Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-03-08
MISCELLANEOUS.

Alderman Alpern.
WHEREAS, 1t having como TO our know
ledge that certain persons claiming to
represent the interests of Alpena, have
prevailed upon Representative Blakley
to introduce bill containing certain
amendments to the charter of this city,
among which is one that reduces the
number OF wards In the city from six
down to four, and another Is an amend
ment that has the effect to remove from
Office our entire Board OF Police Com
missioners and creating new board,
naming the members thereof in the bill,
and providing that the term of one men,
Der Of the board expire each year, and
his successors be elected by the people,
and still another is to reduce the term of
our Mayors Office from two to one year;
therefore,
RESOLVED, That we most earnestly but
respectfully protest against the changes
above referred to, believing as we firmly
do, and as every true American citizen
should, In the principle of ''local self
government" leaving every city and vii
lage In our State the inherent right to
manage its own local affairs in its own
way, subject Of course to the constitution
Of the United States and Of this State.
We therefore enter our protest against
the proposed changes, for the following
reasons:
First. We believe that reducing the
number of wards from six to four would
have the effect to give the impression
throughout the country that our city was
on the decline and shrinking in popula-
ton and business enterprise, and thereby
prove injurious to the future growth, and
greatly detract from the good repstation
that our young and thriving metropolis
Of northern Michigan has gained in the
past.
Second. We have population of
about Is, 500 people, which would make,
with four wards about 1000 to each ward,
each ward large enough for city in and
OF itself; and owing to the very large
registration list, If you passed the pro-
posed change it would require that each
ward be sub-divided into two and some
OF them three voting precincts, which
would involve more expense to the city
In conducting elections, ETC., than now.
With four wards the bill provides for the
same number Of ward officers, as while 1t
reduces the number of Aldermen to eight,
1t at the same time increases the men,
bers of the Board of Education from six
to eight; and so also with the number Of
which 1t increases to eight,
thereby making twenty four ward officers,
just the same as now, which would not
lessen the expense In that regard, but on
the whole would be greatly increased by
the proposed changes.
Third. We therefore believe that tn,
interests of the city and the taxpay ers
thereof are better subserved and better
protected with our present council of 1:
Aldermen than lesser number, as the
authors or promoters Of any schem,
would find IL more difficult to secure the
accomplishment of their purposes with O
council Of twelve than a council of eight.
We would also represent that our citi
zens generally, of all parties, are well
satisfied with the number of wards as
they now are, and believe II would be fol
the best interests of all concerned to allow
them to remain without any change.
We are also opposed to any change in
the manner of appointing our Police
Commissioners. Our present system pro-
vides for their appointment by the Mayor,
subject to the approval by the Council,
which takes the police department and
its management out of the hands of the
ward politicians, and thereby secures bet
ter and more efficient service than IL they
were obliged to court favors with ward
heelers to secure their election. We be-
lieve that this has been the experience of
all cities In the management of their police
department. Our present board Is COM
posed Of good, respectable citizens, selec-
ted solely for their peculiar fitness for
the position. They have brought the
department under the strictest dicipline,
and have selected and compiled code Of
rules for their government which are rig
idly enforced and have the tendency to
make our police department very efficient
and strictly nonpartisan, as evidenced by
rule "a, which is strictly enforced, and
reads as follows:
"34. No one will be appointed on
the Police for his religious or politi-
cal opinions, and officers will avoid
Ill religious or political discussions
IN the station houses or elsewhere
while on duty: they should not interfere
or make use of the influence of their
office in elections, but may quietly
exercise the right Of suffrage as other
and no member Of the Police
Force will be permitted to be delegate
Or representative to or member of any
political or parrish convention, whose
purpose Is the nomination of any candi-
late or candidates to any political office.
He shall not take part In any convention
held for the nomination of any candidate
or any such Office"
Under their management our city Is
now one Of the best governed In the police
of any city in the State, as
everything Is quiet and orderly, and the
ives and property of our citizens are
,afely guarded and well protected at all
lime. Our people are well satisfied and
eel secure with the present management,
Ind would depreciate and respectfully
the proposed changes at this
lime, believing that our city should be
In the management of its own
lffairs.
We are also tremendously opposed to
the term of the Mayors Office
n our city to one year, as we believe
such change would be detrimental to the
,est interests OF our city government.
The term Of two years Is quite satisfac-
DRY to all and works we'll as IL now is,
or the reason that 1t gives us better SER
rice. Our present city officials, or all the
ones, hold their Office for two
ears. The Mayor and Treasurer are
elected at the same election for two years;
md at the next succeeding annual cleo
ion the Comptroller and Recorder are
lected. These two year terms, and the
ystem OF alienation gives us the bene-
It Of having two experienced officers hold
'vcr each year, thereby giving our city
government the benefit of their exper-
ence In the past. We therefore trust the
ERIN Of our Mayor be allowed to remain
t two years.
Carried by vote as follows: Ayes, AL
'ern, Placie, Crawford, Wilson, Camp
ell, Manion and Engleield. Nays, White
nd Bowden.
Moved by Alderman Alpem that GER
flied copy OF the foregoing resolution be
ent to our Senator and Representative
t Lansing. Carried by vote as follows;
Ayes, Alpern, Placie, Crawford, Wilson,
;ampbell, Manion and Engleneld. Nays,
White and Bowden.
BY Alderman Campbell, supported by
alderman Placie.
M