Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-01-22

Your COMMITTEES to whom was referred the
communication presented Jan. ID by the
Committee on Finance, would respectfully
Report-That upon carefully considering the
recommendations made by said Committee
we have come to the following conclusions
concerning the same;'
First That he state Of the city finances is
such that tits necessary, Il possible, to obtain
permission OF the Legislature to bond $780,
! 900 Of our Indebtedness, said bonds running
/ from 3 to ~ years and drawing per cent
/ interest Such bonds could undoubtedly be
i disposed Of at par, whereas, did they only
dtaE6 per cent interest they could not be
/ tins disposed Of The bending Of the above
amount of what might be called short time
Indebtedness would very much relieve the Fl
nance Committee and City Treasurer from
| the embarrassment that they are now labor
ing under, having to be continually seeking
| fol loans with which to cancel Indebtedness
that is constantly coming due. The city
would save from 2 to per cent Interest on
The 500 GOO. ',a BOZ.
As we are at present situated we have to
anticipate our entire yearly taxes, and under
the present arrangement for collecting the
SHOULD be were the whole tax paid at one
time as formerly. We are of opinion. that if
the before mentioned privilege can be
obtained from the Legislature we can get
along for the present, at least, without in
creasing our per centage Of tax for general
expenses. 19aA ~ ,-soCgEy. ~
For the purpose Of simplifying and hsg-1
monizing the government Of the city aud
lessening the expenditures Of the same, your
Committee would recommend thatth follow
ing changes should be inside, viz That the
Mayor perform the legitimate duties Of his
Office, and also the duties which now pertain
to the Office Of Police Judge, and that the Of
fee Of Police Judge be abolished. n = II
We are aware that the probability is that
some who would desire to occupy the Execu-
tive Chair of the City under the present ar
rangement Of things would not desire 50 to
do under the arrangement recommended.@
But we have no fears but what good compe-
tent men can be found who will be willing to
perform the duties OF the combined Offices.
We would recommend that the Board of
City Improvements be composed of three
members instead Of I'VE, as at present viz:
One Commissioner elected for two years.
The City Civil Engineer, and the Chairman
Oithe Council Committee on Streets
We would recommend that the In6Fmary |
Board be composed of three members, viz: |
One Commissioner elected for two years, the |
Superintendent of the Inhrmary and the |
Chairman of the Council Infrmary Commit
tee.
We would recommend that the Board Of
Education be composed of FIVE members, viz;
Three members elected by the people, one of
which shall continue in Office one year, |
second two years, and the third three years
afterwards each to continue in Office three /
years, one being elected each year, ION two
to be elected from same Ward, also the Su-
perintendent Of Schools and the Chairman Of
Committee on Schools.
We would recommend that the Office of
Chief of Police be abolished, and also that
Of the Health Officer be dispensed with. We
think it has been clearly demonstrated the
present year, that Chief of Police is not
needed. A part of the duties that are at
present performed By the Health Officer 1e-
Ultimately belong 10 the Acting Street Com.
missioner and City Marshal and should b.
performed by them. The seeing that streets
cutters alleys &c, are kept clean, should b,
done By the Acting Street Commissioner II
The taking away and disposing of dead ami
mails, &C. should be attended to by the Mar
shall
The attending upon and furnishing medi-
cine to tbe sick poor, could be done by the
City Physician.
While we have thus far recommended les
sening of the incumbents of office we feel
that the best gsod Of the citizens demands
that one Office heretofore abolished should be
restored to Us, viz City Auditor We think /
hat thousands Of dollars could be saved to /
he City yearly by having proper financial $
head, one who should audit every expense !
made by whatever branch of the City Gov |
and who should keep the accounts :
If OSbt and credit Of the City in such shape t
hat any member Of the City Government, or g
my privsGe individual, could ascertain with {
,ut difficulty, our exact condition financially.
Your Committee are of the opinion that
hould the before recommended changes be
made in the different subordinate branches Of :
he City Government the yearly expenditures
would be considerably reduced, not only di- !
ectly but indirectly. And also that anoth- :
T desirable object would be obtained, viz (:
harmony Of action between the actual head !
# the City Government the City Council
nd the subordinate branches ofthe same. !
Trouble is continually arising under the :
xisting state Of things because of the-in
ONE cases-real, hut more often, perhaps, 81
imagine independence of this or that Board of :
be City Council By placing in each Of g
heSe Boards a member of the City Council it =
) hoped and believed that these unpleasant 3
ificulties would, in great measure, if not !,
ThOlly, be done away with. ),
Tax payers hold the City Council resi- on
ible for q proper expenditure of their money, =, =
ot only in the expenses incurred BY their :; .
wn immediate action, bat also BY the :
ction Of the several Boards spoken OF. It
GEMS clear, then, that said Council should
ave at least a slight say so concerning all Of :.
aid expenditures Io
We would fnslly recommend that the
legislature of this State be asked to abolish s.
lch existing laws as are hindrance to the th
laking Of the changes In the affairs of our ia
ty government recommended in the report, dC
nd to enact such new laws as are necessary fr
, enable Us to make such changes. e
All ofwhich is respectfully submitted. th
o. II. OvIATT,
@. J. BALLARD, Special ie
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