The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-12-18
COUNCIL CONSIDERS MATTERS
NOTHING OF SPECIAL IMPORT.
ANCE ACTED ON DURING
SESSION.
requests for Rebates OH Licenses
Ask for Modification of Fincs-Dis.
cuss Matter OF Converting CITY
Farm into Park-Light for Opera
HOuse-SupcrvisOr White Advises
Placing Wires UndcrgrOund-Oth.
er Matters.


ing last night with Councilman Row.
land absent. Many matters were dis
cussed, but nothing of great deal of
importance was acted upon. The
chief matter of public interest to come
up was the question of converting the
city farm at the water works station
into public park.
Mr. G. A. Murphy, of the Western
Union Telegraph Company appeared
before Council to request a reduction
in the 1916 license Of the Western
Union Company to correspond with
the rebate granted the Postal Tele-
graph Company for 1915. Before act
ing Council asked for information as
to the gross earnings of the company
on inter and intra-State business and
the matter was postponed until this In
formation could be secured at a later
meeting. The city clerk was directed
to write to other places which have
about the same business as Sumter. in
the meantime, to ascertain what IL
censes are required of telegraph COM
panies in those places.
Geo. d. Levy, Esq, representing
Messrs. Scale and Moore in the case
of the city against these parties asked
that the fines imposed by the Record
er on the two men be reduced, as they
were considered excessive. These
cases have been appealed from the
Recorders court to the circuit court
and council questioned their right to
consider the matter under the prem
ises. but allowed Mr.. Levy to read
the evidence in the case and promised
to take 1t up at a later time on it's
merits, If they found that they had
the right to do so.
The city clerk was directed to secure
a suitable loose leaf book in which all
ordinances could be filed for future
reference. He was also instructed to
have the code Of 1910 reprinted with
the addition Of all Of the ordinances
passed by Council since that time.
Supervisor White suggested that all
wires be placed under ground. This
matter was discussed, but no action
taken.
Supervisor White and Chief Sumter
reported ON light in front of the opera
house and Council authorized them 10
have the Gas Company install one oC
their five hundred candle power lights
Installed at their own expense, the
light to be discontinued at will of the
Council.
The clerk requested a construction
Of the lease of the opera house, as it
applied to the placing of bill boards
at the entrance. This matter was de-
ferred until the next meeting of Coun-
Gil.
In discussing the matter Of lease of
the opera house the City Clerk was in
structed to advertise for bids early in
the year, the lease to begin with the
operate season in the fall.
The police report for November
showed 79 arrests, 551 days, fines in
cash s6SS.9S; days in cash $1,000,
making total of $799.1S for the
month.
The petition of the police force for
increase of salary was discussed, but
action was postponed on account of
the absence of Councilman Rowland.
The City Clerk was instructed to
pay off city employees for the last half
of December few days before
Christmas, departing from the es-
tablished custom for the time.
A letter from the secretary of the
Chamber of Commerce relative to the
converting of the city farm into a
public park was read and after some
discussion action was postponed until
n later meeting.
Messrs. McCollum Bros. requested
the replacing of a pole by the Postal
leiegrapn Company In front or their
store, as it prevented their awning
from coming down. The supervisor of
streets was instructed to take up the
matter and have the pole removed, as
requested.
The Southern Railway was granted
their request that their license be re-
duced to 500. according to custom.
A letter from the Sumter Trust
Company and the City National Bank
requested that their protests against
paying the city taxes this year be
placed upon the Council minutes and
made part Of the city records was
granted. Council directed that it be
nj ~. IA