Mayor of Vicksburg v. Rainwater

Mississippi Supreme Court
Mayor of Vicksburg v. Rainwater, 52 Miss. 718 (Miss. 1876)
Chalmers

Mayor of Vicksburg v. Rainwater

Opinion of the Court

Chalmers, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

Appellee was appointed by the mayor, and confirmed by the-board of aldermen, of Vicksburg one of the policemen of said city, at a salary of $100 per month. There was no term, of employment or appointment specified.. At the end of one month the city marshal discharged, or assumed to discharge, him.

Being advised by the mayor that the marshal had no authority to discharge him, appellee continued to offer his services as policeman during three months longer, at the end of which period the board of mayor and aldermen ratified the act of' the marshal.

Appellee having received payment only for the month which he actually served, instituted suit for the balance of the time-which he continued to offer his services, to wit, up to the time-when the board of mayor and aldermen approved the act of the marshal, the same being three months and seven days. By the written agreement of counsel it was conceded that, if appellee-was entitled to receive anything, he was entitled to $323.53, and for this amount he had judgment.

By the amended charter of the city of Vicksburg it is provided that ‘ ‘ the board of aldermen may provide by ordinance for a competent police force for said city, who shall be under the superintendence of the city marshal. They should be appointed by the mayor, by and with the advice and counsel of said board.” Nothing is said about their removal. Acts-of 1870, p. 364.

If the policemen are to be regarded as city office holders it. is manifest that the marshal cannot remove them. If they are to be regarded as mere employés, working under a contract, it seems equally clear that there is no power in that. *721officer to put au end to a contract made for tbe city by its chief executive, with the advice and consent of its legislative assembly. The police force are “under the superintendence of the marshal,” but this merely constitutes him their overseer, with no power to deprive the city of their services. In the absence of any law or ordinance on the subject, their contract can only be terminated by the same power that made them.

We are asked to review the case because appellee had judgment for the full amount of his salary, without deduction of any amount that he realized, or might have realized, by other employment during the time he was tendering, and the marshal was refusing to accept, his services.

The judgment ivas for the amount that the city attorney agreed that it should be if appellee was entitled to maintain his action. If the city has been damnified thereby, it is through the fault of her attorney, and not. by any error in the verdict or judgment.

Judgment affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
Mayor and Aldermen of Vicksburg v. John Rainwater
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. Police Porge: Employment thereof. City charter. Construction thereof. Casa in judgment. By tlie amended charter of the city of Vicksburg the board of mayor and aider-men may provide, by ordinance, for a competent police force, who shall be under the superintendence of the city marshal. “ They shall be appointed by the mayor, by and with the advice and consent of the said board.” B. was appointed and confirmed as a policeman; no term of employment was ■specified; he served one month, and the city marshal assumed to discharge him. He continued to offer his services for and during the next three months, when the board met and ratified the act of the marshal. Held, that if the policemen are to be regarded as city office holders the marshal cannot remove them. If they are to be regarded as mere employés, working under a contract, there is no power in that officer to annul a contract made for the city by its chief executive, with the advice and consent of its legislative assembly; that the provision of the charter, that the police force should be “under the superintendence'of the marshal,” merely constitutes him their overseer, with no power to deprive the city of their services.