Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12
THE ALDERMEN
MAKE REPLY.
CONTEND THEY ARE RIGHT
The Majority Should Rule, Especi'
ally in Their Case,
FOR THEY ARE THE MAJORITY
A Long Document in Defense OF
Their Weak Position.

Who is "Senex," whom did he
vote for and to what extent is he in
terested in the progress of the city :?
If 1.-TWO cannot walk together except
they be agreed, - may not eigth and
two walk together although not
agreed? "SeDex, where and when
did two try to walk together? If
the city council is now within one or
two Of unanimous, will it be made
more unanimous by another election, or
does "Senex" feel lonely and hope
to gain other companions by his
new deal ?"
Mr.. Editor, we admit that the stu
alton is undesirable, but we are not
among the number that made it so.
Our consicences are clear. We have
done our duty as we saw fit, as sworn
to do. We know of no alderman who
loves his position, and desires to hold
it either because Of the honor or the
compensation, and if any alderman is
not satisfactory let the people who
elected him, request his resignation,
and it will no doubt be Forthcoming.
1t would hardly be proper for an
alderman to resign on the request OF
those who voted against his election.
Think soberly and you must admit
that the board has acted honestly,
and are of the number who acted with
the majority. We are willing to
conoede honesty of intention TO each
and all of the municipal officers.
You should do the same. Shall the
majority surrender against its will TO
the minority, just for the sake of
unanimity? Was the board ever in
the history Of the city more nearly
a unit than now?
Wherein has the board erred p?
The law is perfectly clear to us.
The powers of the city are set forth
in explicit language, that the hum
blest citizen may read and cOmpre-
bend. When it comes to constituting
laws and ordinances, it requires
measure of legal knowledge; but
municipal government has been sim
plified Not only is there a plain
statement Of powesr, but the duties
of the respective officers are &C
curately defined. The three well
! defined branches of our republican
form of government, legislative, ju-
dicial and executive, are recognized
even in our city government.
The mayor and board of aldermen
are the legislative branch of muni-
cipal government The body also
possesses some administrative and ju-
dicial functions; but its powers are
in the main, legislative.
The mayor is vested with judicial
functions in small towns of 1900 or
less of inhabitants and where the
town council does not elect police
justice.
The police justice is the Judicial
officer of the municipality. and is
vested with jurisdiction to hear and
determine all violations of the city
ordinances.
Look at the law. Section 1924 OF
the code provides that all the powers
vested in a municipality, shall be
exercised by the mayor and board OF
aldermen Section 1926, provides
1.-The mayor and board of alder
men of every city, town or village,
shall have the care, management ant
control of the city, town or village
and its property and finances, ant
shall have power to enact ordinance
for the purposes hereinafter named
and such as are not repugnant to th'
laws of the state, and such ordi
nances to alter, modify and repeal.
Section 1901 provides: 'In cite
having four Thousand or more in
habitants, the mayor aud board o
aldermen may elect at the time pro
vided for by the election of othe
officers by them, police justice.
This section continues and define
the powers and duties of the polio
justice.
The board is required to hav
monthly meetings; and the main du
ties of the mayor are found in ser
tions 2979 to 1886 of the code. 9TH
mayor shall preside at all meeting
Of the board of aldermen; and in cas