Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1901-01-12
A Municipal Muss.

election in the city of Jackson pro-
ceeded to caucus on the appointive
officers for the next biennial term.
They were selected and announced; but
it so happens that section 2,092 Of the
code provides that 'at the first regular
meeting of the mayor and aldermen
succeeding each regular municipal elec-
tion they shall elect a clerk, and in
cities, tax collector" Now the first
regular meeting happened to be on the
first Tuesday of January, and the new
board could not qualify until the first
Monday in January. So the old board,
on the lst of January, proceeded to
elect officers for the next board that
holds It's first meeting on the 18th of
anna, nd the old board elected
tI-oaId aesaa+s 's they might have
reelected them had they theiasel,
been reelected. N may be the letter.
but certainly is not the spirit Of the
law that a new elected city admin
istration should be deprived of the
privilege of selecting its own officers.
1t would have been the graceful and
proper thing for the old board to ratify
the expressed choice Of the new officers;
but there had been some friction be-
tween the outs and the "ins, and
this latest episode still further compli-
Gates the situation. Able attorneys
have expressed different opinions as to
the right of the old board to select Of
fcers for the new, and the matter will
doubtless be referred to the courts.
This could not have occurred in 1898,
for the first regular meeting after the
election in December occurred Just in
time for the new board to meet and
elect. But it will occur again in 1907
The law should read that the newly
elected officers shall appoint their Of
ficers at their first meeting.
The city of Jackson combines the
Office of clerk and collector. 1t looks
like forced and unbusiness-like CON
struction of the law for one person to
fill both offices. As well might the
State treasurer be also State auditor.
1t was our delightful privilege to at
tend watch-night service at Capitol
Street Methodist Church, in jackson.
The house was packed by an intensely
interested audience. Addresses were
made by Rev. DIR. w. b. Murrah, Rev.
c. +, Emery, the pastor, and Bishop
Galloway. The bishops address was a
graphic and eloquent review of the
century, with special reference to its
religious and educational progress. He
had enough topics for three hours, but
had to condense it into less than one.
A century fund collection was taken,
the congregation sang Come, let us
our journey renew" and as the gates of
the twentieth century were opened the
bishop pronounced the benediction.
The Masonic grand bodies will meet
as follows:
Grand Commandery, knights Tenn.
plar, at Water Valley, Tuesday, Feb. 26.
Grand Council and Grand Chapter, at
Oxford, Wednesday, eth, Order OF
High Priesthood on night of 27th.
Grand Lodge, at Oxford, Feb 2S and
March,
The Shrine will probably hold forth
at Water Valley on the night of Goth.
All the railroads will give the usual
reduced rates.
A correspondent wants to know how
man persons in Mississippi, white or
black, who have reached the age of one
hundred years. We shall be pleased to
publish the names of all such, and will
be thankful for accurate information,
Inquiry may develop the fact that there
are one or more persons in the State
who have seen the light of three centu.
ries.
Claiborne County Chapter, U. D. c.,
at its first meeting, two years ago, re-
solved to place headstones at the graves
of all the Confederate soldiers IN the
two cemeteries in Port Gibson. This
was accomplished The chapter now
proposes to erect monument to COM
memorate the patriotism and valor of
the Confederate soldiers of Claiborne
county. That will also be accom-
plished, Now let the Daughters in
every county do likewise.
The election of Mr.. William Heming-
way to the office of mayor of jackson
created vacancy in the clerical force
of the auditors office, which was filed
by the appointment of Mr.. w. W. ST.
monton to the desk of warrant and
pension clerk Mr. L. N. Whitfield
succeeds Mr.. Simonton as secretary to
the State Superintendent of Education,
The A, and NJ. college sold all its
lands at the average price of S6.27 per
acreage, the Dautzler-Moore syndicate
being the purchaser. The sum of
stSs $50 was paid into the state treas
ury, where it will remain as a perma-
nent Investment to the college credit,
the college to receive six per cent. in
terest, or S,357.6o annually