The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-12-18

MONDAY EVENING, Dec. 10, 1880.
Present-Mayor Nicholson, Aldermen Maher,
Blake Phelps, Perkins, Carcw, Leonard, Heating,
Wilcox, Holiecker, Wilcox, White Logan and
Grinith-l2; absent-Murphy and Millcr-2.
The city attorney presented the following re-
port:
To The Mayor and Common Council Of the CityQt
Otdwd: GENTLEMEN-At your last meeting there
city council had the power to rcmunerate the
chairman of the street and alley committee for
services rendered the city as such chairman. In
no sense is he an officer to which Is attached any
pecunlary emoluments. In order the more ef-
fectually to carry on the business OF the common
council, committees are appointed by the Mayor
and the first named on each committee shall be
chairman. (See Revised Ordinances, p. ~, Sec
1851 The services rendered in that capacity are
purely the ordinary services OF an alderman
which devolve on him By virtue OF his election TO
serve in the city council. In relation to the pay
of aldermen for services rendered the city there
il no room to doubt what the law is. Section IL
Of Article 10 of the charter of the city of Ottawa
provides as follows: The mayor and aldermen
shall be entitled to such compensation for their
services, in addition 20 that herenbefore provided
for the mayor as the inhabitants OF said city, at
an election called for that purpose, shall vote to
allow them, and no other or further compensa-
ton shall be allowed them. | understand that
no ordinance providing for the payment OF any
compensation for the services of aldermen has
ever been submitted to the inhabitants of the
city to be voted and until that is first done the
city council does not possess the power in my
Judgment to compensate the chairman OF the
street and alley committee or any other aldermen
for services rendered the city. Therefore report
against such payment. Respectfully submitted.
NJ. T. MoLoNEY, City Atty.
Aid. Logan moved that the report OF the city
attorney he received and placed on he. Carried
Aid. Perkins moved that the mayor appoint a
committee Of three aldermen for the purpose OF
examining in regard To the amount of labor and
time expended by the chairman of the street and
ally committee more than was generally spent In
the performance of the duty of said Office and re.
port the same to the council. The motion was
lost by the following vote: Aycs-Maher, Phelps,
Perkins, Hollecker and White-5; nOes-Blake,
Carew Leonard, Heating, Wilcox and Logan--6;
ABSENT; Aid. Grlftn was excused from VoL-
ing.
Aid. Blake, chairman Of special committee
TO report as to the purchase of the mineral spring
property reported as follows:
To The Mayor and city Council assembled: Your
committee to whom was referred the matter Of
the purchase OF the mineral spring grounds tc
be used by the city for park would most re
spectfully report that the same can be purchased
for the sum of 81, 400, but that your committee
would further report that 1t is unwise for the city
to purchase said property ut the present time and
ask to be relieved from the further consideration
of the premises. GEO W. w. BLAKE,
II. j. LOGAN,
ALFRED WHITE,
c. :. PHELPS
j. T.. CAREw.
AID Perkins moved that the report and recon
mendation OF the committee be adopted ant
placed on file and committee discharged. Car
ried.
On motion of Aid. Carew adjourned.
ARTHUR T. BARTELs, City CLERK.