Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-05-02

opsas q vhieA . puk1ic vote enn 10
tsksa- ] aM pisasra - - Uithin the
Sea Suw dsys that ~ ei1iSons having
this matter moro pAztieulasiy II charge
have commenced Puhlishing lhxts show1
iag the penelfts 70 ~ derived frum its
seronplishneat bslisvs e would 10
wiap 4 . oDuwiunioa a disintersssed
peesoas could be appointed % mako .
Thorough Investigation intD she uaerits
% The question - 70 the benad1ts 20 10
cult fsom this usdesteking. and publish
the results III such Investigation coa.
eissly and rointedly over their signaturss.
At any rate, such a our cifiscns - have
Sot already done % should make them
seives acquainted with the pseritsof the
question % - 70 vote intsliioeutly
wafer WosAA
Irgyst that am unable 10 soport q
yet any thoroughly satisfactory source
q vstss supply, but the matter has
tsea carefully considered by . commit
tee u the council and board a pubic
works during the past year. and b not
ly any means forgotten OF bost sight u.
and trust . decision viii snon b ar-
rived 1T Extensive additions have been
raade To our system Il water distribu-
ton. IL 10 70 be hoped their effect viii
become preceptible In the form a ina
creased returns. and that the income
may BE- sufficient To cover working ex-
I,enses and interest on the somewhat
heavy indebtedness incurred In the de-
velopment OF the system. Water bonds
IN the amount Of $4,000 will mature
October next. Seasonable steps
should be taken toward the renewal u
this loan. or % much thereof q may be
found necessary 10 be renewed. To the
end that favorable terms u renewal
may be obtained.
Public LlehtA
Concurrent public sentiment in Amer.
lean cities at this time favors municipal
ownership and operation of public
lighting plants- IL will depend largely
on tho character and quality Of per
Torrance rendered under our present
three year contract. whether our citi-
gems. ct it, expiration, shall advocate ito
renewal or its abrogation, and il will
devolve upon tho aldermen who were
elected this spring to determine this
matter before their terms Of ONCE shallex-
pire, and il should b determined at an
early date. % that II Il 10 thought best
for the city to operate its own plant.
everything may Be put in readiness 70
touch the button a. soon N the present
contract expires. The report Of the city
electrician. recently filed. shows steady
increase from month to- month in the
Per cent Of light furnished. and am in
clined to think that the difficulties ex-
Ierienced ct first resulted from the sys-
tenn not having been undcrstood or put
in proper running order. believe.
however. that the employment Of q city
electrician was q wise economy. a IL has
enabled us to know how the contract
was being filed and 20 asseet our rights
from IN intelligent standpoint when tho
contract vas not being complied with.
Support or the Foor.
The inclemency OF last winter brought
forcibly into view the difhcult social
problem presented by the sufferings Of
the poor and their relief through mu-
nicipsl agency. How TO alleviate the
burdens OF the INDECENT and not in the
Golf same act furnish bread for the in
dolent, how to mitigate privation and
not by the self process propagate
pauperism, these are problems that have
long awaited solutions. The laudable
efforts Of several OF our prominent citi
zens in the direction Of organized char
ity merit our highest commentator.
They are bright, with the promise Of
permanent efficacy. Yet our city. IA
municipality, cannot abdicate its
powers. duties. obligations and iabili-
ties" 10 this direction. Our charter de-
votes but Q short title to the subject,
which, however. clothes the council with
ample power to provide. by ordinance
or otherwise. for the adoption Of 'euch
system for the support and care Of the
poor az they may 1T any time deem
best" And yet while most Of the
branches Of our city government have
been expanded to meet necessities arts
ing through growth and progress, in the
matter Of support Of the poor. We ad-
here to a system but little differing
except in the volume OF its disbursc-
ments) from that which Was established
at the beginning Of our career AZ city.
and which. with occasional slight modi-
fications has prevailed ever since. Let
us give this department thoughtful con
sidcration and bring ii up TO date il pos
siblc.
Pablo Parks.
Like flowers Of the forest. most ~ the
contents Of park funds vanish at the
coming Of winter. tho John Ball park
fund alone. this year. presenting q sem
blance IL perennial blossom. Expendi-
ture from these funds. and all Others.
ought To be so governed and regulated
az TO avoid exhaustion Of the years sp-
preparation before the mex. years sppro-
priation begins to come In. took coca
sion last winter tn criticisc tho manner
OF keeping park accounts. and ! now
suggest that . separate appropriation
be made Of the amount nccesRary for
the cleaning and protection OK each
park. and il special improvements are
sought to be made in any one park. that
an appropriations Of the necessary
amount be made for that purpose and
the work be let 10y contract. when IL hap
pens 20 he IL kind that can bc reduced
Ia specifications. and that each park ac-
count be charged with it's own proper
expenditure. and that the expenditure
for cleaning and protection be kept in
an account separate and apart from the
| expenditure For permanent improve
ment. il any. and that the annual appro-
priation to each fund bc the limit II
expenditure for that year out ii that
| fund.
The care II the public streets IL one NJ
I the most important functions OK the
/ local city government
! II must te admitted that the condi,
ton II our streets. though constantly
4 improving, leaves something yet 81 he
/ desired. I would suggest that the two
4 aldermen in each ward ~ divide the
/ territory II the ward between them that
4 - ali h.. - IL.