The log cabin Democrat., 1916-06-28
DAWSON RESIGNS ASC0NWAY MAYOR SACRIFICE IS TOO GREAT Mayor Surprises Council with Resig. nation Tuesday Night and is
 Asked to Reconsider.

Asking that a motion to adjourn be deferred for moment at the close of last nights meeting of the Conway city council, Mayor J. c. Dawson sur prlsed the members of that body by handing to Recorder George Shaw, Jr., to be read to the council. his res lgnation as mayor, effective July II. the next regular meeting. The may or's- action came as a thunderbolt out of a clear sky, as his relations with the council during the time he has served has been unusually harmoni- ous and it was not known that he had any thought of quitting the position. Every member of the council at once began to prevail upon Mayor Dawson to reconsider his determination, but he declared the sacrifice of his time, energies and money entailed by hold ing the office was greater than he could afford.
 A motion was finally put and car rled that no action be taken upon the resignation and that the mayor be earnestly urged to reconsider and withdraw it. The resignation was worded as follows:
 "To the Honorable City Council of the City of Conway:
 Belng unable to make the sacrifice of time and money that it will take to look after the duties of the office of mayor as they should be, and rather than hold the office and not at tend to these duties as I think they should be attended to, beg to hand you herewith my resignation as may or Of the city of Conway, effective at your next regular meeting, which will be July II, 1916.
 "ln taking this action I beg to say that l have no other reason for my action than stated above.
 "J. c. Dawson, Mayor"
 Should the mayor decline to recon slder and withdraw his resignation it will devolve upon the city council to select his successor. Formerly a spe- clal election would be required for thls purpose, but an act of the legis- lature of 1909 makes it plain that the vacancy would be filled by the coun- ell. The act reads as follows:
 That whenever vacancy shall oc cur in the office of mayor in any city of the second class, from any cause. the city council shall, at the first regular meeting after the occurrence of such vacancy, proceed to elect by a majority vote of all the aldermen a mayor to serve for the unexpired term"
 Mayor Dawson, after being nomi mated in the Democratic primary and run-off, was elected April and enter ed upon his office April II, 1916. Up to the time his resignation becomes eff fective he will have served exactly three months.
 Only few routine matters were considered prior to the mayors resig- nation at last nights meeting of the council, adjournment being taken un- til next Thursday night, on account of the petitions for street improve ment districts being uncompleted and not ready for presentation. The con- mlttee on light, water and sewer sys- tems presented it's regular monthly report and also reported on a peti tion asking for flat rates for electric lights in wagonyards. The commit tee show from the book accounts of these consumers that they had no spe- cial ground for complaint, as their bills for current were averaging low CT than under the old flat rates. The report of the committee was adopted.
 The ordinance levying an additional tax in Street Paving District No. 4 was read the second time The mat ter of obtaining more land for city dumping ground was brought up and was referred to the improvement com mittee.