Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-12-10
LIBRARY GETS SIS
EVERY MONTH NOW
And the College Bonds Go
To Bond Commission.
Mayor Fielder Entered
Protest Against Bond
Purchase.

With only one spectator and tht
most harmonious meeting it has hal
in a long time the City Council las
night, in an hours session, closed vi
two important matters that have beer
hanging fire for several meetings, and
that have been accompanied by more
or less ascrimonious debating. the
matters Of an appropriation for the
support of the Carnegie Library and
the sale to the Bond Commission OF
the $4,000 of Agricultural College
bonds.
On the library matter there was not
single word uttered in discussion
Under the head of unfinished business
Alderman Lee Allen simply repeated
his resolution, several times turned
down heretofore on parliamentary
grounds, that an appropriation he
made, for an indefinite period, of SIS
a month for the maintenance of the
Carnegie Library.
Alderman Clark, who had rename /
over in the city for the single pur-
pose of cutting the Gordian knot and
settling the library embroglio, prompt
ly secondely the resolution.
Mayor Fielder put the resolution
and the five aldermen present-Aldev-
man Rodgers being absent-voted aye.
The resolution was declared carried
and the city had redeemed, at least in
a measure, it's solemn promise to Mr..
Carnegie to support the library.
Sale of College Bonds.
In the matter of the Finance Com
mittee selling the issue of $4,000 of
Agricultural College bonds to the
Bond Commission, which simply
meant the city selling the bonds 10
itself, the proceedings, while not acrid,
were not so harmonious.
Chairman Eldridge of the Finance
Committee, presented a written re-
port from the City Attorney, declaring
that the bonds were legal and that the
Bond Commission had clearly a right
to invest any surplus funds of the city
in its hands in these bonds.
Alderman Allen moved that the re-
port be accepted and that the Finance
Committee proceed under it's former
instructions to sell the bonds to the
Bond Commission,
Mayor Fielder entered an earnest
protest against this. The Mayor stat
ed that despite the opinion of the City
Attorney he believed the whole pro-
cedure illegal The Bond Commission
he declared, had no surplus funds in
its hands The funds it had in its
possession were held by it for a spe-
cific purpose, that of taking up GER
tain bonds at maturity. If it invest
ed this money in the Agricultural
College bonds he doubted Its ability
to sell them when the money was
needed to take up the bonds that the
money in it's hands was intended to
redeem. The Mayor declared that
City Attorney Sheppard had lodged
the real issue. that as to whether the
money held by the Commission was
really surplus funds, or funds set
apart for a specific purpose.
Alderman Allen insisted that there
was no use in having City Attorney
if his opinion was not to be followed
The upshot was that the resolution
directing the Finance Committee tc
sell the bonds was passed, all the al
dermen voting aye and the Mayor no
with an amendment by Alderman FL
bridge that the proceeds are to be
used in taking up the college notes
held by the banks, pro rata
AS matter of public interest the
Times Recorder will publish the City
Attorneys opinion in full tomorrow.