The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-01-09
The Recordership Again.
Editors EXCHANGE:

1878, was an article entftled The
Recordership." in With "Cftizeni," as
he sigus himself, charges the hoard of
Mayor and Aldermen of Milan with
passing an ordinance pretending to
provide for the election If a City Re-
cor,ler, which we have been requested
to answer ana defend the action of
the board. We don't fcisr6 and have
always avoided discussion through the
press; yet re believe it Is the duty of
all public servants to give the people,
when demanded, a reason for their Of
fetal acts, especially when charged
with merely pretending" and not dos
ing. 1t seems very strange that
person who says he is no lawyer-and
he certainly speaks the truth when he
says he is not-should endeavOr to
enlighten our citizens and the Board
upon legal questions, presuming to
know more sbSat law and the neces-
sites of our town, and the duties Of
the Board of Mayor aud Aldermen
than they do themselves, aud more
especially our need and right to elect
a Recorder. If Citizen" Will exam
inc the laws and ordinances of our
town, and the city records, he will find
that We have had a City Recorder ev-
er since We have had municipal
government, though in every instance,
except one, the Mayor has filled that
office. The Recorders duties and
powers are expressly stated in the
laws and ordinances, and are separate
and 92Stinct from those of the Mayor.
The ordinance passed last November,
to which &C" has reference, did not
create the Office, but provided when a
Recorder shall be elected, also that he
shall be Il member of the Board, but
in no event shall the Mayor be
elected to FIJI the Office, ard also gave
him additional jurisdiction and powers.
The present Legislature Will be
asked to give our Recorder criminal
jurisdiction; then, whether he can le-
gally exercise said additional jurisdic-
ton, &c, without the direct and spec
ial authority of the state legislature,
will no longer he a question, even
with Citizen"
When you consider the fact that
the Mayor is frequently absent, same-
times sick, and cases arise which he
is incompetent to try, causing very
great Inconvenience and perplexities,
on account Of which the business, rev.
enue, welfare and good order Of the
town suffer violaters of the law some
times to go unpunished, you can very
readily see why the Mayor and City
Marshal recommended, AMI the board
provided that the Mayor should not
he Recorder. We think the Board
acted wisely i'll enacting said ordin ,nce.
1t does not increase the expenses of
the town one cert, Sut will most GER
tainly be saving of at least 500 per
anHum.
To provide for tlie absence, sickness
and incOmpetency Of Il magistrate,
each civil district has at least two
Justices of the Peace, while it is true,
as sc" says, a district may have but
one constable, yet the law very wisely
provides fOi the deputalion of an off,
Ger in the absence of the constable;
bat j. p. can't be deputised, hence
the reason for two Justices of the
Peace is obvious, and the same applies
to our town. The com bined Salary of
the Mayor and Recorder will not sup
port any man competent to fill the
offices, neither will a Justice of the
Peace'S Office support him.
The ordinance vas passed nrior to
the mLtiicipal election, Sd that the
candidates might know what duties
they would have to perform in the
event of their election, and to fore
stall any complaiiit ON the part of the
Mayor elected that he was deprived
of an additional Office that he expect.
ed to receive. Our present Mayor
knew of the passage of the ordinance
before his election, and hence could
not and does not expect to fill the
office of Recorder also. 1t would not
be just to ask him to do SO.
In conclusion, &C" does our May
or's lordship very grave injustice in
accusing him of being a man of little
or no ability, and the candidates for
Recorder, of whom there are several;
are equally slandered. l SPEAK the
unanimous sentiment of the old Board
S. F. RANKIN.