The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-06
Political Meeting
BESSEMER

Bessemer, July 5.-(Special)-Tne committee appointed to investigate the recent street paving done in the city composed of Charles M. Ray, E. G, Terry H. w. Massey and c. h. Dabbs at the council meeting Tues day night submitted the following report with recommendations:
 After a thorough investigation or all paving done under paving or dinance No. 437, the above committee begs to make the following report and recommendations:
 q. In view of the fact that charges made for excavation work are not made in uniform manner. that they are excessive, that these charges were made apparently without any regard to the actual work done, that the material excavated consisted mainly of chert formerly placed In the streets at the expense of the abutting property owners, that this same material was removed and used in repairing other streets in the city. that the work was done mainly by the city prison force, with city ma chinery and under city control, the committee considers these charges as being unjust, burdensome. and un- lawful and begs to advise that this charge be taken off the assessments against each of the separate pieces of property affected by the aforesaid ordinance with the following exeep- tions: Lot 16, block 101.
 "2. That as the committee was not furnished with any information con- corning the force account further than this charge was made for extra work in particular localities, that it was special work, and labor done affecting the particular piece of prop erty against which the charge was made, it was impossible for the com mittee in making the investigations to see where this charge is justifl- able in any case. In view of the fact is not properly explained, that is not uniform, that the majority of in- dividual pieces of property affected by the ordinance is subjected to this charge and that as there is apparent ly nothing upon which to base the charge in any case, the committee begs to advise that the charge be taken off the assessments against each of the separate pieces of prop erty affected by the aforesaid or dinance with the following excep- tions: Lot 16. block fo1.
 C"The reason assigned by the com mittee for the exception of lot i6. block 101. from the two above recom- mendations is that the committee feels that the city has made full restitution to the owner of the said property. thatf whatever damages sustained by the said owner have been fully compensated and that the committee feels that to do more for this said owner would be unjust to the other property owners affected by the aforesaid ordinance).
 ''3. The committee begs to ad- wise that in view of certain damages sustained by reason of 'the excava- tioh of and change in the grade of Dartmouth avenue, between Twenty second and Thirty-third streets, the assessment charge to be taken off in the cases of the separate pieces Of low and the committee further recommends that in any of these cases where the city agrees to take property enumerated and listed be- off the total assessments that the same be taken off only when the owner of the property agrees to &C., cept this as full settlement and in lieu of any damages that might have been sustained by reason of doing the said excavating, change in grade and paving: Lots l, 2, 3. 4, 5, 6 and '. block 104. Lots 10, II, 12, IS, 1l and 15, block 101.
 "4. The committee recommends tAhoe oAhCi SohotQtfluk these reCOm- mendations made in the first second and third parts of this report and making the reductions therein spe cified. both general and individual. that no further reductions be made in any of the assessments.
 D. In View of the fact that furthe 2 paving contracts are to be let in the city at some future time for the im provement of the streets the com mittee feels that it develops upon them to make some general com plaint in regard to the manner in which the work has been carried out under the aforesaid ordinance ard to make some recommendations as to the handling of such matters for the benefit of the future.
 The committee finds that those persons charged with checking of the work have greatly neglected the same. that it has been done im- properly. that the assessments are not properly detailed and that the records In general are in such . muddled conditson that it is impos- sibie to get an intelligent under standing of the same upon cxamjna- ton, that the records furnished by the city clerk are not properly de- tailed and show that they have not had proper attention. that when par ties connected with the said work were called upon for explanation in all cases they failed to Furnish same, that the city officials have failed in all cases to assist the committee in Investigation of this matter, that the said officials failed to perform their respective duties in these matters of wfe' interest to all tax payers, that tho naasor ~met with this committee