The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-05-19
AND HOUK WARMLY
DENOUNCE POLITICAL PLAY
Politics Instilled in Affairs of Fire Department
for First Time Since its Organization
Ride Rough ShOd Over Man Who
Founded and Fostered the De-
pGrtment - Long Session
of City Council

Throwing down the guantlet and ut
terly disregarding the wishes of the
minority the republican majority oi
the city council, for the first time
since the creation of a fire department
in this city, at the regular meeting
last night instilled politics into
its management by repeating
the ordinance passed by the
last administration fixing the salaries
of the firemen at $50, each per month
and providing for three instead OF
two paid men, and passing a new or
dinance creating a new department
composed of a chief at a salary OF
SIS per month and two firemen at
$50 per month. This action was tax.
en- over the strong protest of the dem.
ocrats to leave the department out OF
politics as it has been in the past
In protesting against the passage of
the new ordinance Aldermen Frazee,
Houk and Berry exhorted the council
to leave the chieftaincy of the de-
partment to H. n, Ridenhour, who has
served faithfully and yaliantly in the
past without any recompense from the
city Before the vote was taken the
mayor inferred by a question that
the action was not political move,
but when the vote was taken it was
evident that the republicans had pre-
pared to pay an ante-election debt and
the republicans all voted for the or
dinance and the democrats against
The tie vote was decided by the
mayor Tor the republicans and the
ordinance was adopted This ordin-
ance repeals all previous ordinances
in conflict with same and abolishes
the volunteer department.
The council met at the city bali
with all members present and Mayor
Rider presiding. The first business
taken up was the report of the en-
gineer on the test of the brick pur-
chased by e. j. Overley & company
for use in paving Scraper street and
the alleys in Block 49. This report
showed that the brick did not stand
the test made by a company at Cof-
feyville. Mr.. Overley stated to the
council that the brick company max
ing the test was competitor of the
company from which the brick were
bought and said the latter company
would pay all of the expenses of
from the council to go to
any other place, where a fair and inn
partial test could be made, and asked
the council to have such a test made
before rejecting the brick This the
council decided to do. and Aldermen
trazee, Leforce and Parker were
named as a special committee to
have the test made and report within
ten days.
Upon favorable report the finance
committee, the usual appropriations
for current expenses were made.
The matter Of a sewer connecting
with the Excelsior Laundry was heard
and a letter from Manager Coley of
the laundry was presented. stat
ing his willingness to make /
he connections provided the
city would extend the lateral across
It's property near the laundry. The |
matter was referred to the water COM
mittee, which was instructed to in
gestigate the feasibility of making the
atteral extend south through the al
ey between Wilson street and Vann
street from Sequoyah avenue so as
o connect with the light plant. the
creamery and j. c. Gray's barn.
An application for permission to |
1uild an airdome on the vacant lot /
between the court house and the
'hieftain Office was referred to the
ire committee to investigate and if
[ is found the proposed building con
orms to the fire ordinance, to grant
PERMISSION for its erection.
Alderman Houk presented the mat
er OF the neglect of the NJ. X. & 7.
abroad to install crossing at Illinois
nd Canadian avenues. according to H
promise made last September The
mayor was instructed to notify the
ailroad officials that unless the
began work on these cross.
ngs within ten days, that they would
e put in by the city. The mayor
-as also instructed to serve a like
office on the Frisco relative to side
-alk crossings on several streets in
be west part of town. The improve