The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-29
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

The following letter from the Hon. George W.
Gardner, mayor Of Cleveland, o., was not In
tended for publication, but Il contains such
excellent suggestions upon municipal govern
rnent pertinent 20 the present condition OF pub
Lie sentiment in seattle, that the liberty Is taken
OF giving Il the publicity 1t deserves:
CLEVELAND. Dec. II. 800.
Your request OF the 18th ultimo received this
day. / viii have sent you annual reports and
the last council manual, which latter gives
some statistics. The valuations in that are for
1852 The county auditor has just returned
valuations for Is90, a clipping statement Of
which hand you herein, showing quite an in
crease in total values Of city, real and personal
There is also an increase in total state, county
and city tax. being last year 2s3 for the year
1870, and low f0r the year is9l 2e3. Valuations
OF real property arc fixed every ten years and are
about an average OF not over one quarter OF
actual value, 50 that on q basis OF mere actual
value the total tax would be very largely re-
cGeed-thst Is, the rate.
We are sure that in localities ike Cleveland,
where real values are rapidly and largely In
cTeassng. the sppraisenent of value of real prop
erty should be CT least often as once every two
or three years, thereby fixing rates for taxation
on values equitabiy. It's case where short. In
stead Of long, time 'sTnakes all things even"
Ii you have In view change in your munich
pal method, or conduct Of business, for the sake
Of the good, welfare and prosperity Of your peo-
pie, don't adopt our present system, which Is
what 10 commonly known the sboard sys-
tenn" and yonn notice By the manual that We
have boards without number, which means
hydra-head, With no individually fixed response
bility or accountability, Hkened unto ship
with from three to seven or more captains, which
the man at the wheel Is expected TO receive
orders from-or6ers that may be very iDconsist-
ent and opposing in matters, so that the wheels
man hardly knows whether be is going to steer
clear OF the dangerous rock or not, though be
knows where il il.
What municipalities need Is a conduct Of af-
fairs on well-known, welI-regulated, every day
business basis
The entire business of city should be brought
20 the surface OF one table, around which for sd-
yisoTy action should be the one captain Of each
ship of the feet and every captain OF ali the ships
and there shouldn't be any more ships or de-
pertments than can be fully used. The great
tendency is To create new ofices-needed only to
be hIled b. the ambition desire for Office, and
not required IS Necessary for conduct of affairs
Cut down the system, combine under few
heads, such IS public works, safety, sanitary,
benevolent and educational Have q mayor
with veto power, one small body with legislative
functions only. and that paid body. Have
everybody engaged paid well for al required ser
vice.
Don't accept gratuitous service from any one.
No honest man can afford to give his best ener-
gies 10 corporation without pay. Elect your
mayor-for term long enough for him 10 become
practical as q manager-oT president. Pay
good salary 10 attract good men Give the
mayor power 70 appoint one head for each de-
partment and 70 remove him for cause only. Al
low each head 20 make all OF his department
appointments and then hold him personally re-
spoEsibie for the faithful conduct of his charge.
Here is where you fix responsibility, and he
must account 10. il. Don't hesitate to trust
your mayor. He is the creature OF the people,
and Ii he should FAIL the people will soon make
ali things even" But his very responsibility
VIII be the greatest safeguard to him and to the
people.
TO quote Gladstone, we should @6rant all
power for good aud devise quick punishment
for evil" We should FIX responsibility, so that
no one can dodge fault, Be il intentional, for
evil purposes, or only an error Of the head. You
can do il with q hydra-hcad for then the re-
sponslbility can be shifted. and where that can
occur il is generally about useless to attempt, in
especially municipal matters, 10 place il.
municipalities don fail for want OF capital,
because the taxpayer stands assessments ION
call, because he has 10. Many may kick. but
the inevitable comes. do his ducats, and he
pays, oftentiInes knowing nothing more as TO
correctness. but pays whAisver his bill calls for.
An individual concern viii fail shortly If its
business IS conducted on the ordinary NUM-
cipGl basis, because It's capital is limited, but in
Individual concerns the owners say first: Is it
best for our interest? Can we afford it? Can
we do as well without it Can we procure it
cheaper While the taxpayer, who is the owner
| of the municipality under present usual sys-
TENS OF conduct. has no surety OF a faithful
and economical management, because IL sn
action : wrong he cannot ind out where TO
place the blame or 20 zPply for correction
Well, didn't intend writing snch s world Of
matter when commenced, bgt thinking you sre
after municipal experience, give you results Of
that gained by many years of il here, and ii you
can get from il any ideas Of any value to you,
you are welcome 10 them. Your friend.
GEORGE ". GARDNER