The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-05-10
STORMY SESSION
OF CITY FATHERS

QIbt IVIItGUO
The regular monthly meeting of the
city council last night developed into
one Of the most turbulent sessions of
the career of the present administra-
ton, the sessions of which have become
almost famous for their turbulency.
The trouble last night started when a
motion was made 20 reduce the police
force to the chief, assistant chief and
one policeman, with the understanding
that the assistant chief was to go on
night duty, thus making two night men
and one officer for the day service.
The mayor announced that the statutes
gave him the power to direct the work
ing of the police force and that he
would refuse to direct the assistant
chief to work at night. When the vote
was taken four of the five aldermen
voted for the reduction and one re-
fused to vote The motion was made
to the effect that it was the sense of
the council that the reduction should
be made as above and requesting the
mayor to reduce the force accordingly.
The mayor has assumed the respoesi
bility for the overburdeaed police dc
.partment and the council took the az
tion last night in order to give the
people an understanding Of sAc rsa-
SON the city has SO many policemen.
In the course of the discussion the
words against the arbitrary methods
of the mayor waxed warm, so warm in
fact that there was little room left to
doubt the opinion of the mayor held by
the council.
Through the routine business of the
session the meeting progressed with
out mishap. A petition for and pro-
test against the building of sidewalk
on the west side of North Brown street
was referred to the special improve
ment committee with power to take
such action as is deemed necessary.
Several other sidewalk petitions were
referred to the same committee. The
matter of erecting bridge across Bull
creek, at the intersection of Third
street and Sequoyah avenue was taken
up and referred to the special improve
ment committee, with instructions to
take UP the matter of the county pay
ling half the cost D fthis bridge, with
the county commissioners. If the coun-
ty board agrees to this 1t is probable
a special meeting of the council will
be held at an early date at which time
pose of authorizing the council to make
the expenditure necessary for build
ing substantial bridge at this place.
The state laws require that all ex-
penditures of over $500 must be au-
thorized by a vote of the people.
An ordinance amending the license
ordinance of the city regulating ped
dlers, etc, to include agencies for
laundries outside of Vinita was pre-
sented and referred to the ordinance
committee for further consideration.
Street Commissioner Busey present
ed bill for $50S for back salary as
street commissioner, alleging that he
had at all times since his election held
himself in readiness to do the street
work of the city, but others had been
employed to do the work, and that he
felt that he was entitled to his per
diem wages. The bill was rejected by
the council for the reason that the
street and bridge fund Of the city is
exhausted and the city has no fund
from which the bill can be paid and
for the further reason that Mr. Busey
performed no real service for the city
A bill for the payment of work done
in constructing bridge across Bull
creek failed because Alderman Marrs
voted against the bill, giving as rea-
son that there was no fund from which
the bill could be paid A bill for street
grading to the amount of $3.50 was lost
for the same reason. There were but
FIVE members present and without a
unanimous vote Of those present the
claim could not be allowed These bills
were for work that appeared neces-
sary, but which, under Judge Davis
construction OF the law cannot be paid.
r. ]. Wright was elected to fill the
vacancy on the council, created by the
removal Of Jasper Martin from the
city.
The council was in session until
lnearly midnight, and finally adjourned
without passing the usual finance ordi-
nance, this measure falling for the rea-
son that Alderman Mars refused to
vote for the ordinance while it con
tanned the item for the bridge work