The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-23


of the city council" The regular meet
ings are designated to be held on the first
Monday in each month. Mayor Murdoch
made his appointments on the Goth of
April, before his term of Office commenced.
WHAT WAS ITs.
If it was meeting at all it must have
been either regular, special or adjourned
meeting. We have proven it was not a
regular meeting, and now we shall see if it
was either of the other two. What does
the ordinances sayconstitutes special and
adjourned meetings? Chapter 5. entitled
City Council" provides that "the mayor
or any three aldermen may call special
meetings of the city council, in which
call shall be specified the time of the
meeting. Notice of such call shall be
given by the city clerk, and served on the
other members of the city council by the
city marshal or some police officer, by de-
livering copy thereof to each of them,
or at his place of residence, at least five
hours before the time of meeting named
in the notice Notice of adjourned meets
ings shall be given in like manner to each
member of the council not present at the
time of adjournment Did the mayor or
any three aldermen call special
meeting of the city council
last evening, and did the clerk
notify the different members in
writing to that effect in the time specified
by the ordinance2 We think not Well,
if it wasn't regular, special or adjourned
meeting, what was it2 Probably freak
of the Kangaroo, Ell!
The official report of the council pro-
ceedings shows how the new council was
indicted into office:
Alderman Bennett moved to adjourn
sine die; carried. Chat was the old coun
cil.) The retiring mayor then introduced
his successor, Mayor Thomas Murdoch,
and returned thanks to the aldermen for
their kindness and courtesy. Mayor MUIR
deck called the new council to order, and
the clerk called the roll"
That the appointments were not made
at regular meeting and previous to the
commencement of the municipal year are
mere technicalities, and could easily be
overlooked. But jurisdictional point
arises which cannot be overcome The
appointments we're made and confirmed
when the council was not legally consti-
tuted to do business of any character.
By moving to adjourn sine die Alderman
Bennett precluded any possibility of re-
converting until the regularly appointed
time for a regular meeting, or by special
call either by the mayor or aldermen. If
there had been a molten to take recess
until the new officers cou Id be sworn in,
it would be different and the other errors
mentioned could be overlooked
WILL THE BONDS HOLD GOOD?
Surprising the officers appointed by
Mayor Murdoch should continue to hold
office, their bonds would be worthless,
and the city could not collect cent from
their sureties in case such course should
be necessary. This fact makes the ques>
ton more serious.still, and calls for imme-
diate action by the council. There is no
doubt but that the appointees will have to
be reconfrmed, and the old officers should
be empowered to act until such time.
The people demand and have right
to expect that the ordinances shall be
lived up to, and the mode of procedure
adopted by Mayor Murdoch is certainly
unwarranted. But after all the mistake
may be fruitful of some good results
Sufficient time has elapsed since the nom
nations were made to show Mr.. Murdoch
that he has failed to please his constitu-
ents by his selections, and he can there
fore profit by experience, if he so
desires. If the appointments had
been legally made, it would be more diff
cult to make alterations, but now that il
has to be done over again, he can act ac-
cordingly. If he does not see fit to make
alterations in the list of appointive Off
GERS, some of the aldermen should surely
refuse to sanction his course, as they all
cannot be blind to the popular desire.
The ARGUS makes mention of this mat
ter now, believing that it is easier to rec
tlfy wrong at the outset than after i
has become deeply rooted. Knowing thai
the new administration will be very thank
full to have its attention called TO thi:
Slight" irregularity, and hoping that il
will rectify it as soon as possible, We
await further developments.