The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-02-11
Mayor And Chief Of Police
Present Their Reports
At The Meeting Of Council
On Monday Evening

The legal staus of the Y. M. G.. A.
as an institution, the possibilities of
its lawfully being exempted from the
payment of water bill and the prop
er city authorities to make this ex-
empticn presented Chinese puzzle
to council at its regular meeting Mon.
day night when Mayor Mitchell ap-
peared with what he termed docu-
ment de bonis non with will an
nexed" and which was bill from the
city water works department against
the Y. NJ. G. A. for s1,134.95 and
stretching over period of four
years.
Mayor Mitchell stated the docu-
ment had been bequeathed to him,
and he didn't like the job OF admin
istrator, He sought the appointment
of new administrators, making It
known that the affair was none of
his doing and that he didn't care to
meddle with 1t.
Postmaster Dowds, representing
the Y. M. G. A.. told OF an agreement
in 1913 with the then Mayor A. A.
Perrine whereby the Y. M. G. A.
would be furnished free water. This
was the upshot OF an offer Of the Y.
M, c. A. to pay fat rate of $25 Il
year for the water used there. The
board of control decided, according
10 MIR. Dowds, that the city might as
well receive nothing as $25 and ac-
cordingly the Y. NJ. G. A. was given
free water. Mr. Perrine having in.
formed Mr.. Dowds to this effect.
In presenting the matter Mayor
Mitchell had raised the question OF
the status of the Y M. G. A., stating
that II was not charitable lnstitu
tion and, therefore, could not be
given free water. Mr. Dowds replied
that he had the opinion OF the attor
ney general in which the Y. M. G. A
was declared to be benevolent insti
tuition and that as such IL could legal
~ We BlNtu iISt NdltT
Mayor Mitchell sought instruction
from council as to his course of pro
'cedure Not being willing to contln
We his duties of administrator" anC
possibly face bitter public opposition
he concluded that it was best TO lay
the matter before council. Council
was inclined TO refer it to the mayo
until the body was informed by Cit,
Solicitor Koons that sooner or late
matter. so by motion special com
mittee OF three was ordered appoint
ed 10 act for council and report a
the next meeting
First steps in increasing salaie
OF the FIRE department were takei
with the Introduction of AN ordinanc
with the following provslons. Az
pointment OF a chief from among thl
present 6remen with a salary OF 500
a year and bond of $500. raise TIA,
salaries OF four iiremeu to SSi0
year with bonds OF $500; allow eacl
fireman vacation Of one day week
with the chief on duty all The time
The appointment OF the chief will II
with the safety director according I
the ordinance. by this plan, the pre-,
ent Office OF fire chief win be abo
ished and the saierles OF the ilreme
win be raised So month. This me,
sure was recommended severe
weeks ago by the IRE committee as
means Of increasing the salaries {
Me hremen without a consequent Ii
crease OF the payroll. BY motion {
Councilman Salisbury, the ordinanc
was referred to the fire committee
The report OF Mayor Mitchell f
tho month Of January showed 81
in fines collected aad turned into Il
city treasury, while that OF Chief