The daily gazette., 1878-12-30
30 1878

should certainly be better defined before
the election of a successor TO the present
incumbent takes place. There are few
citizens, we think, that supposed the du-
ties of the Treasurer were simply to re-
ceipt for money deposited in bank, sign
orders already filled and endorsed by the
President and Clerk of the Council, and
hand them over to those TO whom the
city pay money for interest, or work done.
If such is the case there was little use in
calling in question the competency and
ability Of the candidates for the Office
1t does appear TO us that when the office
was last filled, the expectation was that
the gentleman elected should perform all
the duties Of the office and this would
have fallen TO the lot of the Democratic
candidate had he been elected. The
Council, being Republican would hardly
have elected clerk to perform the du-
ties of the Office for Democratic Treasu-
rer. As the money is deposited in bank
by the collectors, by order of the Coun-
ell, and does not pass through the hands
of the Treasurer at all, and is only drawn
out of bank by orders drawn on the
bank, filled and signed by the Clerk and by
the President Of the Council, and after
wards signed by the Treasurer when
handed TO those for whom they are in
tended, and then not paid at the bank
until endorsed by those who receive the
pay, the risk is very small, and there
seems little need of any great amount of
security on the part Of the Treasurer
There is, TO be sure, about $1,000 of
rents paid TO the Treasurer during the
year, but the Finance Committee and
Auditor both are apt to look after this
money, and its non-payment for part Of
year would'soon be observed. If the
actual duties are as light as We are now
told they are, we presume there are at
least five hundred gentlemen in the city
who would take the Office willingly for
500 year, and be glad to get it. We
do not understand the Treasurer to say
that the books Of the City Treasurer's
Office shall not be written up and kept
by gentlemen appointed by Council
This would be unreasonable as well as
detrimental to the city's interest. But
we do understand the Treasurer 10 say
that he will not be accountable for the
work of the Councils clerk nor will he
allow this clerk to handle the money, or
receipt for it, or take it to the bank. This
is all very well, and we not understand
that tie Council expect the Treasurer to
intrust its clerk with any money; not
even a quarters rent. This whole diff
Guilty has its origin in politics but il
might have been settled very easily il
the treasurer had been as accommodating
70 the City Council as that body had
always heretofore found him to be
Now, the Council have a right to ordel
the Mayor to station police officer il
that office to see TO it that the Financ,
Committee and their clerk have acce s.
to all the books belonging to the Cit,
Treasurer's office. The Treasurer has
right to remove any private book of hi
own; but no right to remove any bool
belonging to the city; nor has he righ
70 retain the key of the Office safe, in
tended TO secure the books, from the Fl
nance Committee empowered to look af e
the city's interest by the Council. II
Treasurer being elected by the peopl
does not make one particle of differenc,
If the City Treasurer has the power t
hold his office as an enemy holds a for
50 has the Chief Engineer of the Wate
Department, the Auditor, and til
Engineer OF the Surveying Depari men
The City Council does not surrender il
authority over any department. On til
contrary it is the duty of the City Cour
Gil to see to it that each officer in thes
departments perform their whole duty
and Council has right to change any {
the officers in either of those department
at the expiration of their terms. Tn
Treasurer does not admit the Council
the office by courtesy. They go there /
right. If this were not so the mann,
in which the duties are performed coul
only be looked into, and peculaton {
fraud exposed as the official chose to De
NIT 1t. In all official positions Of tn
kind there is certain degree of comi
necessary, and this must not be forgo
ten. We take it for granted that Il
City Treasurer is anxious to have IL
business of the city conducted in a ma
ner conducive to the public good, as {
tie Finance Committee and the Ci
Council and it is not re asonabe that u
Council that represents the majoritys
the people and the majesty of our I
publican institutions, should be requir,
to yield to the dictates of one office
and we hold that no matter to wbi,
political party man belongs, as pu