Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-06-10
RE CITY Nh RSHAI
Sary Was the Occasion OF Sew.
:ral Petitions Being Pre-.
sented to the Council
q nInr rIr MIMnn ncnnIau N
4 LAST EVENINGS SESSION
1 City Attorney Advised the
ouncil That They Had Not Com
piled With Statutes.

or several days petitions have been
c;ulated ..among our citizens which
nj as follows;
% the Honorable Common Council
o-he City of Alma. Michigan.
IGNORED Sirs-We the undersigned
rsdents and taxpayers of the city of
Ana, Michigan, wishing the reason
se enforcement of such laws as par
tnlarly lead to peace. morality and
&C order in this city and vicinitv,'
al believing that in order to ac-
copilsh such results 1t is necessary
t.have officers of the law willing TO
pform and discharge such duty and
sond, that they should be reason
av and adequately paid for the
pformance of such work in behalf
oour citizens, would most respect
fly petition your honorable council
tincreaset the salary of the city
nrshal to the sum of from $50 to
8 per month. as may TO your coun-
seem sufficient to meet such re-
Crements.
We respectfully ask serious con-
seration of this matter. We realize
T. necessity for stringent methods in
T. conduct of these matters in our
cg. We are almost helpless without
cnpetent and worthy city officers
vo are able to devote their time to
T. enforcement of such laws. For
t9ir services as citizens of this city
should be and are willing to assist
paving for il. The exigiencies
the situation demands it.
Dated Alma, Mich. May 23, 1908.
The petition was circulated in each
the four wards and when presented
the Council contained the names
IL A. Sharp A. w. Wright, q.
!. Carl, F. NJ. Smith and ia others.
The following letter from our towns
AN. Mr. a. w Wright. was presented
the council:
+ To the Honorable, the Mayor and
ommon Council of the city OF Alma:
Gentlemen AS a citizen interested
the welfare and reputation of
or city in common with yourselves |
esire TO see proper observances and
oedience 70 all wholesome laws, but
ais will be difficultyof attainment un-
IS il is the duty of some one TO take
office of infringments and fair
allowed for the discharge
f such duties. have signed petit
ion to your honorable body asking
hat the city marshal be paid reas
'nable amount for his services and
eg TO add that in my Judgment
avorable action on your part will be
ieartily approved by majority of
our constituents
Very Respectfully.
A. w. Wight,
Alma, Mich, June s, 1908
After which Alderman Cook moved
hat the request of the petitioners he
Alderman Hannah opposed
ne request on the ground that the city
marshal when appointed knew the
mount of salary -atttached to the
tice and should not have accepted
he position if he was not satisfied
With the compensation that had been
aid. Alderman Day took the stand
hat it was contrary to law to raise
he salary of any officer after he had
,een appointed or elected to any mum
ipal Office and substantiated his
laims by reading from the complied
tatutes.
The opinion of City Attorney Kress
vas then asked and he replied with
he question. Has your committee
N salaries reported?" No sir"
vas the reply. The City Attorney
hen read from the compiled statute
ne law governing salaried city
'Aicials which says all salaries shall be
determined an embodied in an ordi-
lsnce, as the salaries of the Alma city
,tficials has been agreed upon by res
,lution the city attorney advised the
members of the council that they mad
Tot complied with the statutes.
That had salaries been allotted the
'arious officials by ordinance Alder
nan DAYS contehtion would have
)een good. but as il was ne advised
he city Fathers to fix the salaries at
uch amount as they might deem
,est and then pass salary ordinance.
After some discussion Alderman A.
P Cook moved that the salary of the
1ity Marshal be placed at $40. sup
,orted by Alderman Glass with the
understanding that all fees be turned
,ver TO the city Alderman Hannah
moved as an amendment that the
alary he fixed at $40 per month. sup
,orted by Day.
The Mayor called for AN aye and
lay vote on the amendment. which
vas lost by a vote of five to three.
The original motion was then pre-
ented and received the unanimous
'ote of the Council. The city At
orney evidently prepared to meet
my emergency had a salary ordinance
n his pocket. which was presented
o the Council for their consideration.
The salary of Marshal was placed in
he ordinance at $40 per month and