Got His Dollars

GOT HIS DOLLARS

Presentation Speech Made by Mayor Brown

TO EX-MAYOR COPELAND

The Two Gold Dollars Were Set in a Handsome Watch Fob

A pretty little ceremony, something new, which took place at the council meeting Monday, was the presentation by Mayor Brown to his predecessor, Dr. R. S. Copeland, his salary for the two years he served as mayor. As is generally known the salary of the mayor of Ann Arbor is one dollar a year and it has long been the custom to pay this in gold. Monday night's payment was in keeping with precedent. The mayor and ex-mayor came into the council chamber and took seats in front of the council. President Walz announced the mayor and recognized him as desiring to say a word. Mayor Brown arose and in a very clever little speech presented Dr. Copeland the two gold dollars in a beautiful gold setting suitably inscribed. The mayor spoke as follows:

Dr. Copeland, I have been requested by this Council to deliver to you, your salary for the two years that you so faithfully served this city as mayor.

By the terms of our city charter you were entitled to receive from our city treasury the sum of one dollar per year and in this little box which I am about to hand you, will be found two gold dollars. I do not wish you to infer that this sum represents in any degree, the value that this city government places upon your services, for I assure you that the members of this administration appreciate to the fullest extent the valuable services that you rendered to this city, and we freely acknowledge our deep obligation to you and to your administration for the very satisfactory condition in which we found all departments of this municipal government.

We also acknowledge our indebtedness to you for your many valuable suggestions as to permanent improvements made and that can be made here in the city such as the improvements along Allen's creek, the separation of grades and construction of parks, etc, and we hope that these can all be brought about in the near future so that the present generation may derive the benefit that is certain to accrue if the work that you so strenuously and fearlessly advocated in the face of stormy opposition is ever completed.

If the people of the city of Ann Arbor would awaken to the fact that this is truly a beautiful city and if some of those among us who are looked up to as our leading citizens, would cast aside for the time being, their selfishness and broaden out just a little, and become interested with the same spirit that prompted you in the performance of your duty as chief executive of this city, Ann Arbor would soon be setting the pace that all other cities would be glad to follow.

In behalf of this city, I am pleased to present this little box and its contents, which will always remind you of the two years of your life that you so faithfully labored, not only for those who appreciated your services, but for those who live simply for themselves and who are always willing to criticize.

The setting was in the form of a watch fob, with a gold dollar on either side. The head on the coin being outward on one side and the reverse side of the coin outward on the other. On one side of the medallion was the inscription "City of Ann Arbor to Royal S. Copeland," and on the other "Mayor 1901-2, 1902-3."

Ex-Mayor Copeland responded in a facetious and happy vein. He started out by telling some very "pat" stories which space forbids repeating here, said he was surprised that a democratic mayor should pay in gold. Nevertheless he had a full appreciation of the pay.

Finally, joking aside, Dr. Copeland proceeded to review the leading acts and aims of his administration. He said the times were somewhat strenuous during his term, but the best interests of the city were always the controlling factors of one and all connected with his administration, the intentions of all were honest. He started out, he declared, to befriend the laboring man first, but furnished business for 17 lawyers, and, he had no doubt, through the excitement created furnished much practice to physicians as well. He alluded to the unfinished projects for public advantage and hoped and believed the present administration would carry forward and to completion these projects. He had no doubt that grade separation would be carried to completion. He believed the people still want the parks. He congratulated the new administration upon the progress it was making and especially upon the improvement of the city's streets. He was glad of his two years experience in public life but thought that was about all he cared to indulge.