The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-11-05


employ of the East Ohio Gas Co., got
bad jolt In the council chamber Mon
day night and some of those council
men who were anxious to put the
council without the approval or sane
ton Of Solicitor Blake we're given to
understand what the Office of solicitor
had been created for and after this
they looked almost as small as one
cent stamps cancelled at the postof-
fee. The first intimation that there
was to be a little tilt came when So
licitor Blake had finished the reading
of some ordinances vacating some
streets and alleys desired by manu-
featuring establishment. Mr.. Blake
said that the conduct of the commit
tee on ordinances was highly i'm
proper in their actions. He said that
the law department of the city, ac-
cording to the municipal code, was
for the purpose of advising and con-
sulting with the different departments
of the city government, and declared
that there was a lack of cooperation
in matters of great Importance. Blake
stated that the committee on ordi-
nances, without consulting the solicit
or, had attempted to railroad" the
ordinance through the council The
solicitor declared that the gas ordi-
nance introduced last Monday night
was defective in a number of respects
and that he had advised against pre-
senting it.
"The gas question is not of trivial
moment" said the solicitor, "and am
aware of the gravity of the occasion.
The rights of the citizens of Canton
would be jeopardized If the matter gets
into the courts. The committee hav-
ing this matter In charge went on the
outside to man who was not under
oath and had the ordinance drawn"
The solicitor said that he did not care
for the personal slight to himself, but
that if he was called upon to go before
the courts he wanted an ordinance
without defects to fight upon. The so
licitor f1ayed the committee properly
and In very gentlemanly way, telling
them In plain language that the code
provides that the solicitor prepare and
draft all ordinances that are present
ed to the council. While the one at
issue was prepared by other persons
and not submitted to nim for approx
al, but was read in the council and an
effort was made to pass 1t through.
Councilman Folk, at whom the re-
marks seemed to be addressed, arose
in defense of his committee, saying
that he had made an effort to see So
licitor Blake last Monday afternoon,
but that he could not find him it his
office. He said that he had handed 1t
to Solicitor Blake before 1t was pre-
scented and that before Blake had read
It half way through that he handed it
back. with the remark that it was
no goodH IF this ordinance is no
good, then the East Ohio Gas company
has been operating under an ordinance
for the past ten years that Is no good
either, for the last one Is the same
as the first one, with but few slight
changes. If we must make conces-
sions to somebody I'm this new ordi-
nance will refuse to support it" said
Folk.
Solicitor Blake said that he was glad
to know that the chairman possessed
SO much knowledge Of law. He said
that 1t was not the intention to have
an ordinance that the gas company
would stand for, but one that would
stand In the courts.
Councilman Shorb, whose desk was
filed with documents, arose and said:
sMr President, 1t would be the heighth
OF folly to pass the ordinance this
evening. II you pass 1t 5000 families
in the city of Canton would be at the
mercy of the gas company" DR.. Shorb
had been informed that there had
been no provision made for a restrain
ing order to prevent the company from
shutting off the gas. Shorb accused
the ordinance committee of having his
original resolution buried, after they
had purloined portions of 1t. He CO.
. incided with the solicitor that he was
the proper person to draw up ordi-
nances. you will jeopardize the
health, the comfort and the happiness
of 5000 homes In this city if you pass
that ordinance tonight" said the doc
tor as he took his seat.
"If that ordinance is SO woefully
wrong" shouted T,lk, II want to know
what portion of 1t is not legal. Why,
II looks as IL the committee was pre-"
pairing something that would be the
downfall of Canton" he said.
Councilman Aungst, who Is generally
broadminded, said that he had coun-
seled with the committee at the prev
ious meeting not to report that ordi-
nance and that he counseled then to
have 1t go to the solicitor.
Seeing that the atmosphere was get
ting little warm on the gas question
Councilman Williams asked that the
matter be referred to the solicitor and
that he make re-draft of the ordi-
nance. He was requested to reduce
his motion to writing. While he was
thus engaged Councilman Sanders
said that the proper way would be to
dispose of the present ordinance by
defeating 1t or that 1t might be done
in some other manner. In order to get
rid of the pesky thing Shorb asked
that 1t be laid on the table, but Presi-
dent owen said, 81 refuse to do it,"
The ordinance was finally killed.
Member Shorb then asked permis-
sion to introduce another resolution
providing for 22 cent gas, but the
other members of the body seemed to
be bound to rob 6horb of all his glory
on the cheap gas question and opposed
his resolution, not probably because
II was not In the proper form, but
simply because II was presented by
Shorb Williams thought that Shorb's
resolution was the proper one, but
when II eAm0 to 4 vote 10 oAIy reeeiv-
ed the votes Of Shorb and Williams in
its favor.
Member Sanders the leader of the