The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-23
IAN EGREGIOUS BLUNDER
The Kangaroo fails to Conform
with the Laws and Ordi-
nances which Govern
the City,
And Consequently all the Ap-
pointments Made by him
are Null and Void.
Legal Opinion that the First
Session Of the City Coun-
Gil was Nothing but
a Farce.
A Chance for Mayor Murdoch
to Rectify his Grievous
Mistakes in Regard to
Appointments.
Will he Grasp the Opportunity
and Concur with Popular
Sentiment?
Let the Old Officers Retain
their Places until their
Successors are Regu
larly Appointed.
A BAD BREAK BY THE KANGAROO.

&APPoAAoOu'
A BAD BREAK BY THE KANGAROO.
The ARGUS is never so happy as when
engaged in the glorious cause of battling
for the right and defending the oppressed
Thus it is that we take great interest in
supporting the tax payers and reputable
citizens in their opposition to the tactics
of the new administration. The ARGUS
has censured the policy of the new
mayor, and pointed out the numerous de-
fects in the list of his appointments made
last Monday evening, not for any per-
sonal or political reason, but simply on
the issue of merit and competency. And
as this is the real issue we feel justified
and deem it our duty to severe
ly criticise the lnitiatory step of Mayor
Murdoch. But why? Because he has
shown himself to be the tool of designing
men; that he has disregarded the wishes
of the masses to please favored few
that he has supplanted faithfulness and
efficiency by inferiority and incompetency
and that in in doing SO he has proceeded
ILLEGALLY!
These are certainly sufficient reasons
to complain, and the one last mentioned
is the strongest objection made
The people can grumble-as they
have done-about the appoint.
ments made by Mayor Murdoch
without effect as long as they are legally
made, but when it is learned that the pros
ceedings last Monday night were not in
conformity with the general incorporation
laws and ordinances of the city. their dis
content has some significance. And We
feel capable of conclusively proving tc
every citizen of Rock Island--Mr. Muir
dock and his henchmen included-that
he violated not only the spirit, but the
letter of the law in appointing his subor
dinate officers, as he did on Monday even
ing last.
In the first place the new council should
not have taken their seats until the 4tt
day of May, as provided By ordinance
The provisions of the general incorpora'
ton laws for cities and villages, state.
that the term of all elective officers com
mences with the municipal year next fol
lowing the election. The law provides a
to all elective officers that they shall holt
their offices for the term of two years
which means municipal years" Unde
the incorporation law the term 'municipa
year is to be construed to mean the period
| elapsing between the regular annual cleo
| tons. unless otherwise provided by ordi-
nance" In such case the municipal yea
commences On the day next following thu
election, and when such is the case per
son elected to an Office might qualify AMI
enter upon its duties as soon as the cleo
ton is held and determined, for the rea
son that the municipal year for whicI
he is elected has commenced. Blu
under the section of the Law
just quoted, this city has provided al
ordinance that 1.-The municipal year o
said city shall commence on the frs
Monday in May of each calendar year.
The commencement of the municipal yea
thus deferred and defined, defers and de
fines also, the commencement of tern
of office for municipal year or years
To say, as the law in such cases says tina
city officers shall hold their offices for tn
term of two. (municipaD years, is equiva
lent to saying that he shall commence hi
term Of Office with the municipal yea
next after his election, and hold the sam,
for that and the next municipal year.
As to all officers appointed by the may
or, with the advice and consent of th
city council, the incorporation law pro
vides that 1.-THE city council, may by or
dinance, prescribe the duties and defn
the powers of all such officers, toqethe
Nth tile term of any such office, provided
the term shall not exceed two years.
In pursuance of this section of the law
chapter 10, of the revised ordinances en-
titled Officers provides that as to sucl
officers, they shall be appointed by tx
mayor, with the advice and consent of th
city council, biennially, at or as soon a
practicable after the first regular meetin
of the city council, held next after eac
mayoralty election, and to hold their off
ces until their successors are elected an
qualified" The qualification of perso
elected or appointed to Office cannot il
any way affect the term of Office of hi
predecessor, either to shorten or lengthe
it, but 1t serves merely to entitle the per
son SO qualifying, to enter upon his ofic'
when his term of Office shall commence
The above is an opinion by Judge vii
kinson. and proves beyond doubt tbs
the mayor and aldermen-elect are not er
titled to their seats in the council cham
Der until the first Monday in May. TIL
ordinance provides that the mayor shall
] ,naka his annointmanfs nat Or no soon q