The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-07-13

After hearing lengthy arguments, the
city council in regular session last
night turned down the library promo
sltlon by the vote Of to 8, sustaining
a motion by Alderman Meyer to table
the ordinance by this vote. The fate
or the measure was apparent before
the vote was taken as about every al
derman expressed himself and ex-
planned his position.
Some lengthy arguments were made
by the members Of the council and
there was. considerable oratory, the
main point debated being as TO
whether or not the establishment of a
library according TO the ordinance
under consideration would involve the
same proposition voted down by the
people in the recent election, and
whether or not ii would effect taxa
tion. After the members OF the council
had expressed their views, the privi-
lege of the floor was eXtedned to any
citizen who might wish TO express his
views, and Dr. Warren f. Anderson
expressed himself as against the prop
osltlon. When the roll was called the
aldermen present voted as follows: In
favor Of tabling the ordinance, Avery,
Kent, Meyer, oliver, Renshaw and
Semmes; against tabling the ordinance
Bear, DeSilVa and Fisher.
COMMITTEE COULD NOT AGREE.
The finance committee, TO whom the
ordinance had formerly been referred
IN making its report stated that IL had
been impossible for that committee to
agree as to a recommendation on the
library ordinance, hence would refer IL
back to the council without recommen-
dation. 1t was followed this statement
from the finance committee that Alder
man Meyer made the motion to receivs
the report Of the finance committee ana
lay the proposed ordinance on the
table.
JUDGE REEVES TALKS.
After the council had been called TO
order and the minutes read. the rules
were waived in order to give Judge L.
]. Reeves an opportunity to address
the council in regard to the ordinance
! granting franhise to j. Z. Taylor G.
/ Co, to construct spur track over and
| along certain streets in the city MIR.
| Taylor had refused to accept the fran
| chise In the present shape on account
! Of clause in the ordinance which pro-
F, vided that where streets were paved,
the grantee should, before beginning
the work OF building along such street
pay to the city an amount Of money
equal to the value OF the paving be-
tween the tracks and for a space Of
eighteen inches on either side thereof,
while another section provides that
replace all streets in as good condition
as they were before the beginning Of
the work. Judge Reeves urged the city
to adopt the plan OF increasing taxa
tion on unimproved property rather
than on property which is improved,
arguing that this would force the Inn
| provement Of property while the on
| posite plan would hinder it, and cited
| a number Of cities illustrating his
point. He referred to tho manner OF
! issuing franchises like the proposed
! Taylor franchise as short sighted
| policy"
After the order OF business was re-
sumed the question came up again
under the proper head, and when tho
| ordinance was placed on second read
ing d general discussion among the
! members took place, the ordinance
! finally being amended so as to strike
out the Objectionable clause.
PROCEEDINGS OF MEETING.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Reeves's ad-
dress the regular order OF business was
| resumed and a communication from
| the mayor was read. The communica-
| tion contained an invitation to the
! council to attend the session Of the
! Chicago Association OF Commerce on
! September 1880 on motion the invi-
| tation was accepted.
After hearing the reports OF the va
rious committees, the report OF the
board Of public works in regard 10 tho
! damages done to the property Of Mrs.
Mae H. Gonzalez at the corner Of Jack
son street and Eighth avenue was read.
! The matter had previously been re-
ferred to the board by the council and
! the report was to the effect that the
! city attorney had advised the board OF
works that the city was not liable to
Mrs. Gonzalez for damages done 10 the
property and also that the board had
| already had the sidewalk adjoining the
property temporarily repaired and in
tended having it permanently repaired
at the earliest possible time.
A number Of ordinances were adopted
| on second reading and passed to third
reading, some Of them being amended
in some unimportant details. The or
dinnance relating TO the requirements
/ for a city depository was amended so
] lContInued on TLlrd pagnl