Hattiesburg daily news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1907-1908, 1908-03-11
Fourth Ward CITIZENS
(contlnue4 prom Page one.)

\ g. i
meeting to condemn the unjust criti-
cism and censure so patent in our city
just now whereby good men are dis
gusted with city politics and will not
suffer their names to go before the
people.
Sixth, that the idea proposed of fu-
ture day meetings of the board will in
our opinion result in inefficiency on
the part of the personnel Of the city
council, for men capable Of rendering
efficient service cannot afford to offer
for the respective places.
After the reading of the resolutions
a motion was made and promptly sec
onded to adopt them.
The chairman called for discussion
provided any one desired to be heard.
Mr.. R. F. Kennedy said he re-
GREETED that SO much criticism had
been made of men who had tried to do
their duty; that such tongue lashing
would have a tendency to keep good
men from offering for office.
Chairman Phillips asked Mr. Nc
Collough to preside while he made
some remarks. Prof. Phillips said that
people had a perfect right to condemn
when condemnation was just, but he
thought when officials did their duty
they should be commended. There is
much in the city of which its citizens
can be proud. He mentioned the va
rious city improvements that had re-
Gently been made. He spoke of the
school system, school buildings and
school equipment. He said he for one
was well pleased with the work done.
He spoke OF the duties of the mayor
and other officials. He said he had
heard the criticism made that the
mayor could not properly attend to his
duties on account of his profession.
He said the mayor had done so and
statements to the contrary were not
correct He spoke Of the police JUS
tice and said that this department, af-
ter paying the salary of the police JUS
tice and the policemen had a balance
of 10000. Failed to see grounds for
criticism. AS to the city attorney, he
said that officer had much to do; that
If the regular fee was charged on all
cases, the cost would probably amount
to 100000; that there were some large
suits pending against the city. He
said some people thought the salary
of the aldermen should be Clipped.
but there was nothing te'c1ip. He said
he had investigated the length of time
the aldermen spent while in session.
that the city clerk had informed him
that they met at 1880 and never ad!
journed before IL or 1880. He had
gone over the books and found that-the
average salary of the aldermen was $50
month. The speaker then said, iron
ically, with such a princely salary,
something must be wrong. Prof. Phil
lips concluded his speech by saying
that he heartily Endorsed the resolu-
tons offered by Mr. Meyer.
Mr.. T. M. Ferguson was the next
speaker. He said he would have to
criticize the board-that he believed
/ they had made mistake in reducing
salaries. He thought the city should
have good officers and pay them well;
that any other policy was penny wise
and pound foolish" to use common
expression. He thought the report
which was being circulated elsewhere
that Hattiesburg was unable to pay
salaries and had to cut them down hat
injured the city. He spoke in an op
timistic way of the city's future ant
thought the city should employ goot
men and pay them enough to justif,
good service.
The chairman called on the mayor
to make some remarks. DR.. Donald
spoke modestly of what the city ha(
accomplished. He said he had M
apologies to make for the city coun
Gil. He said errors had probably beef
made, but they had been made befor,
and would be made hereafter. not onl,
in Hattiesburg, but in every othe
city. The councilmen were men o
intellect; that they were faithful +
their trusts, had no spite or envy an
had acted openly and above board. H
said they had great proposition be
fore them when they went into offic
and he explained the trouble. abou
getting the money when city treas
urer was afraid of the legality of tn
bond issue.
Mayor Donald explained how delega
tons came and asked for bond is
sue for city Improvements. He eS