Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-02-18
A Wise POLICY ADVISED
The Judiciary Committees Es-
Inmates and Recommend
ations Submitted
The Marshal's Authority to Ap-
point and Discharge Po-
lice OIhcers Discussed
The Western Union Asks For
a Franchise~--PurCha
Committee Appointed

The city council met in regular ses-
sion at the usual hour yesterday after
noon, Mayor Mckenzie presiding and
all members present except Council
man Donovan.
A petition asking that nuisance in
the alley of block ia be abated was
referred to the street committee.
A petition for an arc light at the in
/ tersection Of Douglas avenue and
Twenty-second street was referred to
the committee on fire, water and light.
A petition from the Western Union
telegraph Company asking for IA fran
chise for the erection Of poles and wires
necessary for the maintenance Of tele-
graph line through the city was refer
red to the street committee and city
attorney.
The city engineer advised that stone
monuments be placed at the corners Of
additions and that standard chain be
adopted for making city surveys. He
was authorized to purchase a standard
steel tape, the cost to be about So.
Further time was granted to the COM
mittee appointed to investigate the
matter Of the rebate of taxes asked by
the Citizens bank, the city attorney
having advised that real estate as well
as other mortgages are taxable under
the law Of this state and that no rebate
could legally be allowed on that ac-
count.
The city attorney reported in the
matter Of charges made b. the city for
fixing the boundaries Of lots, that i'm
his opinion the city engineer should fix
reasonable charge for such service
and credit the city with all amounts
received for such work. Councilman
Griffin stated that at the next meeting
of the council he would submit an ordi-
nance for the regulation of the matter.
The whole matter Of plats and lots was
referred TO the city attorney with in
structions TO report as to the power Of
the city to compel property owners 10
| plat in accordance with the streets es-
tablished and projected 10y the city.
Judge Maxwell asked permission to
address the council in reference to the
matter Of the removal Of Officer Cam
eron from the police force. He simply
argued as matter Of law that the city
marshal had no authority either to APP
point or remove officers of the force,
l that power resting alone with the
council. a lengthy discussion ensued
in which the mayor, city attorney and
several members of the council par
/ tiCipated. The following motion was
made by Councilman Kingdom:
That the action Of City Marshal
/ Blakely in removing Officer Cameron
] from the police force and appointing J..
| w. Sloan in his stead be and the same
is hereby ratified by the city council.
And the city marshal is hereby in
structed TO report TO the city clerk any
change in the personef Of the police
force which he may contemplate. If
! i'm the judgment of the marshal the
| removal of any officer is a necessity he
shall be authorized to remove such
officer and if necessary appoint another
| in his stead until the next regular
meeting Of the council when the mat
ter shall be brought up for considera-
! tom
Councilman Hedge objected to the
last clause on the ground that it could
not be enforced.
City Attorney Hughes expressed the
] opinion that the motion was in entire
accord with the law. The motion pre-
vailed by vote of four to two, COun-
cilmen Hedge and Griffin voting in
/ the negative.
! Permission was granted to j. X. Nc
] Kinley 10 address the council I'm the
matter of the request Of the WhatcOm
County Investment Company for the
passage of an ordinance vacating that
portion Of their plat covering the Cd Of
/ the swi Of sec 5. Request referred to
the judiciary committee and city at
tOrney.
The report Of the judiciary commit
tee in the matter Of municipal expenses
was submitted as follows:
FAIRHAvEN, Wash, Feb. 10, 1892.
The Mayor and City Council, Fair
haven, Wash. - GENTLEMEN - Your
committee have examined the expense
Of conducting the city government
during the past year, have considered
the work accomplished, the general de-
lmand for retrenchment and the neces-
sitv for new work during the present
wear. We are agreed that to stop all
Improvements, cut off hydrants, put
out lights, curtail the fire department,
reduce the running expenses of the
city to the smallest possible figure and
then wait for something TO turn up is
not the proper policy to pursue, but
that instead we should treat each de
partment of the city's work hberally
but demand full value for the
money expended and use every pre-
caution TO guard against waste. As fol
improvements we believe that the
promise Of sewers made TO the people
In May. 1891, when they so unani
mously voted for bonds, should be full
filed and that this work should b'
begun as soon as IL is found that We
can place additional bonds TO advant
: age. BY sheet A, attached, 1t appear
that the expenditures Of the city TO