adopted.
The Attorney was then instructed to
prepare bill at once for General AS
sembly action.
Mr.. Dillon suggested that the two
offices of Clerk and Collector be merged
into one; that the new officer be known
as Town Clerk and Collector, and, as
now, an appointee of Council for term
of one year. This was offered later in
the form of motion and adopted.
MIR. Dillon's reasons We're good. The
merger will enable the officer to give his
entire time to the town and maintain an
office where he can be found at all times
when not otherwhere ION duty"
On motion, it was agreed to make the
property qualification for Mayor 81 900
and over of real estate, assessed value,
on which candidate shall have paid taxes
for at least one year next preceding that
of election. 1t was also agreed to make
the term of office two years instead of
one, and to double the salary to $500.
A motion, made and carried, provides
an amendment to Charter denying right
of appeal i'll cases of violation of police
ordinances.
Considerable controversy arose over a
proposed enactment enabling Council to
appoint commission to determine the
increased or decreased value of proper
ties abutting on the paved portion of
Union street and assess portion of cost
of paving against such properties. The
Mayor and Mr.. Price seemed anxious
that such provision be made; Messrs
Dillon and Shea We're opposed, and
Messrs. Gungerman, Brown and Skid
more were non-committal.
Attorney Purnell said it might he
practicable to recover some of the cost of
paving by such an Act, but he was not
in a position to have anything to do with
drafting it. He stated that only a year
or so ago he had been engaged as coun-
sci by the opposition and had done his
duty. Now to have anything to do for
the other side would not be consistent,
nor good professional ethics.
The Mayor wished to have it under
stood that he expected the Attorney to
draw such a bill, and that he had under
stood the Attorney to say he would do
so-untiI to-day Monday when the
latter told him otherwise.
Mr.. Purnell stated that he had never
changed his attitude toward the matter,
and grew eloquent in his address.
The Mayor referred to "the old Union
street debt" and instantly Mr.. Dillon
was on his feet vigorously denying any
debt. Some warm but decorous words
were passed and finally the matter was
left to the Legislative committee of
Council to do as thought best.
Messrs. John H. Footen and Alfred
Morgan We're chosen as town registrars
for the spring municipal registrations.
The snOw-plow Ordinance was taken
up and
On motion, laid on table indefinitely
The Printing committee was in
structed to have the anti hog Ordinance
which goes into effect April LIST, printed
and displayed; also to have a supply of
blank applications tor saloon license
printed.
The clerk was ordered to present bill
for 1913 for crushed stone to the CONSOLE
dation Coal Company.
Bills amounting to $798. corporate