The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-01-05

the council ON the subjects committed
to them and possessing no power to
act ON any subject, yet their reports
and recommendations generally
though not at all times have sufficient
influence to secure the passage or de-
feat of a measure. This Is especially
true of the street committee when its
recommendations are concuIred in by
the mayor, city engineer and superin-
tendeDt OF streets. In fact the street
committe and the three officers just
mentioned practically direct and man
age nearly all the work which is done
on the streets, not that they have this
authority under the charter, nor be-
cause such authority can be lawfully
delegated to them, but because the
disposition of the council confirmed
by habit and precedent
to rely ON their Judgment and
recommendations on this subject is so
strong that the council seldom over
rules their recommendation about
street work. This should be consid
cred in placing responsibility for work
done and omitted.
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
This body was created by the city
council as an agency of the council CO.
temporaneously with the ordering of
an election to authorize bonding the
city to build water and light system,
and the members in whose Judgment
the council proposed to rely to manage
the building of said works, including
the dam across the river as a part of
the work, were elected before the vote
of the people was taken on this en-
terprise. The boards action. in or
der TO become authoritative and bind
ing On the city, must be confirmed by
the city council, as the council could
not lawfully delegate its powers to any
other body. But while this is true,
the council. finding that the people
approved their reliance on able men
who took an interest in this enterprise
outside of the council, men whose
names the public had before tfe EN-
when voting on this public work,
have uniformly approved their able
services, and no changes have been
made in the personnel of the board ex-
cept those which occurred through
resignation of members.
THE CITY MARSHAL.
The city marshal is ex-officio chief
of police, has the supervision of the
police in the active work of enforcing
the laws and preserving the public
peace and security of persons and |
property within the city.
THE CITY CLERK.
This officer performs the duties
secretary of the council in keeping the |
journal OF its proceedings and the GUS
tody of papers, resolutions, ordi-
nances. etc, pending before the coun-
Gil and after they are passed or de-
feated. In addition to this he is the
general bookkeeper of the city. His
books are the reservoir of all the &C
counts of the city. He must keep ae-
counts against the assessor and COL
public works, city marshal, recorder,
etc. 1t is through him that all the
expenditures of the city are paid after
warrants are signed by the mayor.
Thus he must be familiar with almost
every detail of the business affairs of
the city. This is one of the most re
spOnsible positions in the
city government and requires
a thorough accountant, a pains
taking business man, who will master
and keep up with all the details OF
city affairs; duties which cannot be !
well performed without considerable
in such work.
CITY ATTORNEY.
The city attorney is the law officer
of the city. 1t is his duty TO attend
the sessions of the council and advise
them on all law questions about which
they may require information in the
of their duties as well as TO
advise all other city officers on law
& questions. He is also required to rep
resent the city in all suits brought b.
or against it. This is very impor-
tant office, as upon the ability and in
dustry that irs duties are discharged
may depend thousands OF dollars
THE CITY ENGINEER AND sUPERIN.
TENDENT OF STREETS.
These two officers do different parts
Of the same work. The city engineer
gives the grades and plans of street
and other public work aud determines
the location OF streets and alleys with
reference to surrounding property,
while the other officer superintends the
work, to control the hands aud direct
the work in accordance with plans
either furnished by the city engineer
under the direction of the mayor and
'treet committee, or after his own
plans when not other wise directed.
CITY ASSESSOR AND COLLECTOR OF
TAXES AND CITX TREASURER
The names of these officers suggest
heir respective duties, as we'll as any
short description of them can do.
THE RECORDER
This officer holds recorders court,
n which are tried all offenders against
he city ordinances. I
SAN JUAN GOLD FIELDS.