Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1904-07-06

cry as lost, and the matter is in
such unsatisfactory shape that l
feel impelled to ask Of Council
that it fix the responsibility and
enact some remedial legislation.
1 find upon investigation that
these ordinances are not on record
in the Clerks office. Why are
they not on record? A city ordi-
nance in force in relation to ordi-
nances reads as follows: "Section
3. 1t shall be the duty Of the
Clerk, Immediately upon the
passage of any ordinance by the
Council, to spread the same upon
the ordinance book and keep a
record of the same in the minute
book where the proceedings OF
Council are kept" ''Section 4.
That in addition to the require
ments of the preceding section, it
shall be the duty of the City
Clerk to preserve and file away
the original of every ordinance
which shall be passed by the
Council, in some safe place in his
office. The ordinances so filed
away shall be properly indexed
and labeled. so convenient refer
ence may at any time be had there
to-"
These provisions of ordinance
have been grossly violated, and in
justice to your honorable body
and myself I demur against any
acceptance of responsibility
therefor. The new ordinances
should have been drafted in dup
icate, or triplicate; after their
enactment the original, bearing
the signature of the Mayor and
City Clerk, and the impression of
the city seal, should have been
"spread upon the ordinance
book" and recorded in the min
ute book" and a certified copy
furnished to the printer. AS the
transaction went, the city has no
recordation, and the original copy
"a most unusual circumstance
is in the hands of the printer, all
mutilated and partly lost.
[ most earnestly recommend
that this matter be taken in hand
at once and the interests of the
city fully protected.
In relation to the Clerkship, l
would recommend that the Clerk
be instructed to inform himself
as to the duties of his office, and
to consider that office as some
thing more than the yielder of sal
airy. In investigating the records
of the office I find that for several
years the work has not been per-
formed with any thoroughness;
that bonds, ordinances, etc., are
not being copied in the books
prepared for the purpose, and
that there are many delinquent
cies in other directions. If the
remuneration of the office does
not properly compensate for the
work required, the salary should
be increased. In any event the
records of the city should be
kept with all possible exactness.
Regarding the Pine case, |
would recommend that there be
no let-up in the prosecution in
the fac of the. adverse decision
by the Supreme Court of Appeals.
1t is a duty Council owes to its
constituents to preserve the maj
esty of the law, and not to con-
done or palliate any injury to
those constituents, even ii per-
sonal sympathy is ifiuencing
otherwise. Council is acting as
the representative of the people,
and should eliminate all personal
considerations. I am not in favor,
however, of putting the city to
the expense of employing assis-
tant counsel in the case. | have
confidence in the ability of our,
City Attorney, and believe that
he is fully capable of prosecuting
the action without the costly as
sistance that was formerly given.
| would recommend, as soon as
the city's pecuniary condition
will permit, that steps be taken
to improve the City Building
lawn. This plot should be fenced,
seeded and adorned with shrub
bar,- No eynen1itura wOuld add