The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-07-31
THE CITY COUNCIL.
Regular Session Last Night-PrOf.
Edmunds Makes Special Statement
-IsesOlutiOn of Respect to the
Memory of Maj. Wilson.

| mayor w. Is. Boyle, Aldermen Z. p
Finn, r. F. Haynsworth, j. r. Lyon
and w. G.. Stubbs present
A card was read from Alderman
Wright, Chairman of the Committee
on Auditors report, asking for furth-
er continuance for his committee,
which was granted. Mr. Wright re-
ported also that arrangements were
about completed whereby the city
would obtain lower rate of interest
on loans.
Mr.. Finn for the Committee of
Public Works submitted report of
work on streets for past four weeks.
showing total expenditure of $780,
| so.
The items of holiday time and al
lowance of half time to sick laborers
was discussed. Mr.. Ligon questioned
the propriety of such expenditures,
| but action was postponed.
Mr.. Ligon reported for the Police
| Committee as follows:
To the Honorable, the Mayor and
Aldermen of the City of Sumter,
s. c.:
Gentlemen-We beg to report that.
as directed by your resolution at your
| last meeting, we, on July 26, inst.
held meeting and made inquiry in
to the automobile accident on Wash
ington street the night of July 3,
| inst, the purpose, as directd, being
to ascertain and fix the responsibility
| of said accident. AS you are already
| aware, said accident was caused by
the failure of lights being displayed
on an exposed sewer trench, the auto
mobile running into same.
Both the City Engineer and the
superintendent of Streets were pres
ent and from the frank statemnt of
the City Engineer, alone, we find that
the plumber who had done this work.
| had turned same over to him (the
City Engineer) and been received by
him, thereby generating the plum
Der of any carelessness in the matter.
The City Engineer advises that while
he was actually in charge Of the
trench at the time of the accident. he
had requested the superintendent of
Streets to display lights at this place
for him and was under the impression
that he had done so. The Superin-
tendent of Streets states that he did
not understand that he was to dis
play these lights. and that through
an unfortunate MISUNDERSTANDING be-
tween these two gentlemen the lights
were not dispayed hence the accident
resulting.
Therefore, we find that the re-
sponsibility of said accident rests
with the City Engineer, who had re-
ceived and was in charge Of the work,
and that the matter of displaying the
proper lights was simply a private
matter, accommodation or courtesy
between the City Engineer and thL
superintendent of Streets and has no
place in this inquiry.
Respectfully submitted b. order of
the committee.
JAS. r. LIGON,
Chairman Police and Sanitary Com
Mr.. Ligon asked what offers had
been received for purchase of Hose
Company No. lot end proposed that
it be advertised again, with minimum
price stated, reserving right to re-
iect all bids. On Mr.. Stubbs motion
the minimum price was fixed at
$4,000 and the Fire Department Com
mittee was authorized to advertise ac-
cording to Mr.. Ligon's suggestion
Mr.. Finn for the Opera House Com
mittee stated that a contract had
been made with Mr.. Thomas Bradley
for installation of calcium lights.
Mr.. S. II. Edmunds, superintendent
of Schools, appeared before Council
and stated that Hon. r. I. Mahning
desired to tender his resignation as
member of the City Board of Edu-
cation, for the reason that when Mr.
Manning had been elected to that
position, it was assumed that he
would not| t|become a trustee of Glenn
son College. But that Mr.. Manning
had subsequently accepted the Trus-
nf ho
Council should have the opportunity
of reconsiderng his appointment as
local Trustee. Mr. Edmunds furth-
er stated that he had been advised
by the Attorney General of the
state that no legal objection existed
to MIR. Manning filling both places AS