The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-18
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
MANY MATTERS PASSED UPON
AT FIRST SESSION OF NEW
YEAR.
Number OF Changes I'm Police Force
Protests Against License Tax
Board OF Health Wants Measures
For Protectlon-Othcr Matters.

hishl anu matters OF general inter-
est came up before them and were
acted on.
Council met at rather a late hour
and the session continued until early
morning. Among the matters COM
Ing up were the election of police
officers for the year. the hearing of
number OF protests against the license
ordinance, and petitions on various
matters a number OF changes were
made In the police department., sew
eral OF the old officers not being re-
elected and several new officers being
lected. Chief Of Police j. II. Sumter
recommended a number of changes
In the system. and such changes were
approved by Council
Mr. L. I. Parrott. on behalf of the
Parrott Milling Company, asked for
exemption from licenses and taxes for
his company. a privilege generally
granted to new manufacturing con-
Germs. The request was granted as 1t
industries In the city.
Mr.. ]. w. Smith asked permission to
build a gasoline tank under the street
~ front OF his garage aud erect a
pump on the street for filling auto
mobile tanks with gasoline. The mat
ter was referred to the City Manager
for investigation and report to
Council.
Mr.. c. l. Cuttino asked that fire
hydrant be placed at the corner Of
Church and Peach streets and that
the sewer system be extended up
Church street TO this point. so that
connections could be made with hous-
es on the street The matter was dis
cussed and referred to the City Man
ager for him to find out the cost and
report to council.
Mr.. cuttino stated that the lawyers
OF the city were not satisfied with the
license tax. but had decided to take
up the matter later.
Mr.. II. @. osteen protested against
the tax on publishers and printers.
He stated that this tax had been
raised from fifty cents a thousand to
nifty cents a hundred. which he con-
sidered exorbitant. Mayor Jennings
stated that the change had probably
been made unintentionally in classi-
flying the license tax. The matter was
settled by a change back to the orig
inal license tax of $1,000 and fifty
cents on each thousand dollars Of
gross income. over $4,000.
Requests from Messrs. ]. X. Cross
well and j. Fred Wise for rebates on
water rents were refused. The water
had been wasted through leaks in the
pipes, causing big increases in the
bills for the quarter. but Council did
not deem this the fault of the city.
DIR. III. A. Mood. on behalf of the
board Of health. OF which ne is
member and health officer. asked that
Council adopt certain ordinances TO
prevent the breeding of flies and mos
quitoes. He wanted an ordinance
passed requiring the screening OF all
privies. stables and places where edi-
bles are sold. He made a talk telling
OF the danger OF the fly as a spreader
OF disease. lie stated that the Jail
was not kept clean and recommend
ed Legislation for improvements He
stated that IL was no use TO try 10
KIN out flies and mosquitoes, when the
fight was not made TO prevent their
breeding. IL was decided 10 pass an
ordinance To require the screening OF
all prlvies. and TO investigate and find
out what steps could be .axen to-
wards screening stables action to be
taken later.
A request for change I'm the license
on accident insurance companies was
received. but no action was taken.
n letter from the board OF health
informing Council OF the election Of
Dr. II. \. Mood as health officer was
received and read and Wednesday
evening at 7.30 was set as the time Of
meeting with the board Of health TO
discuss matters. The board Of health
had asked for q hearing in regard TO
this and other matters.
The next matter coming Up was the
election 81 police officers for the year.
a number OF applications had been
received and were urcssnt.d h, tho
City Clerk, all Of the present officers
applying FOR recollection on the force
az well AZ a number of new men.
Chief Sumter upon request 10y
Council stated which officers hc de
sired Co retain On the force. He