The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-23
BESSEMER RAISES
SALARY OF MAYOR
VIII Be Paid $500 Per Year
In Future
BIG WATER MAIN BURSTS
Dime Social Given BY Ladies of Pres
byteran church-Fire In South
Bessemer-General News
of Bessemer.
BIG WATER MAIN BURSTS
BY J. F. LEE.

Bessemer, September 21.-(Special.) The
city council held an adjourned meeting
tonight and the most important matter
that came up was the fixing of the
mayors salary for the coming term.
All of the aldermen we're present when
the roll was called, and President Lewis
advised them that a motion was in order
as to what would be done with the
mayors salary. Alderman Winters moved
that it be made $500 per annum. This
amount was the same as when Mayor
Rush went in office for the present term,
but when the panic came on the mayor
voluntarily requested that the city pay
him only SIPS per month. When Alder
man Winters motion was held open for
discussion, Alderman Batson stated to
the council that he would be in favor of
making the salary $500 per annum If the
city was able to stand it, but in his opin-
ion the salary should remain the same as
that which the mayor is at present draw
ing.
Winters motion carried, however, the
vote being to 8. Aldermen Batson, Ben
ton and Thomas voted negatively; Alder
men Winters, Edmundson, Ross, Copeland
and Long voting favorably, and it was
fixed at 1880.
Mayor Rush was present and stated to
the council that he agreed with the al
dermen who had voted against the in
crease, believing that s125 was enough for
the city to pay with financial conditions
as they now are. Aldermen Winters ar
gued that the new council could not raise
nor decrease the salary after taking its
seat, and that he felt quite sure that the
mayor would act in the future as he
has in the past always considering the
city's welfare, and reduce his own sal
airy again voluntarily, if it became neces-
sary but that if times got better he
thought it fair and just that the salary
should be put back at the original figure
of $3.50 per month
The ballot boxes containing the returns
of yesterdays election were then opened
and canvassed, and the mayor and Board
of Aldermen declared elected,
The miscellaneous committee reported
favorably on a petition from C. E. Haw-
kins for three-months' license to en-
gage in the money loan business, which
was adopted.
A special committee, to whom was re-
ferred the matter Of grading Fourth ave-
nue., recommended that the street be
graded, and that the property owners
pay two-thirds and the city one-third of
the expense, which was adopted.
The sanitary committee, to whom was
referred a complaint against the odor
emanating from storm sewers, reported
that the odors were caused by decom-
posed milk, ETC., from soda fountains on
Second avenue and Nineteenth streets,
and recommended that fountain drains
be connected with the sanitary sewers.
The council then adjourned until Mon
day night, October 5.
After adjournment the aldermen elect
were asked to confer with the old board,
to agree upon a night when a caucus
could be held for the purpose of going
over the applications for the minor Of
fees Friday night was agreed upon and
the office-seekers will be getting busy.