The Mena weekly star., 1908-01-30
COUNCIL DECLINES
 TO RESCIND ACTION
instructions to Mayor to Ask for Charter as City of First Class
 Stands.
ISSUE DISCUSSED FREELY
J. w. Gardner Spoke for Petitioners and I. J. Clayton in Behalf of
 Proposed Change.


 night in special session with all members, mayor, recorder and a large number of citizens present.
 This meeting was called for the purpose of considering the question of resembling the action taken at the last meeting instruct ing Mayor Olney to make proper application to the state board oi incorporation for charter as a city of the first class.
 After the meeting was called to order a petition signed by large majority of the business men oi Mena requesting that the city should remain as it is was read, following which Mayor Olney invited citizens favoring the petition to discuss the proposi- tion.
 I. w. Gardner spoke for the petitioners, his chief plea being that the proposed change would increrse the cost of running the city government, which he thought was very unwise in the face of the probability of prohibi ton going into effect in the near future and cutting off a large part of the revenue. Mir. Gard ner expressed the fear that an un- wise council might run the city deeply in debt if the change was made. He spoke in favor of the tee system, which is possible un- der the present charter and not under that of a city of the first class, saying that there was no more graft under the fee than under the salary system.
 No one else desiring to speak for the petitioners, J. B. Lear spoke briefly for the other side. He was followed by T. J. Clay ton, father of the original move ment to advance to a city of the first class.
 Mir. Clayton's remarks were 10 the point, showing clearly that he had gwen the matter much study. He took up the question in detail, making the claim, first, that the only necessary increase iu salaries would be for city attorney, and that the city needed an attorney, and the council needed an attorney to assist 1t in preparing ordinances, etc; that 1t now paid out money for legal services in many instances, and the salary of regular attorney need not be more than is now paid for similar services. He pointed to the fact that for many years, until but recently, Mena had had a city attorney on a salary; that such was the case when there was but about 5000 population and the revenues much less than now.
 He said that prohibition should have no bearing on the case and that Siloam Springs had found u way to conduct it's city affairs for many years without license money, and Mena would fiud @ way if it went at it right. That in any event it had no bearing on this the proposed charge.
 Mir. Clayton took up tue matter of mayorality. He said that he had for years lived in a city of more than 10000 population where the best men of the town were candidates for the office and the salary was Sl per year; that when the duties of conducting 6 police court were imposed upon a mayor no one would have the place except some man who want ed it for tue salary 1t paid. With that feature cut out, men would take it for the honor of the posi- ton and for the sake of promot- ing their city. That such men were found in other cities, and surely could be ia Mena. He specifically stated that at present there was an avowed candidate for mayor or police judge of Mena, the choice of office being dependent wholly on where the salary lay.
 Mir. Clayton made strong plea in behalf of the change on the grounds of securing better results from money expended in city improvements, saying that during the past year S2000 had been expended with but small benefit to the city because mem- bers of the council could not CT did not properly look after the work that was done. He con- tended that with board to look after this, as wonld be appointed II the city was advanced a great saving would be made and much better service secured.
 No one else desiring to speak, Alley moved to reconsider the former action of council, which was seconded by Joplin. On roll call, Alley, Harrison and Joplin voted for the motion, Clayton.