Sewerage A Big Bugbear

The word "sewerage" seems to have the same effect upon some of the aldermen that a red rag has upon a mad buil. Let the subject be mentioned.and at once they put on their flgurative boxing gloves. On Monday evening a petition relating to the suH et and signed by 129 persons was reiul by the city clerk. A motion was made to receive it and spread it on the records. The council said no, Alderman Martin ohanging his vote from affirmative to negative so that he might reconsider when the absent members of the council should arrive. Then it was moved that the petition be received and placed on file. This motion also was voted down. Alderman Wines, at this point, indignantly protested against this shabby treatment, saying that it was evident thealdermen did not care what the people thought about the question. Then Col. H. S. Dean took the floor. He should think that the council would only be too glad to shift the responsibility and allow the people to decide whether they should have sewerage or not. G. F. Allmendingershowed at some length why the petition was circulated. Notoneperson whom they had approached, whether he was in favor of sewerage or not, had refused to sign. He knew that a scheme was on foot to bond the city for $100,000, and to baild the entire system at once. He believed that plan to be unfair, because it would impose burdens on many people who would gain no benefite and because it would addle a heavy debt upon the city. City Attorney Norris examined the petition critically and noticing that it called for a special election in November, suggested that itwouldbe illegal to vote in 1891 money which should be raised in 1892. J. V. Sheehan, upon request, made a few remarks, suggesting that before the council proceed they receive bidsfor building the main sewer, and thus give the people some idea what it would coat. After further discussion Alderman Martin moved that the motion by which the council refuaed to spread the petition on the records be reconsidere J, but the council refused to do so by a vote of 7 to 5. Then Col. H. S. Dean walleed up to the clerk's desk and asked for the petition, saying that, inasmuch as the council had refused to receive it, it belonged to himThe president ruled that it could not be returned. Finally the council, without receiving the petition, referred it to the sewerage committee. The innocent little document which created so much trouble reads as follows : The unuersignea citizens ana tax payers of the city of Ann Arbor respectfully petition your honorable body to submit to a vote of the people of the city the proposition to raise by a tax to be levied in the year 1892 the sum of $20,000 for the purpose of baildinga main sewer in accordance with the plan submitted by Prof. Chas. E. Greene and unanimoualy recommended by the committeejon sewerage created by your honorable body, and the time for submitting eaid question to a vote of the people be fixed in the month of November, 1891. Sedgwlck Dean John Goetz & Son John L. Ziegler J. Henne John A. Freeman John Koch J. F. Schub. N. Stanger John Goetz, jr. Ed. Eberbach Chas. Tessmer F. Schmid W. G. Dieterle Henry J. Mann A. Teufel Gerhardt Josenhana Albert Teufel Qeo. Halier C. L. Lntz Adolph B. Covert Fred Schnmacher . ' . H. Rhodes F. E. Legg A. Dunn B. F. Schumacher John Baumgardaer J. Q. A. Sesslons Wm. Kennedy Walter C. Mack ff. W. Wadhams Martin Hallex E. P. Cook G. W. Balley Thos. F. Leonard A. L. Noble L. C. Goodrich A. J. Sawyer M. Duke DaTid Rlnsey C. E. Mutschel C. II Thompson Titus F. Hut.el P. B Roe E. C. Spring D. C. Fall John Hayer Philip Bach D. F Schairei T. Porter Chas. S. Milieu S. W. Claikson H. J. Brown W. R. Prica Adam Seyler E. F. Mills N J. Kyer Goodyear & St. lames F. Stofflet K.F. Watts F. Plstorius L. Graner R. Waterman G. L. Moore M. M.Steffey Geo. Wahr Cascar Rinsey A. Moore E. D. Kinne Harvey Comwell W. H. Mclntyre F. T. Stimsou John Moore J. F. Lawrence J. J. Goodyear ïïdward Duffy Louis Líeseme r Janlus E. Beal W. A. Clark Ë. E. Beal C. W. Wagner 8. A. Moran R. Campbell A. W. Bamilton J. Bererance W. F. Stimson Allen Kent J. W. Maynanl S. Tuckcr S. S. Blitz Edward Kltchen Wm. Wagner Gottlieb Sehnelder Ernest Eberbadi Q. F. Allmendinger J. M. Stafford George Fischer Custave Behnkc Israel Clark W. II. Koost Chas. Speller N. H. Barrows g. Rosennaler Simon Myers J. D. Stimson & Sons John A. Volz J, A. Brown Daniel Pierce J. R. Bowdlsh & Co. Michael Schneidcr E. E. Calkins Henry 8 Dean W. G. Palmer J. Ausün Scott John V. Sheehan Wm. Reinhardt I. E. Nickels Q. B. Alexander J, B. Williams John Liadenschmidt A. F. Martin F. Staebler G. B. Khoad Christ. Weinmanu Bassett Bros. W. W. Wetmore R. E. Jolly John Burg C. H. Cady Geo. H. Blum A BOMBSHEIA. The council, upon motion of Alderman O'Hearn, took up the project of building a stone culvert over the race on Felch-st. Alderman Wines wanted to know where they were going to get the nioney with which to pay for it. He reminded the aldermen that, accordingto the charter (sectionl86,page 95) the council had no right to vote away money from any fund when the fund was already overdrawn. The inference was that when aldermen did so, they were individual!}' Hable. Inasmuch as the city had been running into debt for several years in the form of overdrafts, the council did not become badly frightened and after further discussion they decided to order a stone culvert. OTHEE BUSINESS. Upon motion of Alderman Herz, the city clerk was authorized to advertise for bids for furnishing eighty eleclric lights during the year 1892. The Bum of $75 was appropriated for re-srading the alley between Main, Washington, Ashley and Huron-sts. All moneys received from fines and offlcers' fees were, upon motion of Alderman Taylor, placed to the credit of the pólice fund. A number of sidewalks were ordered, and other minor business was transacted. At 10:30 the council adjourned.