The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-01-07
rHATwARp oRpINANcE.

Have the people any rights which
the mayor is bound to respect? We
believe they have. The mayor is but
the servant of the people and should
respect their wishes. In many ways
he has done good work for the city
and is deserving Of praise. He should
be given credit for being honest and
sincere in every public act, yet he is
not infallible, and like other in
dividuals, may commit errors of
judgment The passage illegally Of
the shoestring ward ordinance Ia one
of these errors, and when his atten
tion is called to it be should De will
ing to accede to the we'll known
wishes OF the people, a big majority
of whom want to have change made
and the city divided into three wards.
1t is fact that under city govern
ment, the mayor has no vote, even
though he may claim that right by
saying that the council is still acting
as board Of trustees. Can it act as
board Of trustees in one matter and
assume the duties Of councilmen in
transacting other business? There
could even then be no condition
under which the mayor might have
authority to vote on the suspension
of the rules for the passage Of an
ordinance, and declare them sus-
pended by less than a three-fourths
vote. The present officers are either
doing business as a board of trustees
or they are doing 1t as city council
men, and cannot act in dual capa-
city. II as city councilmen, then it
is the opinion Of several Of the
attorneys that not only the ward
ordinance, out all other ordinances
and business acted upon, are illegal,
because the state Law says that the
change from village to city govern
ment shall not take place until the
election and qualification Of the city
officers at the first election succeed =
ing the action of the board Of town
trustees making the change in form
from village to city. The ward
ordinance being clearly illegal, for
several reasons, the council will I'M
doubtedly consider a new one whether
it suits the mayor or not, aud if such
an ordinance Is presented, dividing
the city into three wards, as the
people wish, We have no doubt it will
be- fayorably considered. Let such
an ordinance be prepared and pre-
sented for the action of the council,
backed by a petition showing tbs
wishes of the people, aud We believe
it will be fayorably considered.
The argument has been advanced
in support Of the present division
that it gives the business district re-
presentation in each ward. Did yoU
ever stop to consider that the ques
tion OF a dividing line through th,
business district amounts to nothing
because the business men do not live
in the business district aud have nc
vote there. The proper way to rep
resent the business Interests il bj
having business men on the council
and not by a division Of the business
district We believe the business
interests Of the city should be repre-
sented on the council. 90 should tht
residence districts, and the differeu
sections of the city; but that repre-
sentation will be very limited will
two wards and four couucilmeu ant
mayor who has no vote except up
on tie. There is every reason wh.
there should be three wards aud non
against it except the nnteuable argu
meuts Of Mayor Scallou lie is no
even now upheld ia his position b.
the members Of the council who vote
for his =hoestriug ordinance Let u
have a chance, the people demand
and their will should be obeyed