August 10, 1895
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Meeting of City Council Last Night – A Large Number of Bills Allowed – report of the Street and Grade Committee – Contractor Ritter and the Artesian Well
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The city council met in regular session lat night at 8 o’clock with Acting Mayor Stewart presiding and a full board of aldermen present. The aldermen were all in fine voice and in a debatable mood.
After roll call Alderman O’Keeffe was excused to attend to some private business.
HIS VETO AGAIN
The following communication from the mayor was read by the clerk:
I hereby lay before you my veto of your action of last Friday evening, August 2nd, in passing an ordinance to amend section 1 of an ordinance, No. 44, relative to streets, sidewalks, alleys, etc., approved June 19, 1891.
In vetoing your action as above referred to I do so for the following reasons, viz:
First. For the reason you do not state who is to pay the scavenger for his services. Although it is inferred from your proposed amendment that the city does so. And if so, why not be more generous and also pay the scavenger for cleaning the streets, alleys, gutters, etc.
In my opinion the tax payer would much rather pay for all the work than he would to be annoyed to do so himself.
But as I am told it is the intention of the council that the ordinance or amendment is to compel each person and property owner to pay the scavenger a certain sum or amount (which is not stated) each month for inspecting streets, alleys, etc. And as there is no provision made for who or how the scavenger shall be paid for this work, I see no good reason why the city should go to the expense of having said ordinance advertised.
And further, I believe the expense would be uncalled for at this time especially when we are contemplating a codification of all our ordinances in the near future. Hence the veto.
The veto was sustained by the council.
City Attorney Townsend recommended that the claim of J.F. Satterthwaite to the new city park be rejected. The recommendation was ordered carried out.
Chief Fink reported the collection of $485.50 in fines during July. Refered to the police committee.
Dr. Yandell, representing the firemen and said that while the boys were perfectly willing to go to fires in Juarez, Chief Powers did not wish to assume the responsibility of ordering the firemen over the river, and he wanted the city council to take some action on the matter.
It was ordered that the chief of the department could order the firemen to cross the river, only when the mayor or chief of police of Juarez or Collector Bauche call on the chief for aid.
The city assessor and collector reported the collection of $916.34 in taxes and license during the month of July. Refereed to the taxation committee.
The city engineer submitted a report reviewing the proper course to secure proper draining for the city. The report was received and filed.
Chairman Schutz of the committee on streets and grades submitted the following report:
First – In reference to request of Mr. A. Courchesne relative to building a new road to the smelter, we respectfully recommend as follows:
That the city donate two thousand dollars in general fund scrip towards building above road, provided the county will appropriate the sum of three thousand dollars for the same purpose; we further recommend that this committee be authorized to submit above proposition to the county commissioners at its regular meeting Monday, August 17.
Second – We have examined claim of A.L. Roy and find that the city is not liable therefore and do therefore recommend that same be disallowed.
Third – We find that the only way to prevent water from running into lot corner Stanton and Overland streets is to build a sidewalk around said property.
It was ordered that the recommendations of the committee be carried out, though Alderman Davis and Roberts favored paying Mr. Roy something
On recommendation of the finance committee the following bills were allowed:
Stacy Payne & Co. …………….$ 1.00
Thomas Pennie ………………… 21.00
H.P. Noake …………………….. 1.75
Mueller & Kachler …………….. 4.50
D. Mackenzie ………………….. 125.00
O. G. Seaton …………………… 20.00
W.E. Fink ……………………… 9.25
Electric light Co. ………………. 58.54
Times Publishing Co. ………….. 5.00
O.O. Ballinger …………………. 2.25
Transfer Co. …………………… 1.00
M.O. McGlennon ……………… 15.00
J.T. Nesom …………………….. 2.00
E.D. Mallory …………………… 1.00
Hotel Dieu ……………………... 17.00
Burton Lingo & Co ……………. 12.45
A. Solomon ……………………. 238.78
Electric Light Co ………………. 624.00
The city attorney was instructed to draw up a new contract with A. Solomon for street sprinkling and the mayor was authorized to sign the same.
Alderman Whitmore said he had received a telegram from Contractor Ritter asking that the commencement of work on the Artesian Well derrick be postponed until he could arrive.
Alderman Whitmore was instructed to confer with Messrs. Rheinhelmer & Holland relative to delaying work a few days.
Chairman Roberts of the fire and water committee was allowed further time to report on the proposition of the electric light company.
Mr. S.H. Buchanan suggested that the citizens of Juarez be requested not to ask for aid from El Paso’s fire department except in case of a serious conflagration. The mayor appointed the fire and water committee to confer with the officials of Juarez on the subject.
The committee on codification of ordinances was granted further time to report.
It was decided that the council should meet next Monday afternoon at 7:30 o’clock as a board of equalization.
A short, spicy and pert letter from Contractor Ritter was read by the clerk.
A request for sewer extensions on Missouri street was referred to the street and grade committee in conjunction with the city engineer.
A communication from A.M. Loomis relative to the rental of city property was approved and the city attorney was instructed to proceed to secure possession of the house now occupied by B.S. Oatlin.
The city clerk was instructed to advertise for bids for a team to do street work.
Council adjourned, after agreeing to meet at 6:30 next Friday night.
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