Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-05-15

men should appoint police and not the Bailiff.
Mr.. Nickel said he construed the law read
by Mayor to mean that the Baliff, being
chief of police, should have the privilege of
appointing subordinates when special police
were needed, because it appeared to him to
be part of his office, and because it had
been custom as long as he could remember.
But the Mayor should be consulted as to
when and how often such special police
should be appointed and that the Bailiff and
Mayor should work in conjunction.
Mr. Shuckhart moved that the Bailiff be
vested with the power to name all special
police after securing permission from the
Mayor to appoint them
Mr. johnson amended the motion by max
ing the Mayor the appointing officer Not
seconded.
Bailiff asked permission to speak.
On motion of Mr.. Shuckhart, the neces-
sary permission was given.
The Bailiff said that he could not under
stand why the Mayor should get up this CON
tention over the small matter of appointing
special policeman perhaps once Or twice a
month. 1t was of no pecuniary interest to
him except that he sometimes was able to
collect taxes or water rents from some poor
fellow that was out of work and had no other
means Of paying. He wanted to know if
there ever was any question as to the pro-
priety of his appointment. The grumbling
was all from the minority in the town. The
majority was satisfied with his conduct, the
best evidence Of which was the handsome
I,, I,t a.
his opponent.
Mayor asked if it was of any pecuniary in
terest TO him to appoint special police.
BaHf-No, except as he said before, he
sometimes was enabled to make collections
that he could not get otherwise.
Wayor-Have you said that it would be
benefit to the Mayor to make the appoint
ments?
BadGf-Yes, l did say so, and the Mayors
conduct led me to believe that he felt there
was some pecuniary interest in it to him as
business man or why did he make such con
tention over so paltry an affair?
.Hayor-Did you make canvass of the
Councimen about this matter prior to the
meeting?
men, but found that they had been approach
ed with the hint before | had seen them.
Mayor said he was surprised that the Bailiff
had intlmated that it was a pecuniary motive
that had made him suggest the appointing of
the special police by the highest officer in
the town, and he thought it was in very bad
grace to cast such reflection upon his
superior officer. He (the Mayor had been
approached by number of citizens on the
subject, among whom were some who had
contributed to the Handsome majority the
Baif1' was proud of, and one a church MEM
Der who had voted for the Baiiff. He
thought the Bailiff must be excited or he
would not make such remarks. Even If he
did sell a few more pairs of pants he probably
would lose more some other way
Bailitf apologized to the Mayor.
The motion was then submitted and de-
ciared lost.
Mr.. johnson moved that the power to APP
point special police be vested in the Mayor.
Carried.
Mayor said that in looking over the report
of the Board he had found difference of
S7.29 between the Bailitf and Treasurer's ac-
counts He also had looked in vain for the
item of freight for gas-posts. The reason he
was anxious for everything to appear was
because he had found an item of $40 in the
report against the town for fire alarm
He did not believe in hiding anything; that
freight ought to be shown and would be
shown. He admitted that the report of a
year ago was incorrect, but it was because of
an incompetent Clerk. 1t was the following
Councils duty to have report corrected when
they found it was not right, and not to hide
it. That was his reason for wanting this
report correct.
Mr.. Nickel said his report was correct and
agreed with the Bailiff's. He detied anyone
to show wherein it was not correct to the
cent 1t had been audited by the finance
committee and found to be correct as it
would show. The Mayor seemed to be tax
ing particular pains to cause contention, try
ing to pick flaws where there was no excuse
for doing so. In the matter of "concealng
things there were several items that the
Council over which the present Mayor pre-
sided hid and did not report to the public,
but instead of causing lot of talk and trying
to hold them up to the scorn of the public
the following Council had made it as easy as
possible for them.
T. NJ. Price moved that the Engineer at the
pumping station be given the privilege of
working on the roads when he was not EN-
ployed at his own work. Carried.
Mr.. Shuckhart moved that when pump
man was working on the roads he be paid at
the same rate as if he was at his own work
Sl.75 per day.
Councilman Griffith said he was satisfied
for the pumpman to be given work on roads,
but did not think it right for him to be paid
$l.75 a day for work that another man was
doing for 81 40 alongside of him.
Mr.. Nickel conceded with the doctor.
The motion was submitted and declared
lost by tie vote, the Mayor deciding.
The question of wages for labor came up
and Councilman Griffith said he was not in
favor of paying a man a days wages for half
a days work. 1t seems that when a man
cannot work anywhere else he is put on the
town. Council should act like board of
directors for corporation and work for the
best interests of the town.
Mr.. Nickel moved that the wages for street
laborers be 81 40 per day. Carried.
Mayor stated that he had five letters from
bankers and brokers in New York city want
ing a chance to buy our bonds. Council now