The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-16
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
Gasoline Dealers Complain About En-
fOrccment of Sunday Ordinance.

Rowland took the chair as Mayor
Protein at the regular meeting O.
the City Council Councilman Booth
was also present.
Mr.. George F. Eppcrson appeared
before Council and requested that
the gasoline dealers Of this city be
allowed to sell to the residents OF
Sumter on Sundays. He stated that,
since the enforcement of the recent
ordinance forbidding the sale of gas
oline except in cases of necessity, the
motorists OF the city are forced to go
to the country to make their pur-
chase. This places the local dealers
at a great disadvantage and Mr.. Ep-
person stated that his own business
was being hurt thirty-three and one
third per cent. In reply, Council
pointed out that there was Sts.e
law against the sale of gasoline in the
county and that redress lay, not with
Council, but with the county officials
Two applications were received for
positions on the police force. Those
applications. which were from L. a
Welsh and ]. c. Collins, were ordered
filed.
A bill was received from Mr.. Fl.
NJ. Crowson for the charges mad. by
the hospital and the doctor for fixing
the broken arm Of one of his chill
dren. The child's arm had been
broken by an obstruction across one OF
the streets left there by one Of the
construction companies when they
were working in the city. Council in
structed the clerk 20 take the matter
up at once with the Simons- Mayrant
Company of Charleston and see if the
matter cannot be settled.
The Water Works Commissioners.
Mr.. w, w. McKagen. has been under
bond for the collection of water
rents in his department. Last night
Council came to the conclusion that
such bond was unnecessary and or
dered that it be discontinued. The
| City Clerk asked for instructions in
regard to the bond which he Is under
for the handling Of taxes levied on all
abutting property which are to be ap-
piled to the paving fund. He stated
that his bond. $4,000. is excessive
and out of proportion to the liability
attached to the handling Of the paw
ing funds. Action on this matter was
deferred.
A letter was received from Chief of
Police Sumter, calling the attention of
Council to the conditions existing a:
the Atlantic Coast Line station. he
stated that the crowded conditions at
the station, especially on Sundays,
were liable to cause much trouble. He
advised that the tracks be fenced in
and no one be allowed to enter un-
less he had a ticket The clerk was
instructed to show the letter to the
railroad authorities and see If they
can suggest any method to better the
present conditions at the station.
Mr.. Thompson. of the Ely Con-
structlon Company. was present to
confer with council in regard to cor
recting the defects in the guttering o.
the streets laid by his company. The
matter was taken up and discussed
fully. but Council determined that its
former instructions in regard to this
matter should stand and requested
that the construction company pro-
ceed with the corrections.
Mr.. Thompson stated that his CON-
panv WAS willing to go on with the
work and that the guttering would be
repaired Immediately.
Mr.. Blanding reported that goon
progress had been made In liking the
amount of paving assessments due oy
the property owners whose property
abutted on the street These assess
ments will be ready for collection by
July 1.
A letter was received from Mr.. w.
3. Burns asking that the cement SIDE
walk in front of his dwelling which
had been laid at his personal expense
he placed under the abutting ordi-
nance. He asked that the amount paid
by him be refunded and that he De
allowed twenty years in which to pay
his proportionate share. just as IN"
other property owners are doing SIM
liar requests were received from sew
eral others. Upon resolution. 1t was
decided that the city engineer shouio
inspect these sidewalks and II they
come up to the specifications lald