Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-12-10
TIE MAYOR SCATTERS.
City Council Meets in Regular Session and
Hears Two Long Harangues by
the MnyOr-ROutine Business.

Hears Two Long Harangues by
the MayOr-ROutine Business.
The city council met in regular ses-
sion on Monday night, with all present
excepting Aldermen Morgan and Wells.
The minutes of the last regular meet
ing-in October-were read and ap-
proved.
a petition of Jos. Vincent's for the
abatement of special assessment tax,
because of damage to property, was re-
ferred to the city attorney and finance
committee.
A communication from the city treas
urer was received concerning the spec
ial assessment tax and referred to the
city attorney.
The reports of the various city off
GERS were received and accepted.
Mayor Anderson presented docu-
ment of four or five pages of type writ
ten matter, declaring that motion
made land passed) at recent meeting
by Alderman Wells was resolution
and that he therefore had the veto
power, which he unhesitatingly used
upon the proposition, or ''thing," as we
believe he called it. Mr. Wells motion
was to rescind a motion that was pass
ed on December 13, 1894, providing that
a $1,000 bond must be given before any
one could obtain street railway fran
chise. Mayor Anderson quoted Web
ster and mentioned a great many other
superfluous and irrelevant matters to
prove that Mr.. Wells motion, and the
one that he sought to revoke, were res
olutions and not motions.
But we are not certain that it
is the mayors privilege to name these
propositions that the council considers.
even though he may be wiser than any
one else. Mayor Andet son scattered"
as usual in this official document of
his, and improved the opportunity to
roast Alderman Wells in particular and
most of the councilmen in general
probably because they have no rings
i'll their noses that he can get hold of.
But all of his scattering rant
pales into insignificance. so far as the
real absurdity of the mayors action
goes, when it is known that the motion,
or resolution" as the mayor delights
to call it. was never passed. When it
was before the council. after Alderman
Wells had reduced it to writing to
crafty the mayor, the latter declared
that it was resolution Alderman
Wells objected and appealed to the
council. Mr.. Wells was sustained in
making it as a motion by avote of to 1.
No vote was ever taken as to whether
or not it should pass, and consequently
it never did pass. The records show
this to be fact. and it has ever since
been known to be fact by three or
four persons And so the mayor has
vetoed what he calls resolution, and
, one that never passed, and one that the
mayor himself never declared carried
: Out of respect for the dignity of the
office of mayor we decline to smile over
such shortcomings.
But not content with the all-'round
roast in his resolution veto the may
or got i'll his work in vetoing the salary
:. reduction ordinance, by striking right
and left, and telling of what great
= success he was making in conducting
city affairs and Topping off expenses.
Aud then his predecessor. of course,
was hauled over the Goals: the Water.
Light 4 Power Co., the street railway
e projectors, the STAR, and we don't know
D what all, had to take Il tongue lashing.
The cOuncilmen, Of course, were not
i accorded a very high place in the es-
:. timation of his excellency, the mayor
just why these people and enterprises
e should receive the wrath of mayor
within the fold of an official veto is
beyond the explanation of even those
5 who would be his friends. Ordinarily
4 a veto of such a proposition would re-
quire but brief explanation, but this
4 one took seven pages of typewriter
: matter, legal-cap size. But the real
Q reasons for the veto-which are prob
: ably we'll founded--are buried out OF
sight with the bombast which has
Q nothing whatever to do with the case
After the council had been regaled
with two such vetoes they concluded
that they had had enough for one even.
ing and adjourned to Wednesday night
On Wednesday night the council
went into committee of the whole and
!. considered the water and light ordi
nance, and adjourned to Saturday
night of this week.
. Tie Chapter Elects Officers.
At its meeting last Friday night the