Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-10
The WONDERFUL WORK OF 4 CIT
IZENS' ASSOCIATION.

1t has been said that reforms Of munich
pal wrongs cannot be accomplished by
Citizens Associations That they cannot
defeat or outwit the bosses and the pro-
moters Of corruption. We give considera-
bic space to the consideration of an exam
pie that gives the lie to these statements
and encourages the hope that in other
cities than Albany corrupt practices may
be broken up. Probably there is less
carse for complaint in Sacramento than
any other city. The government here is
very close to the people and they are
watchful Of it. But there are other Pa
cifc Coast cities that Will not bear such
scrutiny.
Three years ago, in the city of Albany,
an association of citizens, called together
for the purpose, resolved to work reforms
in the city government, irrespective Of
party. and to secure conduct of municipal
affairs upon the plan of business economy
and principles. To that end a committee of
thirteen was appointed to continue in
power for three years. The limit has now
expired and the result Is before the coun-
try, and Is outlined in remarkable
report by the committee to the
Citizens Association. The experiment
vas considered very doubtful one The
question was, whether a small body Of pri-
yate citizens, having no political patronage
or power, and seeking no party alliances.
having TO personal ends to subserve, and
only common desire 10 advance the pub
lie welfare to unite ard interest them in
the work, could be induced to encounter
the personal animosities and unpopularity
and TO persevere in the face Of the vexatious
annoyaneesa and discouragementsw which such
4 work necessarily involved. and whether
persistent and logged perseverance under
such circumstances could result in success.
Very much such question confronted the
Citizens Association of Sacramento 1t
has fairly succeeded in some good work,
but has by no means attained the limit Of
lis usefulness. It has at least been con-
servative influence, and has awakened at
tention TO the general need throughout the
land for municipal reforms.
The Albany committee first gave its al
tention to county affairs, and it succeeded
IN reducing the aggregate sum raised by
tax from $2S6.o00 in 1880 to $4,000 in
1883, thus electing saving of $4,000 in
she outgo for administering county affairs.
III the years 1851 and 1892 it saved the
sum of S273.459 Al. Thus in three
wears The total sum saved from political
wrcctage and Encouragement was $409.-
459 H. This Is practical showing to
which there can be made no answer. Il
overthrows all the political twaddle about
the impossibility of conducting county
affairs on purely bushes, principles.
But the committee did not stop here. Il
found the county in debt, and that for
many years no payment had been mad,
upon the debt 1t so worked reforms that
in the last year of It's supervision it no
only effected the great reduction specified
but secured the payment Of $4,000 upot
the principal Of the debt.
The committee secured the adoption o
a new system Of presenting, proving an,
auditing claims against the county, an,
thus stopped a serious leak. As a singh
instance an attempt was made to vote
lump sum to the Sheriff for board o
prisoners, and the politicians rallied t
push it through, but the committee Tough
the thieving scheme, and, defeating it, es
tablished a system that forever prevent
similar attempts. The committee, how
eger, did not complete its reforms 0
scaaaSy administration, but pointed tn