The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-05-08
NAMED Chief OF POLICE
But the Council Members Decided to
Hold up the Appointment for An
Investigation.

Hold up the Appointment for An
Investigation.
The city council held a special
meeting tuesday evening to take up
some matters which were laid v e
from the regular meeting Of the
night before. When the council
was neatly finished Mayor Hitchcock
ST .ted that he had reached a decision
or the appointment of a chief of
police and he presented the name Of
Jay III. Grafton. During the day
the Civic Federation, which had
the privilege of arranging for a
candidate for That position, urged
the candidacy on Mr.. Grafton and
although he had declined it the day
b. fore. he reconsidered the PROPOSE
tion anu signitied his willingness to
accept the appointment. When the
mayor presented the name OF Mr..
Grafton for the position, the council
went into executive session with
President Doyle in the chair. Fifteen
minutes elapsed and the council
chamber was again opened to the
public. President Doyle stated to
the mayor that the council members
had arrived at the conclusion that
for the present they would not con-
finn the nomination of MIR. Cfaton,
and that they desired to take a little
time to make an Investigation con-
corning the appointee. The situation
appeared satisfactory to Mayor
Hitchcock.
The FIRST matter taken up was
some action concerning the contest
which has been inaugurated on the
license question, of which the city
of Mitchell is the defendant. The
contest was referred TO City Attorney
Miller to defend the action and to
associate such counsel as he saw tit
without cost to the city.
The bonds of Fire Chief Schlimgen,
Attorney Miller, Engineer Nelson,
Health Officer Warne land Assessor
johnston we're presented and ap-
proved.
The water committee was author
lied to lave the meters cleaned. An
investig ion has revealed the fact
that The 'netels are becoming clogged
up with rust and tnat all the water
which passes through them is not
registered, consequently the water
consumer lis getting a big benefit
and tine city is a loser. This will
be attended to immediately.
A. g. Pringle and Geo. A. Silsby
were a committee to appear before
the council and ask for the appoint
ment Of a committee 10 assist in the
observance OF Decoration Day and
to ask for an appropriation Of $40 to
pay the expenses of the day. The
following committee was appointed
by the mayor: Aldermen Doyle,
McDougal, and Reeves. The council
granted the appropriation of $40 to
pay the expenses attendant upon the
observance Of the day.
The mayor was authorized TO select
a room in the city hall building for
himself and the city auditor. Under
this arrangement the room adjoining
the council room Will be used by
these Two officials for their private
office while the chief of police will
be given the room that is used by
the Justice of the peace In the base
ment, the o being sufficiently
large for both purposes.
TIE ordinance committee was
authorized to prepare an ordinance
to provide suit. BILE remuneration for
the salary OF the assessor.
The auditor WAS authorized to
advertise for bids TO furnish the city
with 600 tons of coal for use at the
water works and the city hall.
The council spent some time in
the discussion of the arrangements
tor handling the new chemical
wagon. The wagon is ready for use.
but there are no horses TO draw it to
a fire. There is The hose house in
which to store the wagon but no
appliance fixed for the quick action
in getting the wagon out and off to
IA tie. The purchase Of 3 team OF
horses has been on the program for
some time, but as yet they have not
been purchased. BY a vote of the
council the fire department commit
tee was authorized to purchase a
team of horses for use on the chem
ical wagon, team not to cost to
exceed $500. 1t was apparent TO the
council that it would be necessary TO
have a person in charge of the wagon
during the Dight. SO that in case an
alarm in the chemical could be
used much sooner than if the mem
Der of the department had to 20 to
the house and get the apparatus