Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1910-08-23
Incharges Preferred Against
Mayor Meacham BY
A. ]. Casey.
WITHOUT JURISDICTION.
Colored People Ask For an
Order For Graded School
Election.

The City Council met IN regular
session Friday night with Mayor
Meacham presiding and all council
men present except Councilman
Higgins, who is in New York.
Several bills for supplies were al
lowed and some street improve
ments were discussed. The Street
Committee was authorized to buy
one or more cars of street oil to
supply the demands of citizens who
continue to subscribe under the re-
cent proposition of the city to spread
the oil paid for by citizens.
At nine o'clock Mayor Meachsm
announced that as special order,
charges preferred against him by
unnamed citizens, in paper filed
with the clerk by Mr.. Stanley Bas-
sett, would be taken up, and stated
that he would retire from the chair
during the hearing. Upon motion,
Councilman Barnett was elected
cSAirman protein.
Mr.. Bassett read his formal charg-
es, alleging that the Mayor was in
terested in printing contracts with
the city, citing instances in which
city officials. with no authority to
contract, patronized the mayor, the
council subsequently reimbursing
them on their Office expense &C
counts. Downer & Russell appeared
for Mayor Meacham and Mr.. j. W
Downer in an argument stated thai
while themayor had asked for an in
!. vestigation, denying that he haC
been interested in any contracts witt
the city during his present term Of
Office, and had done no official print
ing or advertising for the city since
he obtained a construction of the
law from the attorney general two
years ago, his attorneys desired t.
enter demurrer to the trial of the
charges by the Board Of Council
Mr.. Downer made an argument
holding that the Offices of Mayor
and police judge were constitutions
Offices and the Council had no power
of removal, the Attorney Genera
being the only officer with power t
prosecute such cause. He said am
action taken by the council would b.
invalid and therefore useless.
Mr.. Bassett.followed with an argu
ment holding that the mayor had va
Gated his Office ipso facto and the
highest authorities on municipal Law
gave councils an incidental power t
remove officers appointed by them
but he did not ask the council to re-
move, but declare the office vacant
Mr.. Downer in short rejoinde
said Mr.. Bassett's idea would den!
the right of trial, that every mai
was entitled to his day in court, tina
his charges were denied and mus
be proven before there could be evel
Atause for removal and that the cas-
could only be tried in court o
proper jurisdiction.
City Attorney Brasher was calleC
on for an opinion and. advised tn
council to the effect that it had NJ
power to receive or act upon tn
charges,
Upon motion of Councilman Gal
breath. seconded by Councilman
Randle, the charges were dismisse'
for want of jurisdiction, all votiDi
aye.
The charges dismissed were frs
published in paper edited by A. J
sshsey and also distributed in hand
Wis. Mr.. Bassett declined to TEL
when asked who his clients were, bu
there /, reliable information tina
= gamblers and former saloon me
with grievances against the city ad
ministration have contributed to
fund to be used in ousting the mayor
Mayor Meacham resumed tn
chair and the council remained !
sassion until a late hour.