The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-06-27
TnE ARDMoREITE,s POSITION.
Criticized by an Alderman. We
Take This Reply.


Take This Reply.
At the council meeting Monday
one Of the aldermen chose to in
dulge in structures ON the ARD
MoREITE because it opposed the
voting of salaries to themselves by
the members of the present coun-
Gil. The price the ARDMoREITE
receives for city printing has no
relevancy to the merits of the ordl-
nance in question, but for Ire IL
formation of the gentleman We
will state that we do not get 10
cents line for city printing. ror
even one third of 10 cents a llne.
When the ordinance was first
proposed the ARDMoREITE opposed
it, and is still opposed to it. on the
ground of its questionable Legality
We also think it inexpedient at
this time, when the poverty OF the
city's treasury is pleaded to every
proposition for public improve
ments. We think public money
should be used for the benefit OF
the public first, and if surplus
remains it can then be devoted to
the proper reward of individuals
whose services to the public give
them a claim on its munlfcence.
We do not believe that money ac-
tually needed for public purposes
should be diverted to the payment
of salaries to persons whose otfi-
cial positions carry with them no
onerous duties, and no legal or
financial responsibilities for dere-
| lictions or mistakes. OF course,
there is a moral responsibility,
but this finds its compensation IN
the confidence reposed by the pub
lie in the Judgment, discretion and
integrity of the men chosen, and
in TIE further fact that in couserv'
ing the interests of the public they
are benefitting their own, thell
official acts bearing equally upon
themselves as integrals in the body
polite.
But as to the other objection
which we urge. We think that IL
the absence of a statute and tht
construction of the courts thereon
that the action is bad as II
contraventiou of thstJpriuciple o.
public policy. If 1t is lawful and
right for body Of men. eontroll'
ing the affairs OF municipality OF
of state, to vote themselves sal
aries, where is the limit to be
placed? When shall they be said
to exceed their authority? If they
have authority to vote themselves
So day where lis the lack of au'
thority for voting themselves $l0i
Unscrupulous men, if they could
secure election to office, could
bankrupt city or State to line
their own pockets. This would be
clearly inimical to the general wei
fare and therefore against public
policy.
1t is upon this principle that the
statutes of the various states, pro
hibiting such action, rest. AnG
in the chapter of the Arkansas Law
under which Ardmore was incor
porated and from which the city
government derives its authority
there is this Inhibition upon tht
council or board of aldermen:
See. 926. The emolnments o.
no officer whose election or ap
pointment is required in this ac
shall be increased or diminished
during the term for which he shal
have been elected or appointed
X X X;
This appears very explicit, bu
we are informed that the advocate!
of the ordinance rely upon section
804, which reads:
Ali officers provided for in thi:
act, and by ordinance OF any city
under this act, shall receive sucl
salary as. the council may desig
nate. and shall in no instance re
ceive an additionalscompensatioI
by way of fees, fines or perquisites
but all such fees, fines or perqui
sites shall be paid into the treas
ury.p 'sS
| This section on which they rely
| ia clearly inaDplicable TO aldermen