Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-11-20
CONSIDERS
FIRE EQUIPMENT,
GAS CHARGES, ETC.
Lengthy Meeting Held Last Eve
ming, And Offer Made To Help
The City To Get Engine
SERVICE COMMISSION
SUPPORTS GAS CHARGES
Proposal Made To Let Down
Bars On Curfew Ordinance
During Holidays

DuTlnS T1OAudyS
I Important matters, along several diff
\ ferent lines, came before the City
Council last evening at a regular meet
I ing, which had teen adjourned from
Monday, of last week. A matter of
large Importance to the people of An
napolis was the proposition of the
/ Waterwitch Hook and Ladder Com
pany, looking to the securing of val
liable addition to the fire equipment of
1 he city Important correspondence
with the Public Service Commission
relative to the charges and rates for
gas in the city, was laid before the
Council by Alderman Levy, and the
same official submitted a proposition
! to relax slightly on the Curfew ordi-
nance during the Christmas holiday
season. A resolution in regard to the
death of DR.. George Wells was passed,
and other matters were considered
The offer of the Waterwitch Com
4 pany was made through Fire Marshal
George 7. Basil, and Assistant Mar
shall Jesse Fisher. the latter from the
company concerned, and was mos
1 liberal one Mr. Fisher stated to the
Council that they proposed to buy a
4 combined chemical engine, pumping
| engine and hose cart, at the price of
! $500, and that the company would
pay $4,000 of this amount. leaving the
city to pay $4,000. with five years to
pay it, He said that he believed that
/ the city should own all of its appar-
atus, which would not be the case il
the company bought it completely. He
further said that the company had
! $4,000 in case for the payment upon
/ delivery, and that it would be respOn-
sible for the frs of the annual pay
ments of $1,000.
| The offer was regarded by all as
most liberal and public spirited one,
and it was referred to the Committee
on Fire Department, for prompt re-
port to the Council There is little
doubt that it will be accepted, partic-
ularly as it is felt that preparedness
demands that there should be an ad-
ditional pumping engine under con-
troll of the department, as very SER
ious situation would arise under pres
ent conditions if two fires broke out.
Gas Rates and Charges
Alderman Levy laid before the Coun-
ell copy of letter which he had
received from the Public Service Com
mittee, to which he had written rela-
tive to the increased rates and ad-
ditional charges made by the Annapo-
lis Public Utilities Company. The let
ter. which is signed by Benjamin H.
Fendall, its secretary, states frankly
that these rates are by authority of
1 the commission, and that it is unlikely
J that they will be changed in the near
l future.
A copy of the action of the commits
sion relative to complaint of Mrs. A.
r. Henry, is enclosed. This compre-
hends all the matters which have been
cause of complaint upon the part of
the citizens of Annapolis, and the sub
/ ject of discussions before the Coun-
ell, and the individuality activity of AL
derman Levy.
The Commission first stated that the
charge of $500. upon installation of
meter, which is to guarantee the pay
ment of bills when due, is a proper
one; that the amount bears interest
at the rate of six per cent, and is to
be returned when the service ceases.
1t further quotes from schedule of
i s,I
thority of the Public Service Commits
sion, on September End, 1918, as fol-
lows: "In overhead districts, for in
stallations having demand not ex-
] ceeding ten kilowatss, and for dis
tance not exceeding 100 feet measur-
ing from the pole to the service out
let on the building and not requiring
I installation of pole, service con-
nection charge is made of $500, pay
able in advance with the order"
Relax on Curfew
Alderman Levy offered an order pro-
posing that the requirements of the
Curfew ordinance should be relaxed
for the period, from December %,
! 1918, to January l, 1919, so that chill
dren to whom the ordinance applies
might be permitted on the streets un-
til 10 o'clock. an hour longer than as
1 provided. Alderman Levy said that
he was willing for the order to lie
over until the next meeting in order
that those interested in it. and the
public in general. might discuss it, and
give their views as to its advisability.
Some sentiment was indicated to the
effect that the ordinance was proving
so effective that it might be dangerous
to interfere with It.
A petition was presented from Rob-
ert Coombs, asking that a sewer be
laid on Murray avenue, from Morris