Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-02-18
His Resignation Not Accepted
MAYOR JOHNSON GENEROUSLY
OFFERS TO RETIRE, BUT THE
COUNCIL RETAINS HIM.
By a Unanimous Vote No Action Was
Taken on the Resignation-The
Mayor Will Likely Serve
His Time Out.

A called meeting of the City Coun-
Gil was held Monday night for the
purpose of hearing committee re-
ports, reading ordinances and trans
acting such other business as might
legally come before the municipal
legislative body.
Mayor johnson and all the mem
bers of the Council were present.
The special meeting was called
mainly to hear the report of the COM
mIttee on investigation of the amount
of land acquired by the city from the
@. r. Gibbs property to widen Jeffer-
son street at Hardin College. On ac-
count Of complications in the matter,
MI. Runkle, chairman of the commit
tee, asked for further time and was
granted until the next meeting to
make the report. City Engineer Nc
Intire's report gives the city ss4 feet
of the Gibbs land, when a former ap-
proximate estimate made it about 147
feet the city was to receive. Accord
ing to the best authority the measure
ments, to be accurate, had to be made
by metes and bounds.
Geo. N. johnson appeared before
the Council with a numerousIy signed
petition asking that the order for
a sidewalk along the south side of his
property, made at the last meeting,
be r%escinded, and that he would build
a two plank s'neighborhood walk
The request was granted.
The Street Commissioner was or
dered to tear down the old barn in
alley of block IS, on lot z, rear of
Harper block.
The ordinance amending cemetery
ordinance was given a second read
ing.
l.. B. Morris was ordered to repair
the sidewalk in front of his residence
property.
A committee composed of Messrs.
Runkle, Myers and Adams was ap-
pointed to report on the advisability
of the city fencing up a street that
leads into the banch near the property
of Capt. Dan Mcintyre and James M.
Smith, in the First Ward.
MAYORS RESIGNATION RENDERED.
After the business of the Council
had been transacted, Mayor Ben G.
Johnson rendered his resignation to
the Council in a neat and timely talk,
which was almost breathlessly listened
to by every member. AS is already
known, MI. johnson has accepted a
responsible position in the State
Treasurer's office at jefferson City and
has been engaged therein for some
thing like a month; and the duties in
his new position necessarily requir-
ing his absence from tn city much
of the time, hence, as a matter Of
justice and right, the Mayor deemed
it his duty to tender his resignation,
which he did in the following lam
guage, as near as the reporter could
catch it:
"Gentlemen of the CityC ouncil-Hav-
ing accepted, as you know, a position
in the State T~reasurer's office at JET.
~ferson City, l now tender you my
resignation as Mayor of Mexico.
Sand here let me state that 1 turf
back to the people the city entirely
out of debt, with money in the treas
ury. Gentlemen, your city does MOI
owe a dollar. All her indebtedness
has been liquidated.
sour improvements of all kinds
especially street improvements-havt
been equal, and I may say they have
probably exceeded, that of any Other
year in the history of Mexico. With
no debt, and revenue constantly com.
ing in, you will be prepared, if you sc
desire, to continue street work in the
spring.
"Again, let me say, while we have
had early differences in some mat.
tiers, you have always supported me
in my business views. My stay witt
you has been pleasant and I now re-
luctantly part with you officially. GEN
tlemen, my resignation is now in you
hands,"
When the Mayor bad ceased speak
ing several members were in cage
waiting to take the floor, and re-
marks complimentary to the yer,
efficient manner in which Mr.. John
son had filled his official position
were INDUCED in by nearly ever.
alderman.
The roll being called by City Clerl
: Gill, it was voted unanimously tina
, no action be taken on the resignation
;, Mayor Johnson's term of Office doe
1 not expire for more than a year an
in all probability he will serve out hi
time. However, the way the matte
now stands, the resignation can b.
acted upon at any time by the Coun
=. Gil.