The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1912-02-23

C0unCllHOldSl Interesting Session
The municipal ownership of the
electric lighting plant. the condition OF
the city's water and pressure upon the
fire lines and the efforts of the city
fathers to promote sobriety among the
police and city employees, were the
subjects before the City Council at the
meeting held last night and which was
one of the most interesting sessions OF
the board in many months. All mat
tiers coming before the meeting were
freely discussed and nothing of any
Importance was overlooked.
The report of the findings of the
Light Committee which has been con-
Quoting a rigid investigation of the
complaints made in reagrd TO the al
legged excessive rates charged by the
Paris Gas and Electric Co., was the
most important and was of an en-
cOuraging nature to the consumers of
! the city who have been complaining to
no small degree of the rates charged.
Apparently it was the first step toward
the municipal ownership of an electric
/ lighting plant.
Chairman Baldwin, of the Police
Committee, made report to the
/
! that the members of the police force
guilty of the offense of entering
! saloon or pool room unless on official
/ business and partaklng of intoxicating
| liquor or becoming intoxicated while
on duty, be dismissed from further
! service Immediately. The report also
! on duty at 80 o'clock D. M, and one
Of nd hn ~ Ia no q
night upon a schedule to be arranged
| later by the committee
| The ordinance Introduced at the last
meeting of the Council by DR.. VIM.
Kenney, and which came up for pass
age last night was deferred until the
next meeting night, when substitute
as provided in the report of the COM
mittee, making the offense of drinking
while on duty punishable by immedi-
ate dismissal. will be voted upon and
| the ordinance receive its final passage.
The report of the Police Committee
also contained recommendation that
red light be placed at the office of
/ the East Tennessee Telephone Co.. as
a signal light for the police.
Councilman Baldwin addressed the
meeting upon the lighting question.
giving in detail the findings of tn.
committee in the three meetings they
have had, but asked for further time
! to continue along the same course be-
| fore making a final report to the
board Mr.. Baldwin said the commit
| tee was in communication with the
officials of several cities regarding the
| lighting question, and were much en-
couraged by the reports that had al
ready been received. He cited several
| instances where cities owning their
electric plants were furnishing lights
at much cheaper rate than the con-
sumers of Paris received and stated
| that at the present time there was no
/ relief from the present situation, say
! ing the officials of the local electric
company had turned deaf ear to their
entreaties for a lower rate.
/ The matter of installing plant to
| be operated by the city was discussed,
and it was the opinion that an equip
ment could be purchased and installed
upon the lot now owned by the city at
acost of $4,000 which would insure
Paris first class plant, furnishing the
city ample current for street lighting
and the consumers a rate far below
! the present cost. which it was estl-
mated would more than pay the cost of
/ operation.
/ No actiun was taken but the commit
! tee was given more time to inveSti~
gate, and it is probable the next meet
! ing of the body will be one of extreme
! interest to the consumers Of electric
| current at least.
| An official notice was ordered sent
to the Paris Water Company in regard
to the condition of the water and to
the pressure upon the fire line. 1t
was the unanimous opinion of the
Board that the water company be COM
PEELED to meet the provisions of their
contract in regard to pressure, which
should be kept at one point at all
times.
The bond of l.. d. Harris as City
! Assessor was presented ard accepted
by the Board, c. Arnsprager being
presented as his surety. Building per-
mits were granted j. H. Haggard and
I Z. d. Grant while that of Jos. LAWN
was referred TO the Improvement Com
/ mttee with power to act. The meet
! ing last night was very harmonious
and the mem beis of the board, in one
accord agreed upon all matters brought
before it. which is Indicative of the
! deep interest centered in the affairs of
: iha oitV