Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-07-08
CITY BOARD HAS BUSY SESSION:
AVOIDS POLITICAL QUESTIONS.
Passes Revenue Laws; Considers Pc.
titiOns: VIII Probably Appoint
Oficers Wednesday Night.

If the many citizens who attended
the meeting OF the board of city COM
missioners at the City Hall Thursday
night expected anything highly inter-
esting in the political line they went
away without any sweet morseIs to talk
about
1t was strictly a meeting of.leveI-
headed business men together for bus
mess for the city and nothing but bus
mess claimed their attention, except
in the closing moments of the session,
when there was an echo about the
question Of appointments, Mhich will
be gone into thoroughly on Wednesday
ght of this week.
Some of the citizens present didn't
attend on a business mission. If q o
they didn't make it known when given
| opportunity by the board, but others
were heard from and b~usiness-like
considerations was given to every per-
son appearing for business without re-
gard to party race, color or previous
conditions of servitude." 1t was al
together an important business meet
ing and a number of important mat
|ters received attention.
Some Things Considered.
Leon st. John stated to the board
that there was an ordinance closing
the pool rooms at IL o'clock at night
and that authorities would confer
a great favor on this business by ex-
tending the hour until IL o'clock. He
said that the pool rooms were orderly
and that the owners paying good
license fees and that between 11-and
IL o'clock would be good paying hours.
The hour was fixed at 11:45 o'clock.
Application was made by a negro for
a license to conduct an amusement
hall opposite the noted Dogan hall.
lie said that he had been paying So
per day for the privilege. He wanted
an annual license. He was told that
the ordinance committee would give
his request consideration.
A. L. Gurley requested that the
special license for contractors be fixed
so that it would take in all classes of
contractors, declaring that the present
tax of $25 for all persons making con
tracts over $500 would exempt the
most of the contractors as there are
only about three paying the license
while there are possibly forty in the
city. The Law was changed so as to
impose a license on those taking con-
tracts for more than $500.
J.. C. Morrow appeared in the inter
est of a proposed code or standard of
work to be adopted by the plumbers.
was decided to draft a code or stand
ard of work to govern plumbers. this
work being left to the water and sew
or committee.
Glover Orr said that a number of
tiverymen couldn't pay their special
license tax before doing a little more
business. He asked for an extension
of time in which to make payment. He
was told that in all probability ar
ran ements could be made with the
tax collector who would take circum-
stances into consideration. The board
was of the opinion that it would not
do tn let down the gap by changing the
ordinance in this respect for such
would bring on endless trouble in the
collection of taxes,
Application was made for sewer con-
nections on Hebron street, the matter
being referred to the committee
twas stated that protest had been
made against the pedd1ing of chickens
in town. The board expressed itself
to the effect that il would not do to
tinker in this way with the high cost
Of living. that the city should encour
age the growing and selling Of poul-
try, therefore no action was taken.
The commissioners gave further
consideration to the revenue laws of
the city and passed upon all Of them
and instructed City Attorney e. w
Ewbank to make changes suggested
and have the revenue laws printed.
Political Echo Heard.
Just as the meeting was coming to
a close there was a little echo of the
political situation and the deadlock
of the board on the appointment of
officers. The question of fixing the
tax levy was brought UP. Mayor
Brooks said that he thought IL well to
increase the levy so as to meet the
expense of the cit yrather than fix a
low levy and not have sufficient money
TO transact the city's business. K. G,
Morris said that some decision would
have to be reached about what would
be the expenses of the city in the way
of appointive. officers. that he believed
the number should be reduced. also
the salaries. Mayor Brooks f%acetious-
ly replied that they had tried to settle
this matter a month ago and couldn't
get the republicans to-3oin them. Mr.
Morris said that "our hearts beat in
the same place." which was taken to !