Evening journal., 1911-01-20
TALK OVER THE
PAVING BILL
Director John G. Gray and G.
c. Morton Favor it at
Democratic League
Mr.. BANNING SAYS HE'S
AGAINST IT FOR FAIR

Advocates and opponents OF the pro-
posed paving bill. which is soon to be
offered by the Street and Sewer Dc
parment I'm the Legislature, met at the
Democratic League, at No. 6lO French
street last evening and discussed at
length the proposed law which isI
causing so much stir in municipal
circles.
The meeting was presided over by
Frederick H. Steinle, who called upon
George G. Morton.
Mr. Morton, in brief speech, voiced
his approval of the bill placing the
cost of paving the streets upon the
abutting property owners. lie sara
that I'm his mind this was the only
way by which the city could get the
much needed good streets. Further
more he said that in his estimation
II was next TO impossible for the
city TO revolutionize the methods OF
the paving without melting out some
Injustice to some of the citizens.
as II right" he questioned the as
semblage, that the man with a prop
erty which has a frontage OF l6 feet
should pay "A share OF the paving for
the man whose property has pos
sible frontage OF 15O feet?" He said
that the house with a good pavement
in front of It was worth a great deal
more than one with unsuited pave
ments.
Director Gray Champions 1t
Director Gray, of the Street and
Sewer Board, was next called upon
he being one of the fathers Of the pro-
posed bill. Mr.. Gray outlined the
plan from every possible viewpoint
He called upon the opponents to voice
their views Of the matter, that more
definite understanding could I'm this
manner be brought about. In laying
out the details for the bill Mr.. Gray
said that some of them we're latel
found to be in danger OF being un'
successful and that he wanted TO hell
work out a plan for a better con
sideration of the problem OF street
paving. With the conditions now
existing, he said that II was impos
sible TO pave the streets which needed
paving out of the limited appropri
ations from Council and that to paw
few of these and leave the others q
was indeed a call for some favoritism
And with the present system he fel
that no sooner would all of the street.
have been paved than those whicl
we're first laid would have to be eithe
renaired or relaid. For instance h
cited the effct upon Market street tn
new bill would have. He said ina
the street was the main thoroughfar
and would have to be taken care 9
not ONLY for the criticism of the cit
zens but for those coming from ou'
side Of the city. If the street b'
u comes worn from the heavy traffic, n
citizens in the outlying districts mu
: unite and give so much toward the IN
provements when I'm fact they receive
\ little OF no benefit.
Rescued Woman From Mud.
Another matter which Mr.. Gray ac
a vocated was the fact that people wi
not build up the city I'm advance {
n the street paving. Il is necessary I
E have the streets paved in most case
now before buildings which are
credit to the city will be built alon
them.
He stated that there were place
where wagons and people could nc
traverse the mud and mire OF th
streets this time of year and cited on
3 instance when a man had found
necessary 10 wade ankle deep I'm tn
mud of the street and rescue a wOmal
who had been stuck I'm the mud.
Mr.. Gray attacked the action Of tn
81 Legislature a few years ago when the
took away from the Street and Sew'
+ Department the custody Of the depar
y ment's money and gave it entirely ini
the hands Of City Council. He sa
that he considered Il a most unwii
hill because il limits the work Of Il
board.
~ A list Of cities was named as thol
which had adopted the plan Of n
- abutting property owners paying q