Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-07-08
MAYOR MAKES HIS STATEMENT
Comes Back at CounciImen With Red
Hot Stuff.

To the Public:
The majority of the members OF
the city council having seen fit to
carry their troubles to the news
papers and to air their side OF the
apparent controversy now existing
between the mayor and council OF
the city, deem it but just to myself
to state the facts as they exist.
1t is true that a tacit arrangement
was made last winter by which the
offices Of the street commissioner and
city marshal should be combined as
the statute provides. l never did
agree to appoint the paid members OF
the fire department as assistant mar
shals or policemen and do not nov
believe that the best interest OF the
city would be subserved by such APP
pointment. The ordinance providing
for tie employment of paid firemen1
STIMULATES the hours at which they
shall be on duty at the city hall as
firemen. Their constant attendance
is required by that ordinance except
the hours which they are off for
meals or the half holidays which are
allowed by the ordinance. II both
or either of them were made mar
shall and should be called out to the
outskirts of town on police duty, their
absence would be violation OF the
ordinance now in force and might
result in severe loss to individuals In
case of fire. did not and do not now
believe that 1t is a wise thing to put
any further duty upon the members
of the paid fire department. When
the matter of the combination OF the
offices of marshal and street COM
missioner came up, / caused an ordi-
nance to be prepared combining the
two offices as provided by the statute
hut some members of the council had
seen fit to provide a different ordi-
nance than that which had been
agreed upon. Instead of combining
the offices of marshal and street
commissioner, the ordinance as in
Il troduced and passed over my veto
simply reduced the salary OF the mar
shall and fixed his office hours from
6 D. m. to 6 a. m. each day. THIS
proposition was never discussed with
me before the ordinance was intro
duced and was not in accordance
; with the agreement referred to by
the councilmen in their statement
The ordinance which l had prepared
was exactly in accordance with the
understanding had between myself
J and the committee of the council
some months ago. / always have
| been and now am ready and willing
to combine the offices Of marshal
} and street commissioner according
to the agreement made and II the
! council would carry out the agree
mept any controversy or misunder'
standing would have been avoideu
The statement made by the members
. Of the council that / agreed to ap
' point the street commissioner ASSIST
t ant marshal, is contrary to the fact
a and contrary to the law, as ! under
: stand it, because the statute pro
e vides that the offices Of marshal AM
c street commissioner may be combines
o and it nowhere provides for the com
e bipation of the office Of policeman
h and street commissioner.
# The statement made by the councl
= that they refused to confirm the az
nointment made by me OF a marsha
II under the ordinance passed by tnel
l. Il the first intimation have had ina
IL the appointment was rejected. A
l. the time his appointment was an
% nounced, no member of the counc
s. raised any objection. They ilatl
o refused to say whether they would Q
1t would not confirm the appointment
IS and I felt and still feel that unit
4 this appointment is formally re'ec'
II ed It is not my duty to make an
lie other nomination.
b. The couneilmen state that Tn
t. mayor overdrsw the funds last yea
lie IN making the city improvement
re without the consent or knowledl
ID Of the council" Everybody know
re or ought to know that not dolls
It Of the city money can be expende
o. except upon the order Of the eounei
Is Every bill for expenditures OF VIVA
o ever kind goes before the finan'
60 committee Of the council and Il :
" ported by IT and then voted upS
he bv the council in open meeting.
Il the mayor overdreW the funds a.
n made contracts without the kno'
o. ledge Of the council. II was surely
" the power Of the council to hs'
ss turned the bills down and refus'
d payment; indeed. It was not on