The Seward gateway and the Alaska evening post., 1917-04-17
NEW COUNCIL IN
 SESSION..MAYOR
 READS MESSAGE
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 table until the next regular meeting 1t shall not, except under suspension of the rules (and this requires five | yotes) be passed at the meeting al which it is introduced" If your min utes are correct, ordinances have beer repeatedly introduced, passed through { three readings, and adopted, all in one evening. and without even a motion to suspend the rules. With matters SC important as an ordinance, this is a dangerous practice and is not fair to the people of Seward, and should be corrected by inserting a section that will compel every ordinance to take it's regular course and receive pub licity.
 Section 26 of ordinance "A" which provides that any two or more offices of the city of Seward may be held by the same person, in the discretion of the council, was inserted, as in all other Alaska towns, so that as they grow, the town or city could look for ward to 8 time when they would have a city office, in charge of at least one official, usually the city clerk.
 Last year, believe the business transacted, according to warrants drawn, was about $66,OO0. With a business as great as this, and care of records, charts, etc, believe we have about reached the point where we should have one man on full time, with an office where all the city's business will be transacted. This car be accomplished, without additional expense, by combining a number of smaller salaries. With this object in view, l would recommend that your city clerk be appointed municipal magistrate, as has always been the custom in Seward and Otker Alaska towns. If this policy is followed, we can create city office during the year. and the business of the city will receive better attention and without any additional expense.
 think we all understand that this year we must hold down expenses as much as possible, yet in view of the greatly increased cost of living, your chief of police should have a salary of $l5O per month and the patrOlman $I25 per month. In view of the hours this department is worked, this would be only fair salary.
 Section 4 of chapter 50, laws of 1915 clearly defines my duties as the ex- ecutive head of the city and presiding officer of this council, and l shall en, deavor at all times to carry out the ! mandates of this body and preside over your deliberations with fairness and impartiality. In return, l vii ask your support and assistance.
 The council will be advised as to the conditions of the city's finances as soon as the auditor has finished check ing the books of the city clerk anC treasurer.
 I trust you will give due considera ton to the above recommendations which I consider necessary and for the best interests of the city.
 SAM'L MCDONALD, Mayor.
 A communication was read from the city attorney asking that the salary ot that office be raised to $76 a month this year, which represents an in crease of $25 month over the salary of last year. This is prayed for or account of the increased work in that office. The letter was referred to the proper committee for consideration.
 The report of Special Auditor Wart James on the years business was reaC and referred to the finance commit tee before being accepted. The report of the city magistrate was read, ac cepted and filed.
 Applications for city positions were read and filed, as follows: For chic