Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-04-15
.ae Mayors Duty.


manner in which you characterized
in your last issue, an unfounded as
sertion, while it may appear harsh,
was the only way to meet it.
| It is a little singular that the
reckless charges being made against
the corporation authorities could
only come from a man who has re-
sided here but six months and is not
yet even voter. How does it hap
pen that he takes so much interest
in matters he knows nothing about :?
1t has been left for him to misrepre-
sent and disparage our town, to
characterize it as a baInyard and hog
pen and do it all the injury he posi-
bly, could among strangers, while
ella ming to be specially interested
in it's welfare and prosperity. Does
he not take nice way to show his
interest in our prosperity ? The
truth is he has shown himself ready
to sacrifice the interests of the town
to his own selfish purposes. This is
as plain as anything can be to any
|
ceive everybody. In common street
parlance lit is too thin"
The animus of the misrepresenta-
tions of the Mayor and Council con-
sist in the fact that the Mayor is one
of the editors of the INDEPENDENT
The other fellow is in the same
business. The INDEPENDENT is
believed to have more circulation
than both the other papers together;
it seems to be running away with
| the business. That makes them mad
and hence their misrepresentation of
one of the INDEPENDENT editors,
who happens to be Mayor. This, in
my opinion is the real secret OF the
matter. Nothing else could cause
such loving coalition between the
Republican and SO. called Democratic
| journals. Its too sudden and too
disinterested. But the ignorance
displayed in this misrepres entation
is enough to disgust any man of Or
binary sense. just look at it. They
don't even know the duties of the
| Mayor.
One charges that cows run on the
streets. Suppose they do ? Is it
the Mayors duty to drive them off
or into the pound ? Not any more
than any other citizen. The Mayor
is not policeman nor required to
do police duty. Why don't the par
ties who see the cows or are annoyed
by them, drive them up, or find out
whose they are and then come for
ward and make their complaint land
then it will be the duty OF the Mayor
To act, and if he then does not he is
censurable.
And so in regard to all their COM
plants. If these parties know OF
violations of the ordinances, why
don't they come forward, make
complaint on oath, and have the
parties up. Don't they have to do
this before magistrate ? Does the
magistrate go out and hunt up vio-
lators of the law ? Does the Prose-
cutting Attorney hunt up cases to
prosecute, or the Judge cases to try?
The ignorance of these men, if it be
ignorance, consists in charging the
Mayor with not Furnishing offences,
which he knows nothing about, and
which they, if they know of them,
fail in their duty as good citizens in
not reporting them.
| But says another, why don't the
police arrest them or report them ?
Well, we presume he does when he
sees any violations, but as there is
but one policeman, it is impossible
for him to be all over the town at
the same time. And then, besides,
the Mayor has no power to suspend
the policeman, even if that officer
fails to do his duty. Now let me
ask why these parties who profess to
know of so many violations of the
ordinances do not, like good citizens
go before the Mayor, make COM
plant on oath, and ee if he will not,
as his duty compels him, issue war
rants on their complaints and have
the parties properly tried, and fined,
IT convicted. The Mayor is only
required to act when complaint is
made, and if the parties who charge
that the ordinances are violated,
know il to be so, and fail to make
the complaint, they are to blame.
Justice" or any other citizen, has
just the same right to arrest viola
tor of the ordinances as the Mayor,
aud it is as much their duty. The
impression is sought to be conveyed,
that the Mayor must hunt up cases.
He has nothing to do with them
until complaint is first made, and
then his duty is to try the party
charged, and decide according to the
evidence
Ii is astonishing how some people
exhibit their ignorance IN trying to
discuss matters they know nothing
about. EN- COUNCILMAN.
If we are TO believe the Republican
correspondents at Albany ex Gov
ernOr Tilden will be the democratic
candidate for Governor of New