Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-12-01

Angus Rich, Scavenger, 5OO
Making in all the sum Of SIS, 400 paid by the
City on account of salaries.
The Committee appointed to inquire If any
Of the city officers have or are neglecting their
duties, very justly remark that For this sum
the citizens of St. Paul have a right to expect
an efficient City Government"
The remaining part of the report is worthy
the perusal of every citizen. There is one
point we wish to allude to- and that is, if the
citizens will not comply with the ordinances, it
rests with the officers of the city to see that
they are enforced. The Press will sustain
them, and we feel very sure the great mass Of
the people will sustain them. The appointment
of Deputy Marshal in each Ward is highly
necessary, and the suggestion to this end is a
good one. The report commends its elf to the
attention of ALL Read it:
While, however, we look mainly to the Off
GERS of our city who are paid for discharging
the duties which are assigned to them, it seems
proper to add that no city can be well govern
ed if the people themselves do not take an ac-
tive interest in sustaining the laws and reg ula-
tions which are framed for their benefit A
| cheerful and prompt compliance with the re-
| qurements OF the proper authorities, and a
ready submission to the Ordinances of the CT.
ty, by those who call themselves good citizens,
will do much towards securing an efficient gov
ernment. Complaints and murmurs made
through the newspapers, or to those who cannot
rectify existing evils, are of no use. There
are proper officers for almost every emergency
w arIc.s inf thpc &c d,,fx,
Of good citizen who witnesses any infraction
of the laws Of order to make his complaint to
the officer or tribunal charged with the punish
ment of the offender. RI sB e% .i.es
There are many ordinances which are fire.
quently and habitually disregarded and which
every citizen is called upon to see enforced,
because they relate to the general good. Or.
dnance No. 25, relative to Fires, may be par
tcularly mentioned. A recent fire in the city
has demonstrated the fact that in spite of mu.
nicipal regulations, gunpowder in large quanti-
ties has been stored in the very heart of the
city. If our merchants are so regardless Of
their own safety and the safety of their neigh
bors that they utterly neglect to observe what
all must acknowledge wise regulation, it is
on the subject. 1t can hardly be expected that
to its state and condition. 1t is the duty of the
Common Council to frame proper ordinances,
such as the good cf the city requires, and then
it is the duty Of every good citizen to see that
he HIMSELF and his neighbors too, pay strict
regard to their requirements. ss+s,.s-s3
The same remarks are true with reference
to that provision Of the ordinance heretofore re-
ferred to which makes it an offence to put up
cffN ,< l.:
ney made of brick or stone which regulates
the depositing of ashes in wooden vessels and
the like, all of which are frequently disregard
ed, to the great peril of life and property.
Ordinance No. 2, regulating and licensing
the sale of spirituous liquors, Ordinance No. 8,
relative to residences, Ordinance No. 6, rela.
tive to dogs, Ordinance No. IL, relative to hogs
running atlarge, the Ordinance relative to lum-
bering sidewalks and the discharge of fire.
arms, are all more or less disregarded, and vet
no punishment follows their infraction .s
There are many other matters which might
be mentioned, but this report has already ex-
ceeded a proper limit. .y 81
Your Committee think it of the highest inn
portance that something should be done to in.
crease the efficiency of the government in all
its branches.
10 this end they recommend the appoint
ment Of Deputy Marshal in each Ward of
the City, and the framing of code of police
rules for their guidance and direction. They
desire also to call the attention of this body to
Ordinance No. 25, which makes it incumbent
upon the Aldermen Of the different Wards to
inspect the houses and buildings of their re-
spective Wards twice in each year, to wit: in
May and November, and see that the provis-
ions of that ordinance are regarded. And
finally, that each and every officer of the City
Government be required faithfully to discharge
every obligation and duty imposed upon him,
or else relieved altogether from any response
bility relative TO municipal affairs
ALI Of which is respectfully cubmitted.
G. L. BECKER,
A. L. LARPENTEUR,