The log cabin Democrat., 1914-04-16
FIRST MEETING Of
 NEW COUNCIL HELD
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
EXECUTIVE PRESENTS PROB LEMS FOR CONSIDERATION
 OF CITY FATHERS.
From Wednesdays Daily.


 The first meeting of the newly-elect ed city council, held in the directors room of the Bank of Conway las night. was marked by the reading o1 inaugural address by Mayor J. Franl Jones, in which the various problems confronting the municipal government were presened. Aside from the ap pointment of committees and the re election of John H. Durham as night marshal, little other business was transacted at the meeting. The meet. ing place of the council was deco: rated with flowers presented by the Conway School and Civic Club.
 Mayor Jones took the oath of office before Circuit Clerk J. H. Hartje yes. terday afternoon and he administered the oath to the incoming officials, as follows: w. H. Canada. marshal George Shaw, Jr., recorder; c. H Newborn, treasurer; Wm. J. Grum- mer, A. J. Meadors, c. c. Denney, J. R. Donnell, Wellington Robbins and C. J. Greene, aldermen.
 As soon as the members had been sworn in, Mayor Jones announced the appointment of the following commit tees, the alderman named first being the chairman of each committee:
 Light and Water Plants Yelling ton Robbins, c. c. Denney and Wm J. Drummer.
 Streets and Alleys-C. c. .Denney Wm. J. Drummer and c. J. Greene.
 Finance-A. J. Meadors, J. R. Don- nell and Wellington Robbins.
 Improvement-Wm J. Drummer, J. R.. Donnell and c. J. Greene.
 Ordinances-J. R. Donnell A. J Meadors and c. c. Denney.
 Judiciary-C. J. Greene, Yelling ton Robbins and A. J. Meadors.
 After an informal discussion of plans, the council adjourned to meet at the regular time, two weeks hence The mayor was instructed to secure a regular meeting place for the coun- cil and the matter of electing a city attorney was passed until the next meeting.
 Mayor Jones' address in full was as follows:
 "Gentlemen We have met for the frst time to enter upon our duties as servants of the city. While the oath of office is fresh upon our minds lei us VOW again unto ourselves, ano covenant one with another, that SC far as lieth within us, we will endeav- or to give our best thought and ser vice toward the fulfillment of the ex- pectations of our constituents. II take it for granted that every member of the new council fully re alizes the responsibility resting upor his-especially so since the present term will be the most important, the most critical period, perhaps, in the history of our little city. These things were known to you when you offered as candidate, known also tt the voters when they cast their bal lots-therefore our present efficient city council.
 "Our Task-Unquestionably the par amount issue during this admin istration will be the building of some permanent streets. With the funds available, this will call for much wis dom, earnest thought, wise council time and patience.
 dust what plans to be used and tho method of procedure will be worked out as soon as possible, but permit me to suggest here that even should it be deemed unwise to organize th' city into one large improvement dis trict, it is possible and practicable t' build two or three good streets run ming east and west and like number north and south. Selecting the prin cipal streets for this work, l believe 75 per cent of the travel could easil! be handled over these improved streets, thereby keeping the dus nuisance down in summer and making traffic possible during the winter ant spring months. With the propert. owners along these streets paying portion and the city a part of thu cost, it would not become burden t anyone. This would carry us througl the first winter and give us an oppor tunity to test out our own work.
 ''It is very evident that if WI build good streets some source of rev enue must be found Our taxes ar, already heavy, but I believe there i an almost universal demand for gooC streets, and while all should be will ing to pay portion, those directl. benefited should pay the larger tax This might call for vehicle tax. trust every member will give mos earnest thought to this problem.
 "The Laws-I find from the rec ords that the city laws need digestint very badly. There are quite mum Der of ordinances now obsolete. re pealed and amended until it is almos impossible to find just what the law is in the matter. Evidently, there ar' quite a number of the present law' that should be repealed. I take it for granted they were made for pur pose, and if that purpose was en forcement and it seems now unwise tC enforce such laws, then they should be repealed.
 ''It shall be my policy to see that th' laws are enforced impartially, and Ii it is the will of the people that cer tain of our laws should not be com rffad xrv;th tbap al cuph laws Sh OuIf