[Newspaper]
Publication: The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati, OH, United States
vol. 36, no. 39, p. 7, col. 4
City Council Meeting — Some of the Ways
the Money Goes — The Relief Union
Wins a Victory — Street-Lamps to be
Lettered — A Wonderful Treasury
Report — After the Gas-Light Company.
The council met lest night in adjourned session. All present, except Messrs. Carpenter, Davezac and Bateman.
Bills amounting to much money were allowed. Including $102 to election officers, $1,342 45 to city officers for January, $1,225 to Fire Department, $220 for Fire Department supplies, $706 78 to street hands, $ 1,068 14 for supplies to Street Department, $224 to garbage hands; $1,345 to Police Department (except the $60 a month to the two Jail Turnkeys, which matter was, on motion of Mr. Blakely and after a communication from the City Attorney, referred to the Committee on Law and City Attorney); $4 45 for supplies to same department; $500 to H. Ute on account of Western Row sewer; $188 to B. Connelly for dieting city prisoners; $67 to A. Willenbrink for same; $11 70 to same for county prisoners; $84 to P. Davis, Superintendent Widows and Orphans’ Home for boarding inmates for past week or so; $1,298 to Covington Gas-light Company for December, except that part consumed in Jail; $534 to Globe Gas-light Company for January except the part for gas consumed In Jail; also many hundreds of dollars for groceries and drugs to O. D. P. previous to opening of Relief House.
The bills of G. B. Connely, $216 for attending County Court and $133 for dieting “county prisoners" and the jail gas bills were referred. Also Coroner Averdick's bills for summoning juries and witnesses for inquests.
Resolved, on motion of Mr. Collins, that the city's note be executed and the necessary amount borrowed to meet the demands on the General Fund.
Mr. Blakely presented the report of the Relief Union for the four weeks last past, printed elsewhere, and moved to refer to an Auditing Committee, not including himself. Mr. Collins stated that the O. D. P. bills (inclusive of medicines, coal, boarders, and Hospital expenses) averaged over $1,300 a month for November, December, and January last. He called attention to the contrast between that showing and the one now made by the Relief Union.
Mr. Hermes said that the average for the whole year would show that Council was not saving any thing. He criticized the Relief Union plan generally. He said that worthy poor people didn’t want to go up to the Soup-house to be inspected by fine ladies. Those ladies were not fit to rush and slush around and make the proper inquiries into the merits or demerits of cases. It was more suitable for a man, and Mr. Wilson could do it better. Those fine ladies would be better employed at their homes rearing children and making warm, comfortable places of them for their husbands. They were striving for a big reputation at the city's expense. He mentioned, incidentally, that the soup at his house was, as good as could be found in Covington, and soup and bread with it cost less than a cent a head.
Mr. McDannold differed regretfully, but earnestly, with his old friend just speaking. He had been to the Relief-house himself, watched it workings, and was converted from his former opposition to the plan.
Mr. Blakely offered a resolution appropriating $650. Mr. McDannold moved to make it $750. Mr. Hermes moved (ironically) to make it $1,000. Mr. Woods seconded. Mr. Hermes complained that grocers in his ward were as much entitled to custom as Mr. Horner, whom the Relief Union patronized.
Mr. McDannold moved as a substitute the ordinance lately printed creating a depot of supplies. &c. Mr. Blakely moved, to lay on the table. Mr. Ellis injected a little profession of conversion similar to Mr. McDannold’s. Mr. Blakely's motion prevailed by yeas, 10; nays. 6. Mr. Ashbrook making his usual speech of "explanation." It was a sensible, patriotic speech.
Mr. Hermes insisted that is is degrading to the honest poor to go there, and complained that the "young boy" employed there had used foul language about him because he voted against this thing.
Mr. Tranter moved to refer to Committee on Relief for report. Lost by exactly the same vote.
Mr. Hermes' motion to allow $1,000 failed by — yeas, 12 to 4 — Messrs. Hermes, Howe, Wolking and Woods being the four.
Mr. McDannold withdrew his $750 amendment. Mr. Hermes moved to postpone four weeks. Mr. Collins moved the previous question. Carried. Mr. Hermes moved to adjourn. Lost by 13 to 3. The Blakely resolution then passed by 15 to Hermes.
The vote on the motion to table the McDonald substitute and on the Tranter motion to refer was Ashbrook, Blakely, Collins, Ellis, Fedders, Geisbaner, McDannold, Meyers, Rich and Stevens, ten on the winning side, and Hermes, Howe, McDonald, Tranter, Wolking and Woods, six on the losing side. The President appointed Messrs. McDannold, Ellis and Rich as the Committee to audit the report just presented.
The City Attorney was, on motion of Mr. Blakely, instructed to report as to the legal requirements of the city in connection with the establishment of Courts at Covington.
The Committee on Gas reported in favor of giving the Hemingray Glass Company the job of lettering the street-lamps. That Company proposed to take down, letter and replace at twenty cents per light, and to take a contract for one to five years, the city furnishing the glass, and warrant the work good as long as the glass is preserved unbroken. Agreed to. The plan of lettering is by a process called sandblasting, and the work is to be begun at once.
Mr. Howe presented some proposed rules for the Fire Department. One of them provides for an Assistant Superintendent; also a Captain of each company, to be appointed by the Chief. Concurred in.
J. M. Mays' fine for assaulting the priest was remitted by 12 to 4, and the Marshal instructed to release Mays at once.
Mr. Collins presented what he termed a "curiosity." It was a Treasurer's report handed the Committee on Ways and Means the day after it was due, and a report correct, according to the books of the bank, as well as the Treasury records.
Mr. Collins stated the Ex-Collector had made up his account and an examination by the new Collector was all that was now wanting.
Mr. Collins offered a resolution instructing the Committee on Gas to bring in an ordinance regulating the lighting of lamps according to the Cincinnati fashion. Referred.
At 11:45 adjourned. [not finished]