The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-01-09
Ccuncil,s Doines,

At the regular meeting Of Council last
Monday evening, in additian to the reg
ular routine business Of hearing reports
and allowing bills, Col. Massie was ap.
pointed City Engineer, he taking the
place Of B. w. Fenton, who had re.
signed. Mr.. Fenton is now connected
with the Southern Progress, a journal pub.
lished at Louisville, KY, devoted to the
interests of railroading. The Office of
Street Commissioner was also created,
which Office is an elective one. This
act Of Council will remove the appoint.
ment of Superintendent of Public
Works from the control Of the Mayor
and Council. This action of the Council
may be wise or otherwise. We are not
inclined to object to the people having
control of or in selecting who shall be
their servant and perform their work.
But there Is one condition of the ordi-
nance, and that is the remuneration for
the service Of Street Commissioner that
may and shall receive little attention.
The ordinance provides that the Street
Commissioner shall be paid $3.50 per
day. Does 1t need to be insisted upon
that that is very liberal allowance of
wages for unskilled labor2 Is it not
fact that most Of the skilled labor in
HiIlsboro brings but little If any more
return in money for its employment
than what is by the ordinance passed
last Monday evening made the remu.
neration for unskilled labor? What
causes reference to this amount to be
paid for the service OF Street Commits.
sioner being ITO say the least of it)
very liberal compensation is the fact
that the water-works enterprise for
Hillsboro has been laid aside because at
present we cannot afford it.
1t may be the proper thing to do to
lay the water.works question aside for
the present on account of the cost. The
stringency of the times calls for economy
in the administration OF our municipal
affairs. Now it is no desire to be wise
beyond the average citizen that suggests
the call Of public attention to the fact
that Council is not even in its efforts to
practice economy. If it is really the
desire to so administer the interests of
the corporation as to reduce the rate OF
taxation, the NEWS HERALD adds its
amen, but if it is merely in the name of
economy laying aside an enterprise that
would benefit the many while no reduc.
ton in the aggregate expense is accom-.
plished, we call it delusive reform.
Whether it would be wisdom to urge the
construction of water.works for Hills
boro at the present is a question that
should be handled with wisdom and
caution. Yet If no reduction is con.
templated on the present levy by Coun.
Gil in not giving further consideration to
water-works, and if present salaries are
to be continued, and it might be added
the continuation OF some officials at
public expense who are more ornamen.
tai than useful, there is no better name
for this reform than that it is delusive.
There is no disposition to reflect on
the present integrity Of any of the pres.
ent city officials. Yet to the individual
studying true economy some of our
officials may safely be styled supernu.
meraries.
We shall endeavor to show in another
issue that water-works could be main
tanned in Hillsboro without increasing
the present tax levy, but such show.
ing will necessitate cutting down of
some salaries as well as the abolishing
of some Offices, which things should be
done, water.works or no water.works.