The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-02-08

FROM the proceedings of the "tax-pay-
er's meeting" h cid last evening it will
be seen that the decision was made to
recommend, in the revision of the city's
charter, the establishment of board OF
public works of three members at sal
airy of $500 each per annum, the APP
pointments to be made by the Mayor.
We have no doubt that large majority
of the citizens of the city oppose this
settlement of the question, but as they
did not bestir themselves to attend the
meeting, those interested in thus IN
creasing the citv's salary list and Great
ing these sinecure's for small politicians
had little difficulty in CARRYING their end.
We presume the legislature will be per-
fectly willing to acquiesce in anything
asked of them, especially since 1t has
the sanction of the taxpayers meeting
The FREE Press is free to say it thinks a
great mistake will be made in following
the course recommended. Not that 1t
OPPOSES the establishment of board OF
public works Though Minneapolis has
grown to a city of 100000 without one),
but We hold that this thing of paying a
salary of 5000 to the members is all
wrong. In the first place it is out OF the
question that good business men or me-
chanics could be induced TO give their
entire time, as seems TO be required, for
such an amount. 1t is placed at just the
figure to be attractive to politicians
without other visible means of support
while it would be disdained by compe-
tent men. At Minneapolis this same
question is being agitated and at a public
meeting of citizens the other day resolu-
tons were adopted in favor of reducing
the board of aldermen to one from each
ward, and the appointment of board oil
public works of three members at
salary of 800 per Gnnum. Minneapolis
with 1900 Inhabitants can do with
$500 bosrd, while this small city of H.
600 must have one costing 81 500! VIII
some of the advocates OF this scheme
please tell us how these three 5000 men
are going to do any better with our public
improvements than council committee?
Is it not likely to result in the same way,
one member, perhaps, doing the work
while the others draw the salary, or on
the theory of what is each ones busl-
ness is no ones business, the entire work
be neglected? By this arrangement,
also, the city council is relieved of all
participation in the streets, sewers and
other public works, so that so far as can
be seen the principal occupation OF the
aldermen will be to draw their salaries
and quarrel with the board of public
works.
A proper arrangement would be this:
Establish board of three members
with no salary at all, or say 30 per
day for not exceeding forty days during
the year. Plenty of sound, intelligent,
public spirited and experienced men
have volunteered their service i'll this
connection, so there need be no fear ola
lack of appointees. Give this board
the supervision OF puollc improvements
and allow them to appoint an exper-
fenced man as superintendent to
carry out their views and plans.
Pay this man a salary large enough
to secure.practical and intelligent service,
and leave the power in the hands of the
board to discharge him when ne neglects
his duties. In some such way as this
we believe the question would be salts
factorily settled, and the city saved the
chickering's and neglect of trio of mex
perienced or selfinterested members
such as would be sure to be attracted by
the 5000 sinecure. We are contdent
that the taxpayers of the city do not IA
vor the move made last night to still fur
Their complicate the matter of public
| works