The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1906-10-17
THE RIGHT POLICY.

In publishing the communica-
tion of Alderman Jones in last
Wednesdays Leader, explaining
Ibis attitude in relation to the inn
1provements at the public school
land the Hartman allowance there
for, we stated that we would re-
|scrve for future date some COM
ments we desited to offer in con-
nection with what was said by
Mr.. Jones touching the policies
|of the Mayor and Board of Alder.
men in regard to matters Of this
character.
! After making a good argument
showing the need and urgency IF
these improvements. Alderman
Jones conceded the most vital
point involved in the issue raised
by CITY Marshal Hurst and The
Leaders article Of The 3rd inst.
and plants himself squarety on the
right ground 10 the following
language:
"As to the plaq adopted for
having this work done, | have to
say that personally | am opposed
to it. am opposed to the policy
of placing public work entirely
within the hands of a committee
with the authority Of making con-
tracts, passing on bills, and pay
ing for material or labor to be
afterwards Submitted to the. board
for approval. Opposition 8 the
method just indicated necessarily
carries with it opposition to any
member of the committee being
personlly interested in the work
delegated to him. y
This. is undoubtedly the right
and best policy to pursue, and If
followed IN the future by the
board there will be no ground for
criticism or prosecution of any
member of the hoard on this
score. Of course in cases of great
emergency, .or in matters of pub
lie business where Aldermen or
other public officers act simply as
agents of the board in the dis
charge sof some commission of
minor Importance without profit
to themselves, exception may be
made, but in all matters where
public work is to be done and con-
tracts let, there should be public
notice given and competition IN
vited from those not connected
officially with the city govern
ment, and the contract be made by
the board and not by committee
or individual member thereof.
In other words, the business of a
municipality should be conducted
as the county's business is con-
Quoted, and persons who do work
for it or sell it merchandise
should be required to present
their their accounts and look d.
rectly to the city for their pay,
allowed in the regular way, and
not to some Individual member of
the city government.
| 1t will not be amiss to re-
emphasize the law on the subject
of public officials being interested
in public contracts. Section 1924
of the Code Of 1892 on this subject
was as follows:
), IF any public officer or mem
Der of the Legislature shall be
interested, directly or Indirectly,
in any contract with the State, or
district, county, city, town or vii
lage thereof, authorized by any
law passed or order made by any
board of which he may be or may
have been a member, during the
term for which he shall have been
chosen, or within one year after
the expiration of such term, he
shall be guilty OF a misdemeanor,
and shall be fined a sum equal to
double the value of the contract,
or imprisoned in the county jail
not less than one month nor more
than one year. =
1t will be noticed that there is
nothing in this section which
makes it unlawful for county OF
Icity official to sell merchandise te
the county or municipality in the
ordinary course of trade, but tht
provision of section 3446 Of the
new Code is more comprehensive
and sweeping, and declares among
other things that the sale OF mer
J lchandise, wares, ETC., by city
official, il municipalities Of a GER
tain class, contract within ths
meaning of the statute.
This section which has before
been quoted BY The Leader, Is a
follows:
Ii shall be unlaWul for thl
! mayor or any member of thi
board of aldermen or council d
any other public officer Of an,
rnunicinalifU RI nnfnr infa 0r NJ