Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-03-20
CHAPTER NO. 2,
TO WHICH WE INVITE THE AT
TENTIoN OF THE CITY coUN-
GIL AND THE PUBLIC
IN GENERAL.

'sNS ShhANNi VI WV wy M
III, Sec, 5, we find the following:
"The Board of Councilmen shal
Keep, or cause to be kept, correc
journal of their proceedings, and i'm
mediately after adjournment of oacl
session of the Board of Councilmel
may cause the proceedings of tina
session to be published at least one,
in some newspaper printed and pub
llshed in the city of IIopkinsville
such paper 10 be selected by tn,
Board of COuncilmen, and all ordi
nances passed and enacted by thu
Board may, before being en-
forced, be published in the manner
above provided for publication of thu
proceedings of said board, and all or
dinances passed and enacted during
the year, and unrepealed at the end
of the term of Office of each Board Of
Councilmen, may then be published
for the use of the incoming Board Of
Councilmen and for such distribu.
ton as the Board of Councilmell
may prescribe by ordinance in the
same way and manner as the sheet
acts of the General Assembly of Ken
lucky are published"
"Sec. 6. In one year after the first
election under this Charter and from
time to time thereafter as the Board
of Councilmen may deem best for the
interest of said city, and the proper
understanding of the laws and ordi-
nances governing and controlling the
same, the Board of Councilmen may
cause all the general ordinances en-
acted for the government, control and
regulation of said city, to be digested
and printed in pamphlet form, with
proper marginal references and a
general index"
From careful reading fthe above
one must conclude that the original
idea and intention was to have the
proceedings of the Council published
y" CITY paper for tho information
OF the public, to be paid for by the
city, in order that the people should
keep themselves posted. The ordi-
nances, of more Importance still,
should also be published in order
that the citizens may be fully &C
luainted with them and have knowl-
edge as to their violation. Not for
eleven years has this been done and
how much further this oversight ex-
lends back we can not say. Other
cities of no greater pretensions than
lopkinsville have the Council pro-
'eedings and all ordinances published,
and we fail TO see why this should
not be the case in Hopkinsville. 1t
will also be noticed that all ordinances
passed and enacted during the year,
md unrepealed may be published for
he incoming Board, and for distri-
button. This very important feature
mas also been overlooked, and we
the fact that it is impossi-
Die for any Board of Councilmen to
thoroughly comprehend the work of
he former Board without being fully
with their actions, and
low can this be done unless il is put
II some printed shape, as a matter of
efereuce. 1t is fact that Hopkins
lille has not had a revised and print
ID book containing the City Charter
nd Ordinances since 1874, over Ia
ears. This being the fact we would
ike to know how it is possible for
he Council to keep themselves prop
rly posted, or to keep the Chief of
Police and the officers under him ia
niliar with the ordinances which
hey have sworn to enforce. The
ault cannot be because the city is
lot able TO stand these small ex-
enses, or that it would not be the
roper thing to do, for the people |
hould be kept posted, and the Coun-
il should be thoroughly familiar
With all things pertaining to the
ity's interest in order that they may
ave the police properly enforce the
AVIS. a city policeman said TO us
hat he was not thoroughly familiar
nth the ordinances, as many of
hem were in no shape for him to
lmiliarize himself with, being only |
1ritten on the record books, and it
1ould take good deal of time to
ook through them and find them.
The Board have right from time
time as they may deem best for
roper understanding of the laws
nd ordinances to have them printed
a pamphlet form. Surely our pres
MT Council will not admit that it
as been for the best not to have
revised edition of the Charter and
ordinances for over IA years. There
hould be more attention given to
hese important oversights on the part
f our Council, each of whom have
aken an oath to look after the city's
yelfare to the best of his ability. A
,ouncil to be good one must read
nd keep posted, think great deal,
i've personal observation to things
eeded, and after passing an ordi-
ance carry it into effect. Will our
iouncil not give little more atten-
on and study to the wants of our
ity? We will assure them the peo-
le want it.