The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-02-15
CITY WILL FIGHT.
REMOVAL Of THE.
STREET RAILWAY
Council Authorizes City So.
licitor To Safeguard In
terests OF Taxpayers
WILL TRY TO FORCE
RELAXING OF PAVING
Harris Told To Secure Aid
OF Not More Than Two
Good Attorneys

City Solicitor Walter G. Harris Was
empowered to 90 ahead with any pro-
cedure he felt necessary to insure the
best interests Of the city In the mat
ter of the removal Of the street rail-
way property from the streets and
the collection of the paving assess
ments against the now defunct rail-
way company with the further advice
that "the sky is the limit by the
city council at a special meeting
Wednesday night.
The fighting blood Of the council
men is up apparently and they have
determined not to see the city stuck
for about 0,000 costs in relaying the
pavement torn up by the company
purchasing the rails and also lose
the paving assessments, amounting
to about $4,000, without giving the
company, purchasers Of the property,
ct al, run for their money.
The action along this line was tax.
en- by council following the introduc-
tiOn of a motion by Councilman
Hookway that the city solicitor be
instructed to act in the matter for
the best interests of the city, that; he
be empowered to get one, or two, as
sstants, the best attorneys in his
Judgment that he can secure, to aid
him in the cases and take whatever
other action seems to best safeguard
the interest of the taxpayers. Mr.
Hookway's motion was carried by
unanimous vote. -,.-
ADVISED, TO FIGHT
Prior to reaching u decision in the
matter, the councilmen heard reports
on the situation from Judge F. U.
Levering, representing the commit
tee from the Chamber of Commerce
that had been appointed to meet with
the councils special committee with
reference to the case, and also hsteu
ed to remarks by r. c. Ringwalt, j.
J. Fultz, William l.. Robinson and
City Engineer Anderson. -, T..
In each case the men before the
council expressed their conviction
that the best thing to be done is to
fight the proposed removal OF rail-
way property until guaranteed tha
the city will be Unidentified for thu
damage caused by tearing up the
streets.
No further action can be taken b!
council in the matter until the cit!
solicitor reports and it is not knoWi
whether the initial proceedings VII
be in the nature of an injunction sui
TO prevent the removal Of the rail-
until the owners file bond to In
demnify the city against damas
through disturbing the pavements, o
if some other measure will be tried
MIGHT BE DANGEROUS
While many seem TO favor the In
junction method of procedure it ha
been pointed out that such proceed
ings might have a dangerous flare
back" in that the petitioner for a
Injunction, in this instance the cit,
would be required to file Dond II
Identifying the owners Of the rail-
from possible loss through delay l
removing their property and In cas-
Berman & Ferman, the firm o~nin
the rails, could slow any such dan
age the city would then be forced
pay the damage thus occasioned.
Prior to the consideration OF tn
street railway case by the couhc
Wednesday night, the reports of ii
city auditor and city treasurer wei
read and approved by council I'll
report shows total OF s36,9s4.7o
the city treasury.