The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-12-31
city Omcers.

ia plassS of 4be old charter certain changes
fo,low j. later Of course. Such officers
as the law sprssoribes shall be elected b,
the ballot Of the people must of necessity
BE- so elected The remaining officers Of
the CITY niassbe appointed as heretofore,
or, may, by ordinance OF the City Council
passed .b,y; alive thirds vote, become elective
instead Of appointlVe.
The ARGUS suggests the following out.
line as being what it considers true policy
for the city in its present state;
~. Leave sthe matter of re-districtine
the city into Wards until after the federal
census oe 1880 shall have been taken and
officially promulgated.
q Let such officers as are now appoint,
| i've, and not imperatively elective BY the
adoption of the INCORPORATION Act,
remain appointive as they now are.
8. Create, as provided IN said act, the
Office of City Comptroller with all the pow
ers aud duties incident thereto, and attach
a salary to the Office which Will command
the services of a competent and faithful
man. That cur readers may see what the
duties of such an officer would DO We
reprint the section of Law defining his
duties and powers. (See hines City
and Village Laws-page So
H.. The city comptroller III there shall be
any city comptroller appointed, II nos, then the
clerk) shall exercise general supervision over all
the officers OF the corporation charged IN any
ner with the receipt collection or disbursement Of
corporation revenues and the collection and return
of ali such revenues into the treasury He shall
have tde charge, custody and contro OF all deeds
leases, warrants. vouchers, books ana papers OF
any kind the custody and control OF winch Is moi
herein given 20 any other officers and ne SHALL or
or before the fifteenth day of May, IN each year
and before the annual appropriations 70 De made
by the city council or the board OF trustees, submit
TO the city council board of trustees report OF
his estimates as nearly as may be, OF moneys nee
essary to defray che expenses of the corporation
during the current fiscal year. He shall, in said
report, class the different objects and branches OF
expenditures, giving. as nearly as may be, the
amount required for each; and for the purpose OF
making such report, he is authorized to require OF
all officers their statement of the condition and ex-
penses of their respective Offices departments
with any proposed Improvements and the probable
expense thereof all contracts made and unfinished
and the amount of any and all upexpended appro
report, show the aggregate income Of the preced-
ing fiscal year, from all sonrces, the amount OF
liabilities outstanding which interest is to be
when due and when payable; and IN snch report
he shall give such other Information 70 the council
or board OF trustees he may deem necessary, &c
the end that the city council board of trustees
may fully understand the money exigencies and
demands upon the corporation for the current year
10. When there shall be appointed in any
CITY 3 comptroll r, the city council may. by Urdi-
nance CT resolution, confer upon him such powers
and provide for the performance OF ouch duties q
him az the city council shalI deem necessary and
proper; aud all the provisions of this relating
to the duties Of city clerk, or the powers Of city
nj. I'M
and collector, or the receipt and disbursement OF
the moneys of such city, shall be exercised and
be appointed: and to that end and purpose, wher-
ever In this act heretofore the word clerk Is used
ii shall be held to mean .'comptroller;n and wher
eyer the clerks Office is referred to, II shall be
19. The co14p1roileE, xzhel thsTe SHALL be
comptroller, and not, then the clerk. shall keep
in his office, in book or books kept expressly fol
that purpose. correct list OF Gil the outstanding
bonds OF the city showing the number and amount
and when any city bonds are purchased, or paid
or cancelled, said book or books shall snow TIL
particularly, the bonds sold during the yeal, snt
tao terms OF sale, with each and every Item of ex
penEe thereof.
4. Change the duties of the city clerk tt
what they should be, and what they art
intended to be in case of there being sucf
an officer as City Comptroller. namely, thai
of keeping records of council proceedings
snd of the ordinances a6opted-in othe
words let him be clerk and nothine
more, and reduce the salary to correspond
With such change.
An attentive reading of the section,
defining the duties of City Comptroller vii
make'apparent both the nature Of bis bust
ness and the importance OF having skill
ful and competent man to perform tbs
duties Of the office. Undoubtedly BIZ
should be a man OF experience in inan
cial affairs, of sound discretion, and oil
recognized financial ability. No mere clerk
can satisfactorily discharge the duties Of
this Office he should be selected solely
for his acknowledged fitness and ability,
and without the slightest regard to bis
political proclivities. precisely as officials
are selected By re;lEoad companies and
large moneyed institutions. All the finan-
cial business of the city could be. and with
a trusty ard competent comptroller would
be, conducted with system, precision. and
upder one general head and supervision.
The near approach Of pay day for por-
ton of the city bonds, and the necessity of
making immediate preparation to meet
the city obligations and at the same time
keep up all necessary improvements,
require the clear headed foresight and the
management of financier who
san act untrameIled by the interference
and peryersity Of men who have little or
40 clear and proper perception Of what is
absolutely necessary to be done in order to
take the city through the approaching
emergency. This point is important and
might be greatly enlarged upon and the
difficulties to be encountered set forth at
greater length, as well as the advantages
IF having such business entrusted to a
faithful, energetic. and competent man;
out as our object just now is to call atten-
ion to the matter rather ian infinitely dis
,uss it. we have simply outlined the SUBJ
ect and leave to another issue further
discussion.
Very much of human misery and distress
$ caused by sickness. The true method IS
o prevent sickness. which can be safely
nd cheaply accomplished by the use of
Dr. Bull 4 Baltimore Pills.