Show But Its It's Not Amusing N several occasions since he to took k office I ON Mayor E. E B. B Erwins Erwin's official neis ness has caused amusement on the part of many f staid taid citizens even among some of ot his fellow commissioners There was the time when he tried to o sell sen his used car to the city for his official official of of- i use followed by a hastily called special session of the commission to rescind its action and correct the record thereby saving him from violating b both th the constitution and the law Then single-handed single he proposed to abolish the emergency hospital Then to pay the chief of police for feeding city prisoners prisoner He causes the public to wonder if he is not attempting to administer admin admin- ister a a. high public office without having read the state constitution the statutes or the city 1 ordinances wherein they define and limit the 4 duties and functions of municipal officers 7 Latest usurpation of prerogatives is his designation designation designation des des- ignation of half hail a dozen citizens as immune from S enforcement of the parking ordinance This c l too has amused many citizens citizens but but it is not 4 1 amusing not by a long shot The gesture of courtesy to the commanding general at Fort will not not not-as of courtesy f 4 Douglas as a gesture courtesy courtesy- rouse the ire of any citizen The general is isi i TT provided with an enlisted chauffeur and in all allI I probability will not feel inclined to take ad adi advantage advantage ad- ad i vantage of the the- privilege And the mayor gives himself immunity sticker No 1 for hist his t I. I windshield There are hundreds of business J. J men and other citizens as well entitled to imI immunity im im- im- im t I as the mayor if f immunity is based upon l i the importance of their activities the value of 1 f their time or the inconvenience pf f complying t with the parking ordinance I As to the others he exempts from the need 1 k to abide by the law it is quite impossible to t. t see that they are inconvenienced to any greater t f degree than all the he rest of the city's itys 7 people If they are perchance that is their l tk hard luck There is no right whatever residing residing i ing in the office of mayor to nullify amend or enforce with partiality any legal exaction II Judge Ellett said yesterday that telling policemen policemen police police- j men not to arrest certain persons and telling Ii 1 certain p persons to violate the law are re two different different dif dif- if- if 1 ferent things No they are not The policeman police polIce- i t man nan is oath-bound oath to take appropriate action in every very case ease of law violation coming to his f notice The mayor is much mistaken if he 4 thinks he is empowered to twist distort or an anS anI annul an- an S I nul laws and ordinances to fit his notion of what is s expedient The best thing he can do dois 1 is to comply with the strict letter and spirit of the law lav and thereby s set t. t a fin fine example to all his I subordinates and to citizens In in general This business on the mayors mayor's part of issuing I immunity tags to anyone is an amazing piece of effrontery and official ineptitude If he expects the community to turn a respectful i I i I t ear to him liim and take him seriously when he is making any further pronouncements concerning concerning concern concern- ing traffic he will do well to cancel his list of immune |