The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-06-15

"N" "t'u lohk anu interesting
session Tuesday night and passed on
great many matters OF more or less
Importance. Chief among these was
the granting OF an appropriation for
the band, the warning of Mr.. McLaur-
In concerning the financial condition
OF the city and the warning Of Mr..
Mckiever that the city hall needed
to be remodelled as fur as the en-
frances Were concerned as at pres
ent the entrances were extremely
dangerous I'm case OF a panic when
the Academy OF Music was filled with
people.
The matters as taken up and dis
.cussed were:
MIR. j. M. Chandler and other clti-
zens appeared before council asking
for a remission Of fines on their por-
ters imposed for violation Of the
health ordinance. In that they did not
properly box trash before II was
placed In vacant lots. Mr.. Chandler
explained that II was early In the
morning and the daily cleaning had
not been completed at the time. MIR.
Wright explained that he had in
structed the police force to be strict
I'm the enforcement Of this ordinance
and that the arrests were probably
the result OF his instructions. Ii was
decided to have report from the
city recorder as to the cases before
action was taken.
Mr.. a. G.. Fishburne. manager of
the Southern Cotton oil Mill i'm this
city. stated that his firm was opposed
to the present ordinance requiring
them To- state the amount OF their
business and asked that the license
be made at Hat rate. After discus
sion a was decided to fix the amount
OF license at SIS.
Col Thomas Wilson asked council
. to allow him to run spur line Of
1the Northwestern Railroad down Di-
vine street. crossing Harvin street
and Manning avenue. The matter
was sanctioned by council and a COM
mittee consisting OF Messrs. jennings
McKeiver and McLaurin was appoint
ed 10 investigate and to enter into a
contract with the Northwestern Rail-
road allowing them to run the track
on the street. but reserving certain
rights for the city
The report OF the police commit
tee for May was read. IL showed a
large amount Of money taken In in
fines and large number of days Civ
en- To convicts.
Mr.. McLaurln stated for the finance
committee that he had checked up
the city clerk and treasurer's books
and found them correct. He warm
ed council that the finances OF the
city were at q very low ebb. and that
council must be more judicious
In future about spending money.
He called attention to the fact" that
large amounts had been paid out for
attorneys fees. amounting to more
than the income from the fines i'm
posed. lie advised the adoption Of
some method not SO costly OF prose-
cutting criminals. Mr.. Wright was
In favor of stopping the prosecution
OF liquor cases II they cost more than
the city received from them. Mr..
McKiever and Mr.. Cuttino were op-
posed To this view. even " they could
not run the liquor sellers out Of the
city. they could be prosecuted as Of
ten ss they could he caught. Mr.. Jen-
nings thought that there was profit
In the prosecutions. II was decided
Co have a full report Of the matter at
the next meeting of council.
Messrs. H. /. Manning. j. III. Chand-
Ter and :. ~. Edmunds made urgent
request I'm favor of an appropriation
for the sumter Rand on the ground
that II was u good Investment for the
city. II occupied unique place in
the hearts of the people and II afford
ed much pleasure for the people Of
the city. This appropriation was dis
Cussed quite AZ length. Aldermen
McKeiver. Glenn and McF.aurin were
opposed to the appropriation i'm view
OF the present financial condition Of
the city. hut were In favor of keeping
the band up by private subscription
and were willing To- give literally for
this end Mcssrs. Jennings and Wright
were very much In favor Of the ap-
preparation. Upon vote II was found
that there was tie. which was
! broken In favor cf the appropriation
by the mayor. Mcssrs Cuttino