Putnam patriot., 1928-04-05
PUBLISHED BY
OUT IN THE OPEN


although there those whose suspicious had
aroused Mayor majority members of
the Common Council intended to disregard the wishes Of
ority of the of the at the special city
meeting February 9th Since the meeting Tuesday night only
conclusion the attitude the Mayor and majority
the Common Council possibethat they not going ahead
with the works project accordance with the vote Of the
citizens
When the Common Council held allegiance at
the meeting the first Tuesday March osensiby to get law
yers opinion the legality egaty Of the special city
February 27h The Patriot eoneurred in that action
In its Of the procedure Of the Common Council The
Patriot assumed that the Mayor and his committee intended TO
do just what they adget opinion the legality Of the
special city meeting which large majority Of the voters
pressed Of having the Common Council
through its Board of Water Commissioners, construct
million gallon reservoir Richmond Ill., and appropriated the
600 therefor The Patriot felt that there
question the legality Of the special city meeting the matter
should be determined for in the event that il Illegal the
bonds city could be marketed 1t for this
that The Patriot believed that the action Of the Common Council
emnenty proper.
assumption that the question to be propounded to
lawyers retained by the Mayor and his committee
the legality egaty procedure calling the special
meeting and the subsequent action at that meeting The Patriot
finds that It was absolutely in
What the Mayor and his committee did ask the firm Of
lawyers retained was eoncise thisAre We the Common
Council of the City Of Putnam obliged to carry out the project
which citizens Putnam voted to have carried out
legally refuse 70 carry it out?
In answer to this question lawyers repyThe Common
Council has the refuse out the project regard
less of the vote of the citizens.
The question as put by Mayor
that the Mayor OF Council
supporting the Mayors attitude in the matter not seeking
if it would be legal for the Council forward
project which large majority of the citizens had vot
for the sole of determining
whether the Common Council legally within its rights
refusing carry the wishes of large majority OF the
In other words put in bnny the Council sought to
determine could legally block the project which the citizens
which the Mayor and majority Of the members of
the Common Council do not favor.
Of the Mayor and majority of the Com
Council carry the wishes of the citizens of Put
nam legally possible the Mayor and his committee would
their attorneys whether not they had the legal
right to 20 forward the project under the of the city
meeting whether they had right refuse to do
shown by the Mayor and Common Council
leads the conclusion that the majority Of the citizens who
favored the reservoir plan expect assistance favorable
action from the Legislative body of their city.
While the question whether the Council can legally go
ahead with the project voted for by the citizens at the meet
ing February specifically decided because was
not firm, their conclusions appears that
the lawyers feel that the Council legally forward and
carry the project they to do The opinion states
without the approval Of the Common Council legal a-
thor exist for the construction of concrete reservoir
Reading this paragraph conversely amounts to this-Wih
the approval of the Common Council legal authority does exist
for the construction of a concrete reservoir.
II was not as they could forward but to
whether they the legal right refuse to forward that
the answer was given did need the advice of eminent
legal authority determine the question put to this firm OF
attorneys Any lawyer familiar with our form
of we'll knows that the people not usurp the leg
slave powers branch of the gov
usurp the of another branch This elementary
required great amount of technical training to decide
1t may conceded that the Legislative body of municipality
state or nation clearly within its rights in insisting that Is
the supreme legislative power and has legal right to refuse TO
heed the wishes people While this true legally NOR
ally the question takes on entirely different aspect
people OF Putnam do nothing to force the Common
Council egsate The only check the present Common
Council power of the citizens in the matter OF
making appropriations this matter the people supreme
legislation enang an expenditure OF thousand collars
or project submitted by the Common Council can be
carried until the appropriation has been voted by the c
zens
The Common Council through the suggestion mayor
IL 10 make an attempt point where the matter rested
year or ago Another water committee has been APP
pointed by mayor All except member OF this commit
Tee is felt certain included in The Mayor and majority
Of the Common Council favorable two standppe plan and
unfavorabe reservoir plan This committee is to
with the Board of Water Commissioners board ALREADY