The Pascagoula chronicle., 1919-03-15
THE SALARY ORDINANCE FROM
THE STANDPOINT OF THE
COUNClLMEN.

To Our Constituents:
Having carefully considered the
| failure of the electors to adopt the
salary ordinance of the City Council
last month, we have practically re-
adopted the ordinance, making only
nominal reduction to conform to
technical requirements. In doing this
we are actuated by the consideration
that the prior election was not SO much
defeat as failure of the election.
We would not, however, be consid-
cred as treating with disregard the vote
that was cast against the adoption,
but according to our information but
lew OF the votes cast against adoption
really expressed an opposition to the
salaries fixed because the same were
too large. in other words, with the
possible exception of few instances
OF petty personalities, the bulk of the
opposition vote was voted in opposi-
ton to plans and policies inaugurated
or understood to be inaugurated by
the council in the administration of
municipal affairs
10 these we desire to say that we
do not claim to be infallible, but have
been and shall continue a policy of
consulting the desires and wishes of
our constituents in every important
move. We court criticism and coun-
sci and invite a resort to legitimate
correctives whenever our constituents
feel that we are making any mistake,
but it would be well to remember that
the unwise administration of remedy
is often more hurtful than the evil to
be cured. Thus voting disapproval of
policies against the salary ordinance
is far out of the right way for cor
recting the evil and is decidedly hurt
full to the public interests. 1t is
neither the intelligent or effective way
of the administration of either a cor
receive or palliative.
Now what we ask and have a right
to expect is the free expression of the
voters as to the salary we should be
paid for our whole time honestly de-
voted to the duties of our respective
offices and the faithful discharge of
the trust reposed in us and the re-
sponsibilities put upon us officially, |
and then assist us and correct us
when necessary by the use of appropri
ate measures.
And in this connection we desire to
call attention to the fact that the law
provides for the referendum, the re-
call and the initiative in municipaI
affairs, by which he electors may by
easy and simple methods recall any
officer not satisfactory, in
1tiate any ordinance or legislation and
require any ordinance or legislation
to be submitted for the ratification or
rejection of the electorate On anv of
these matters we will unhestitatingly
call an election at any time same shall |
be invoked in the simple manner pro
vided by the statute and accent as
gracefully as may be possible any and
all corrections, dictation of policies
and even our recall or that of any
other officer not measuring up to the |
required standard
In view of the light vote at the last
election we have treated the election
as is really was a failure We now
submit to the citizens of Pascagoula
that such neglect of civic duty is ex-
ceedingly embrassing and does not
reflect credit on the electorate, be-
sides being sad commentary on a
city just entering upon its era of large
opportunity which can only be seized
upon and fully embraced by a wide
awake and active public policy and
The matter may appear
small in itself, but it may prove to be
large enough to set back a forward
and substitute retrogression
for real progressively.