In a communication mailed from Jackson, Mississippi and directed on March 19, 1886 to the Honorable James A. Ulman, Mayor of the City of Bay St. Louis was the long awaited approval of the Charter and Ordinances of the City of Bay St. Louis. A copy of this document is filed in the City Hall, and although dog-eared from continuous use and multi-patched by caring people who have tried to preserve it, the 69 pages are faded, tattered, but legible.
Every conceivable situation that could confront a little newly incorporated city was spelled out, together with whose specific duty it was to make suitable correction, and what punishment should be meted out against offenders. The City was run by a mayor, four aldermen, a secretary, tax collector, treasurer, and marshal. It was up to the marshal to take care of such thorny problems as disposal of dogs, hogs, goats, horses, vicious animals, tramps, vagrants and prostitutes. He was given command to poison the dogs, impound the animals and sell them at public auction to recoup cost.
Property owners had the responsibility of keeping the banquettes (sidewalks) in front of their residences or places of business clear and free from all trash, dirt, slush or slops and to keep the space in front of the lands, lots or houses, owned or occupied by him or her or them of 100 feet, if fronting on the sea, or across the street if any other part of the city, clear of weeds or filth. This ruling came under the heading of Nuisances and the Street Commissioner looked after enforcement and was also charged with the responsibility of seeing that dead animal carcasses were removed from the city limits. It was also considered a nuisance to erect a jake or privy in “any place where the same shall be offensive to persons, or to persons passing along the streets or highways.” Disturbing the quietude by “boisterous and wanton or malicious knocking at or near the door or window of any residence, storehouse or business was also tabu as was throwing offal or scraps from the kitchen in culverts, gutters or on property of others. These and many other listed “nuisances” could at the discretion of the Mayor land an offender in jail for 30 days, cost him a fine of $50 dollars and subject him to the embarrassment of a public court hearing.
Under Article 1, relating to offenses affecting “Good Morals and Decency” it was unlawful to appear in public places in a state of nudity or to bathe in such state in the day time in bay or sea, or to appear in public in dress of the other sex: or “To put up in any conspicuous place, any sign or advertisement of any patent medicine or other articles which shall be of such a nature as to be indelicate or offensive to ladies passing on the streets or highways, (The city Marshal was charged with the added duty of removing such offensive signs.)
Privilege taxes were levied on all businesses from the oyster peddler (four dollars) to the soda water fountain (five dollars) on down to the transient vendor of bed springs (twelve dollars and fifty cents).
Citizens were required to list taxable property such as the number of horses, mules, sheep (over ten head), carriages and other wheeled vehicles, pianos, organs, melodeons and watches as well as guns (over one) and bowie knives and word canes.
Any furniture in excess of $250 in value was taxable, also money on hand or on deposit or loaned must be accounted for!
The City Marshal was kept on a dead run in line of his several duties. He must be present at all meetings of the mayor and aldermen, notify members of all meetings – called or regular – clean the mayor’s office and keep it comfortable and to provide for it fire and light when needed. In his spare time he was to “perform such other duties as may be required of him by the Mayor and Alderman.”
Aldermen were paid two dollars for each regular meeting actually attended when present at roll call. Other costs of running the city were considerable, on Section 30 of the Charter it was “further enacted, that the Mayor shall for his services receive a salary of not more than three hundred dollars nor less than one hundred dollars per annum.” Under caption Revised Ordinances, Chapter XII and Sec. 91 in relation to salaries and fees: “ The officers of the city shall receive as compensation for their services, the following salaries, payable out of the city treasury by warrant:
- The Secretary, two hundred and fifty dollars per annum.
- The collector, five percent on all collections to be retained by him in settlements.
- The Assessor, seven per centum upon the amount of his assessments for his services; provided that such compensation shall not be less than fifty dollars or more than one hundred dollars, to be paid on completion and approval of the assessment rolls.
- The Treasurer shall be allowed two and one half per centum on all money received by him for city purposes, except what he may receive by him for city purposes, except what he may receive from his predecessor in office.
- The City Marshal two hundred and forty dollars per annum.
- The Street Commissioner, eight dollars per month.
The Secretary for copies or transcripts from the books of office or other official papers got the handsome sum of ten cents per hundred words.
Minutes of the meetings of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen were written with painstaking care with indelible ink for the most part in fine well-formed Spenserian script. Platt Rogers Spencer who taught the Spenserian Method of Penmanship – may his name be praised. The minutes are legible!”