Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-10-17
WHO RUNS COUNCIL


ious vote Of the aldermen present.
instructed the printing committee OF
the city council to get prices on print
ing some matter for the city. evident
lv with a view that the committee
would report these prices to the coun-
ell, so that the council could take such
action as il saw mt.
The intention of the council is very
plain. 1t intended TO save all of the
money possible for the city on this
work, knowing that if the printing
was put up for bid that the work
would be done in Alma by Alma
printers who spend their money in
Alma. and at cost plus reason
able profit. The motion also shows
plainly that it had no intention of the
committee placing this work without
referring it to the council with the
prices that had been made for the
Jobs.
The majority of the printing COM
aittee consisting of Mr.. Fullerton
and Mr. A. r. Smith had view
that the council evidently had no bust
ness to oversee the affairs OF TINS
committee, or else thought that the
council had ordered something which
could not be legally done, as the
majority of the committee did not get
the prices as ordered by the entire
council. including the two men, who
made the majority of the committee
Instead of this the majority OF the
committee went ahead and let the
work. without further consultation
with the council, paying absolutely no
attention TO any instructions made by
the council at its meeting OF August
Is. when the motion was made.
The matter under consideration
was the printing Of the proposed
charter of the city in one of the news
papers and the printing OF the eharter
Of the city in pamphlet form.
II is our understanding that the
majority of the committee claims
that the motion made by he council,
and supported by their own votes
was not legal. If such is the case
they failed at any succeeding meeting
to bring the matter to the attention
of the council as To its further WISHES
as no motion in this regard has since
been made. to our knowledge at least
Having had definite instructions, II
the majority Of this committee found
that they could not handle the matter
as asked by the council, should nave
asked the council for further lgh
on the matter, it would seem.
Having acted as they have the ma
ioritv of the printing committee ha'
done Just what the council was wish
ing TO avoid. when it made its motor
70 get the work done regardless o
cost.
There seems to have been SOM
question also as to what was mean
bv the motion made ON the evenini
Of August s, in this regard. On
view seems to have been that tn
committee was to get prices on onl
the pamphlets. while another IS tina
the committee was to get prices o
printing the charter in newspape
and also in pamphlets Records
the city council meeting Of that nigh
have the motion both ways.
As We understand it, an orgin'
and carbon copy Of the proceeding
are made at the council meeting eac
week. One goes to the printer, and
an actual record Of the transaction
of the council. The other is used fc
copy in typewriting the proceeding
which then 20 into the city files. III
result from the copy which went
the printer. does not correspond WIZ
the completed work which IS on n
IN the book Of council proceeding
while both started out word for woi
the same. As those which appear
the newsp paper are proofread, we tai
it that a mistake may have been MAJ
on the proceedings on file AT the ci
hall.
The one in the newspaper rea
Moved by Alderman Montigel al
supported by Alderman Lake, tn
the printing of the proposed chart
70 be voted upon November 9th. l9l
be referred 20 the printing commit
TO get prices on printing same, a
also printing Of pamphlets. Ca
ried."
In the proceedings on file at the CT
hall it appears thus: Moved by =
derman Montigel and supported
Alderman Lake that the printing
the proposed charter to be voted up
November 9Th, 1918, be referred
tie printing committee to get prl'
on printing same in pamphlet for
Motion carried"
Such actions as these, leaving
the "ballup" Of the official proce'
ings of the city, make one wonder
the "tal wags the dog or the d
wags the TAIL" meaning of cou
that we wonder if the majority of
printing committee runs the cour