Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-03-21
SHALL WE HAVE A BETTER SIS
TEN OF CITY GOVERNMENT!

This is a question for the citizens of
Phoebe to consider at once, as they may,
at any time, be called upon to give or re-
fuse TO give their names to petition for
a town government under the law enacted
by the late Legislature for the better
government of the towns and cities of
this State" We have no desire to fore
stall public opinion in the matter, but
believe our readers should be thoroughly
posted, that they may act understand
iny'y in the premises, and according to
their honest convictions. The law pro-
vides that whenever taxpayers repre-
senting three-ffths of the property of the
township petition the Board of County
Commissioners for its benefits, it shall
so into operation. 1t is, probably, the
cheapest form of municipal government
that could be devised. Under it, the ex-
pensive and complicated Aldermanic
system is entirely ignored. The County
Commissioners are given immediate con-
troll of all municipal affairs. The powers
bestowed upon them are as ample as
those usually exercised by the distinctive
Mayoralty or Aldermanic system; but
the enforcement of their ordinances is
through the existing establishments-the
Justices of the Peace, Sherifis and Con-
stables. The adoption of the system
would entail upon the taxpayers
the support of but few, if any,
additional public officers, Viewed from
standpoint of economy, if a more per-
feet municipal government is believed t.
be II cessnry, We think better system
could not have been devised.
Then, the next question in the consid
Grafton OF the subject is, do we need {
more effective and comprehensive gov
eminent of the city than is, or can be Sc
curel uader the general laws? Is specia
anl strictly local legislation necessary
TIE arguments in the affirmative are nu
Inerous and cogent enough. A bushes
man rolls out on the public street tons O.
lelvy merchandise, and leaves it Their,
for days and weeks, to the great detri
ment Of those doing business near him
aud there is no law under which he cal
be made to remove it; one property owne
runs cut across the street some proiec
ton Of his residence, or other building
forcing pedestrians to walk around il
and CRAFTY iuconveniencns his mex
door neighbor and there is no law unde
which he can be made to understand thG
private rights must sometimes give wa
to public pc icy; cross streets are close
and houses built in the center of them
because, in early days, some one gave tn
claimant sort of title to the ground. O
he himself claims it under some kind G
aself constituted presumption right, whe
he has no more legal title than if tn
realty were in the moon; drunken ruffian
commit otfenses against common decency
with the streets filled with respectabl
ladies, and they are not arrested, becaus
there is no law under which they can
punished the suburbs, and even some c
tn principal streets, are lined with dis
ease-breeding accumulations, and the
can only be removed through private Ell
terprise; the streets are ungraded, Ii
drains have been provided, and we al
literally submerged in mud for weeks {
time during and succeeding fallin
weather. emight continue indefnitel
ennmerating the evils and disadvantage
OF the semi-anarchal city governme,
with which we now are and from the b
ginning have been cursed.
Now, do the people desire more SAT-
factory and perfect system, to be carrie
out in the most practicable and econom
cal mode? Ponder the question in all
bearings, one and all, and be prepared
act intelligently, when called upon for
expression of opinion.
Our columns are open for opposing
guments, concisely written.