The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-01-12
MAYOR CHACE DELIVERED HIS
FIRST MESSAGE T OTHE CITY
COUNCIL LAS TNIGHDT

liver, W. A. knight. d. W. Tompkin3,
]. NJ. Meffert, j. J. Gerig, H. NJ.
Weathers and John T. Moore.
After all of the business of the old
council had been transacted, the
council adjourned sine die.
Mayor Chaee then swore in as coun-
cilmen Mr.. A. A. Winer from ward
No. 1, j. J. Gerig from ward No. 9, H.
A. Fausett from ward No. 8 and F. G.
B. Weihe from ward No f.
Mr.. Nash, who has presided over
the council for the past year. gave
way to Mr.. Fausett, chairman pro
tenn, and the officers for the new coun-
Gil were elected.
Mr.. ]. ]. Gerig was unanimously
elected as president of the council
for 1917, and in a short speech of ac-
ceptance thanked the council for their
confidence. and he was sure that the
council would be a harmonious one.
Mr.. w A. Knight was elected BY
reclamation as chairman pro TEN.
Mayor Chace's address to the coun-
Gil was as follows
Mayor Chace's First Annual Message
to the Council
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the
Council:
1t is customary for the mayor of the
city to deliver an annual message to
the council, and. in conformity with
this custom, it is my privilege and my
pleasure to present to your body the
following for your consideration:
When first considering the subject
matter of this address it was my idea
that it should consist of more or less
complete survey of the city's affairs,
finances, public utilities, accounting.
legislative, ETC., with specific recon-
mendations of such changes as seem
ed desirable and wise. In going into
!. the matter further the difficulties of
such a program, such as limited time
for considering so important and ex-
tensive an investigation. and the
teachnical intricacies of some of these
departments of city affairs, made it.
self apparent, and have decided upon
a less ambitious, though more practi-
cal course, and have limited the
scope of my message to a few things
of paramount Importance. Later dur
ing the year. after these investiga-
tions have been disposed of, | trust
that you will accord me the privilege
of addressing you again on matters
that seem TO me of sufficient moment.
Conflict Between Mayor and Council
First, let me express the hope that
during the coming year the legisla-
tive and executive departments of the
citys government may act in har-
mony This is but the same common
sense applied to government as is
Used by the farmer when he has a
heavy load to be hauled. and prompts
him to hitch both his horses to the
front end of the wagon, and not one
in front and one behind. causing them
to pull against each other. II is true
that the council has certain duties and
prerogatives conferred upon it by
law, and entertainments upon these
by other departments of government
should be guarded against; the mayor
also has certain duties and response
bilities put upon his shoulders by the
law. which he should neither shirk
nor allow to be encroached upon.
Questions of jurisdiction will occa-
siors lily arise, but let us find means
to s tie them in all good feeling.
There seems to be a question as to
where the duties and powers of the
council end and those of the mayor
begin in regard to the police depart
ment of the city. As far as possible
the conflict should be removed, and
ask as a means to this end that the
council request a written report from
the city attorney setting forth the
powers and limitations of the council
and mayor in connection with the po-
lice department
Having this report before us, with
neither department DESTROYS of usurp-
ing the powers of the other. and with
1.-THE relation of these two departments
marked by that courtesy which has
been spoken of as the oil which caus-
es the social machine to run smooth
ly, there need be no occasion for fric-
ton.
Revision of Charter
In comforting with the city attorney,
and several members of the council,
the need of a complete revision of the
city charter, together with a compila-
NS ho oit 3