The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-05
$3 STREET TAX IS PASSED ONGE MOREI MAYOR WILL VETO Council Declines To Require Indemnity Bond To Be Made
 By Chief Bsdeker GRE MAT0RY ORDINANCE IS
 INTRODUCED BY HEIDT Municipal Ownership League Turned Down In Efforts To Get Bond oues-
 ton Submitted To Voters
 In Next Primary.

The City Council last night readopt- ed the street tax. turned down the municipal ownership league once more, turned down the Tfdewater Develop ment company in it's request to begin work without making deposit of 20,000, refused to make George Bodeker put up bond indemnifying the city against Chief Wier's suit extended the time on the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company's franchise one year, and passed an ordinance requiring the soda water fountains to remove ob- structions to the view from the street.
 The meeting was sh ort and to the point. There were no communications from the Mayor, but letter from City Attorney E. D. Smith was read in which he said, "I beg to report adversely the inclosed resolution which the Tide water company requests passed. I do not think 1t best under all the cir cumstances that our contract with them be complicated by this resolution, res
 
 tfon would have allowed the company to lay it's tracks in the subway without making the deposit of s20, 900 required by the contract before it can begin the work of construction on Fifth ave- hue.
 Bodeker Bond Voted Down.
 Alderman O'Neill then read the re- port of the finance committee which would have forced Chief Bodeker to make bond indemnifying the city against losses in case Former Chief Wier wins his suit for salary. Alder man Moore called it chld's play. and moved that it be reversed. Alderman Jones said it was anything but child's play, and that he would vote to protect the citys interests, and to insure the council against any possibility of pay ing two salaries. However, the bond was voted down.
 In the repArt of the judiciary com. mittee the ordinance regulating the soda fountains was adopted as follows:
 Section 1. In all places in which soft drinks are sold at retail in the city of Birmin gham no shades or curtains to winoows shall be maintained in such manner as to obstruct the view in such room or place or which are in- tended to obstruct the view in such room or place, or which are intended to obstruct the view from without, and all such places shall be maintained all the time so as to give an unobstructed view within from the outside"
 On motion of Alderman Estes the city agreed to maintain five beds a.
 For Erection of crematory.
 Alderman Heidt then introducted an ordinance calling s1OO.O0O bond is- sue election for the erection of crem- atory. This was referred to a com mittee, and if adopted will probably come on the same date as the $400,000 election for sewers.
 The municipal ownership issue then came up. It had been thrashed out be. fore the committee in the afternoon, the municipal ownership league com mittee making an extensive argument. The committee report was adopted as follows:
 Present. Aldermen Cooper, O'Neill, Moore. Klotz, Gum, Gregg, Heidt For ney.
 Absent: Aldermen Fulghum Eggles- ton.
 The committee recommends that the attached resolution to the effect that the municipal ownership league con~ fer with the city democratic executive committee and request them to place the question of municipal ownership on the ticket at the next regular demo- cratic primary election be reported fav- orable for adoption. Alderman Cooper and Gregg voting mo-
 That the attached ordinance in ref erence to calling an election for sn issue of $2,oO0,0 900 bonds for the own ership of the waterworks be referred to the water committee.
 That the water committee appointed to investigate the conditions in bring ing a large supply of water to the city hold meeting and make formal report to the City Council.
 This was not adopted until after Alderman Cooper tried to pass suo- stitute in which the City Council it. self would request the city committee to put the question on the ticket. It is understood that the city committee will not accept the responsibility which the council has evaded, and, unless the league puts out a ticket, the issue will hardly be brought before the people.
 Street Tax Ordinance Passed.
 Alderman Jones then introduced the report of the Greater Birmingha am conl- mittee on a street tax as follows: The committee recommends the attached ordinance for the levying of a street tax favorable for adoption. The com mittee was called to order in due and ancient form by the chairman. The roll was called and the following members of the committee were present: Jones, Heidt, Copeland, J. R. The question of making a report on the ordinance TO require the payment of 8 street tax, was taken up and after thorough dis