The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-16
Removal Of MAYOR.

The personal organ of the five aldermen
whose policy was overwhelmingly repudi-
ated by the people last spring, quotes Sec
E, of Art. Ii, of our city charter, which is
as follow:
SECTION 6. Any person elected or an
pointed to any Office may be removed from
such office by vote of two thirds of all
the aldermen authorized by law to he
elected. But no officer shall be removed
except for good cause, nor unless first fur
nished with the charges against him. and
heard in his defence, and the CITY Council
shall have power to compel the attendance
OF witnesses, and the production of pa
pers, when necessary for the purpose of
such trial, and shall proceed within ten
days to hear and determine upon the mer-
its OF the case, and if such officer shall
neglect to appear and answer to such
charge, then the City Council may declare
the Office vacant. Provided, this section
shall not be deemed to apply to any officer
appointed by the City Council, such officer
may be removed at any time, by vote of
two-thirds, as aforesaid, in their discretion.
but any officer may be suspended until the
disposition of charges when preferred,
The Union and its advisers claim that.
under this, the Mayor can be tried and re-
moved from Office.
The sectionE has no reference whatever
to the Mayor or Aldermen; it refers only
to officers who are not members of the
city council.
When our charter was adopted, in 1857,
it provided for the election, By the people,
Of city marshal, and of supervisor Of
streets in each ward, and this section G
was made for the triad of these officers
only, if found necessary, and it provided
that other officers, who were appointed by
the council, could be removed at any time
By vote of two-thirds, without trial.
Judge Wilkinson prepared the charter,
and he knows this to be the true meaning
of Sec. 6.
After or years trial, 1T was found
that the election of marshal and ward su
pervisors by the people did not work well
and the charter was amended, in 1861, do
ing away with the election of these officer
by providing that they be appointed b!
the council, and providing that all officers
except Mayor and Aldermen, might be re
moved at any time by a majority, by res
olution. without trial. The effect of TIL
amendment to the charter is that Sec.
is changed in phraseology and Sec. 6,
rendered entirely imperative. Sec. ney
er referred to the Mayor or the Aldermel
in any form, directly or indirectly-had j
been intended to do so it would have re
ferred to them by their proper official title
The Council has no power to try or t
remove any of its own members. But tn
charter provides how the Mayor may b
punished. and what for, and how remove
from Office, on page Sc, as follows
i IS. He, 1.-THE Mayor, shall be liabl
to Indictment in the Circuit Court of Roc
Island County for palpable omission of du
ty, wilful oppression, malconduct or pal
TALLY in the discharge of the duties of h
Office. And upon conviction shall be sui
ject to fine not exceeding one hundre
dollars and the court shall have powe
upon recommendation of the jury, to ado
as part of the judgment, that he be r.
moved from Office.
The Council cannot try or displace i
, own members, and any attempt to do it
out of order and illegal. They are a
countable only to their constituents. ar
can be legally punished only by the court
The repudiated hold overs and their pc
r sonal organ Will find, if they ever NAL
9 the attempt, that this is the true and pro
D er Interpretation of the charter.