The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-06
QUESTION BEFORE
 BESSEMER COUNCIL
WaterwsrkS and Bond Issue
 MOnopelize Attention
COUPLE HASTILY MARRIED
Miss Thelma Rogers of Birmingham and John Batiste Married at St. Aloysius church-Personal
 and General News.

Bessemer. May 5.-(Special )-The City Council met this evening in regular ses- sion. Those present were President Lewis and Aldermen Batson, Benton, Winters, Edmundson and Thomas. There were only two features of any special interest at the meeting that of the committee appointed some time ago to take the matter of the water works up with Mir. Adler of the Water Works company and the placing of the balance of the school bonds.
 After the reading of the minutes of the last meeting, the report of the chief of police for the month of April was read and received as information.
 The report of the keeper of live stock for the month of April was read and re- ceived and a special vote of thanks was rendered him for the manner in which he handled the stock during the month, as the report showed they were kept at the rate of S11.1S per head month.
 The report of the mayor and the city attorney with regard to the purchase of a small tract of land on Exter avenue was received and 1t stated that the price asked for it, sG00, was too much and they did not believe the city should pay that muth for it. The report was adopted and the city attorney was ordered to institute condemnation proceedings against the property and see if it could not be had at cheaper price.
 The special committee appointed to look into the matter of the purchase of the water works reported that they were un- able to come to any definite terms with MT. Adler, but they suggested that the plant be purchased and they also sug gested that a purchase committee be ap- pointed to take the matter up with MT. Adler again with the definite view of concluding terms.
 The following committee was appointed and it is believed that something definite will be done along this line within the near future Mayor Rush, President Lewis, Aldermen Winters, Edmundson, Batson, Benton and Thomas.
 The finance committee reported they dld not think the city could afford to purchase an adding machine for the city clerk s office at the present time The report was adopted.
 The bond issue then came up for dls- cussion and bids were asked for There were only two bids submitted, that or Mir Weakly representing a client Tn Cleveland O.. and MT. Lewis, represent ing the Bessemer National bank MT TIollingsworth of the Bessemer State bank stated that he did not know that plos were to be opened this evening ana TOT that reason he was not prepared to sup init any bid He stated that his bank had never dealt in bonds and he did not know whether they would care to under take it at this time or not. However if he had little time he might be wlillhs to submit a bid. MT. Lewis did not nave his bid with him but it only took nm d few minutes to get it. lie also staleu that he did not know the matter was so- ing to be settled this evening and for that reason he did not bring his bid lie sald he was perfectly willing to submit IL provided the matter was acted on this evening as he believed and knew that IT the matter was put off it would simply afford competitors an opportunity to over bid both himself and MT. Weakly, ana he did not believe that would be qulte fair. MT Weakley bid $22,250 for the $2o,Ooo worth of bonds and MT. Lewis bid Tor the Bessemer National bank $22,5OO for s25. .O0O worth. In other words MT. Lewis bid 90 and MT Weakly bid S9. These are per cent 20year bonds. The bond question occasioned good deal of talk. as it was supposed at first that the matter would be put off.
 MT. Weakly stated that the price he had this evening was the best he could do at the present time but he believed if he was given until Thursday after noon he might be able to make bet ter price. MT. Lewis stated that un- der the present conditions he believed the bid as submitted by his bank should be accepted from the fact that he could not make any better price and in addi- ton he had submitted his bid when called upon, and if the matter was al- lowed to be carried over it would mean that somebody else would have a chance to step in and possibly do Just a little better.
 An ordinance was introduced by All derman Edmundson requiring the pawnbrokers in the city to submit a daily report of business done to the chief of police or the day warden, and in addition the Mayor or any of the police officers will have the right to go in one of the shops and see what kind of goods have been received. This ordinance was referred to the judiciary committee.
 Alderman Winters made a motion that the council as a body invite the Press association to this city in August and to assure them that the city off, cially would do everything possible to make their stay pleasant one. The motion carried. That was about all of Specldl interest ana It WAS IedTly II o'clock under the new code" when council adjourned.
 The finance committee suggested that 1 the Mayor be empowered to purchase two 1 more teams and a wagon, as it was un- | derstood that the ctr did not have teams ] to do the work. The report was adopted. | The claim of Mrs M. M. Randle for 1 $10 rebate on an unconstitutional tax was | referred to the finance committee with 1 power to act Finance committee report- 1 ed bills to the amount O. $1379 n, ~-- ne month of April The bills were o,y-ss d 1 paid The ordinance introduced by AL | derman Edmundson with regard to leaving | dead animals of any kind on the street 1 was passed as read.
 The finance committee reported that l they did not believe the City Buggy Co., l should have the privilege of having an 1 auction sale one day each week. The | report was adopted.
 A letter was read from the chief of po- lice in which he stated that he would like to have a leave of absence in June 1 to attend the chief of police's convention | to be held in Detroit, and he further
 stated that he would like to have his | expenses paid. It was voted that he be granted the leave of absence and his | expenses paid. An application was re- l ceived from J. R. Weaver, stating that | he wanted to be elected as special po- | liceman. The letter was filed for ref
 erence A letter was received from Cleve 1 Huffman of Birmingham in which he
 stated that under "the new code" the
 books of the city would have to be audit | ed at least once a year and he would