The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1891-06-18
CITY Council.


City Council.
An adjourned meeting of the city coun-
Gil was held on Monday evening, with
all the members present. The following
communication from the mayor was re-
ceived and read:
MAYORS OFFICE, City of Sank Centre,
June 9Th, 1861.
To the Common Council of the City
of Sank Centre:
The resolution of your honorable body
dated June 4th was transmitted to me
on the 9Th for my approval. My first
impression was that the resolution was
not considered of any practical impor-
tance, but on learning that 1T was care
fully prepared with the best legal advice
at your command l am led to give it a
passing consideration.
The confirmation of the nomination of
Charles Allen for Chief of Police COM
pletes his appointment without any APP
prevail by me, and hereby return my
heartfelt thanks for the courtesy ex-
tended.
The resolution declares that the pres
ent and all other police officers now act
ing or appointed are hereby released and
discharged from all furthur duties. This
leaves the city and municipal court for
the time being without an officer to at
tend to the daily requirements. There
follows the provision whereby the COM
pensation Of such discharged officer
might continue for ten days.
This is very liberal and worthy of
commentator, especially when the econ
Df he IL.
of chief ten dollars month is considered.
But as it might set a bad precedent it
should not be allowed.
The time from which to compute the
compensation of wage-earners is fixed
by law.
The resolution "That police officers
pay and compensation shall commence
when he enters upon his duties and that
his pay and compensation shall not
commence before he, enters upon his
duties" is exceedingly superfuous and
entirely unnecessary.
A chief of police having been appointed
1t does not seem that any further action
on the part of the council was essential.
And why the resolution was passed or
what interest it was intended to serve,
is not apparent.
1t does appear that to thus discharge
the present police Is an attempt to exer-
else the power of the mayor.
There is no power granted to the
council to appoint or discharge police
man. True a man connot be chief of
police without the confirmation of the
council. And here the councils duty
ends.
am not disposed to be captious, COM
bative, and egotistical or assumptive,
but l must insist upon the right to exer-
else all the powers granted to me by the
law.
The mayor is the executive officer of
the city. it is his duty to see that the
laws are enforced and that good order
prevails. This can only be accomplished
by the aid of the police. He is the head
of this force, in fact, their chief, they to
do the work under his directions. Good
order cannot be expected with two or
more to direct and control. And the
head of the police force cannot be ex-
pected to succeed with Others selecting
and discharging policemen, or with men
not of his choice.
When your honorable body consnmat-
ed it's organization, presented a nomin-
alton for chief of police. For some cause
he seemedto be not a man of your choice.
l did not readily present another name
for thought then on more mature delib-
Grafton YOU would confirm HIM, as there
appeared no objection to his competency.
AS soon as ! became satisfied that under
no circumstances would you confirm
him, promptly made another nomina-
ton for the reason that 1 thought the
interest of the city would be better
served by so doing, not having any In
terest in the matter other than the city
Mr.. Rice has been on the special police
for two months. He entered it under
the keen and critical eyes of dissapoint-
ment and no complaint from the cpgncil
or any one member thereof, or from any
citizen has been made to the mayor that
he has not been efficient and shall re.
greet to lose bis services.
But little doubt but what the ir-com.
ing chief will be able to give good salts
faction.
return herewith your resolution dis.
approved for the reasons that will ap-
pear by the foregoing,
Respectfully Yours.
u. M. ToBEY,
Mayor.
On motion of Alderman Parker the
council proceeded to reconsider the resolu.
ton adopted on June 4th, and vetoed by
the mayor tor the reasons set forth in
the above communication.
Alderman Scrivener moved that the
resolution be adopted, and it was carried,
all the aldermen excepting Cooper vot-
ing aye.
The following resolution was unani-
mously adopted!
WHEREAs--charles Allen having neg
lected to qualify and enter upon his
duties as chief of police of the city of
Sank Centre, after having been appoint.
ed June 4th, last, be it
Resolved by the common council OF the
city of Sank Centre that said office is
hereby declared vacant from and after
this date. also as declared by the mayor
OF the city of Sank Centre.
Mayor Tobey submitted a communi-
cation appointing Howard Wilcox chief
of police, and the appointment was con-
6rmed with only one dissenting vote.
At request of the city council ex-Alder
man Morse explained in detail, and very
satisfactorily to the council, that the
material in the old bridge had netted the
city over fifty dollars, instead of the
trifing sum Indicated in the annual state
ment. Some of the timbers of the old
bridge had been used in the crib work in
the new bridge and paid for by the con-
tractors.
.On motion of Alderman Cooper the
treasurer was instructed to pay the
balance OF exchange on remittance of
interest to pay city bends in 1890 and
fS91-four dollars in all.
The council decided to make furthur
investigation as to the adyjsabihty OF
constructing filter for the water works.
and the superintendent of the water
works and the city clerk were instructed
to obtain estimates of the cost of q suit-.
able filter, and report at the next meet
ing.
Adjourned till June 29th.