Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-01-04
MAYOR GATCH'S ADDRESS.
Better Streets and Cross
walks Favored.
REFORM IN The FIRE DEPARTMENT
FavOrs Opening the Books
and Publication of FL
nances.
THE MAYORS ADDRESS.

or Salem, Gentlemen:-In cOmpll'
ance with the charter, / herewith
submit suggestions regarding our
city affairs for your consideration.
The question of our taxes and
debts is always with US. Our citi'
zens now pay tax, including state,
county and school, of nearly OF
quite A per centum-not a good
showing with which to induce the
coming and investment of capital.
John Fiske, is his "Civil Govern
ment in the United States'' In the
chapters devoted to "The Govern
ment of Cities" correctly states II
when he says "a heavy debt may
ruin city as surely as an individu-
al for it raises the rate of taxation
and thus tends to frighten people
and capital away from the city,"
Our city tax of ten mills is as
high as the law allows US, and has
been maintained at this figure for
| three years now.
understand no steps have been
taken towards providing a sinking
fund for the purpose of paying off
our bridge bonds. AS the above
author has said: "It is always hard
for us to realize how terribly soon
ten or fifteen years hence will be
here" This matter is worthy of
consideration.
Our method of paying our officers
by fees is an abomination. They
should be placed on salaries, but
such salaries as will induce compe.
tent men to seek the places.
All fees should be turned into the
treasury. 1t is true SO many fees
will not be collected, but it is also
true that costs will not be placed
upon the city in the way they have
been.
The state of our crosswalks Is dis.
graceful to our capital city. More
complaint is rife In regard to this
than perhaps any other minor mat.
ter in which our city Is concerneds
Salem's crosswalks are becoming
a byword.
So little extra expense would be
incurred In keeping all our crossings
free from dust in summer and mud
in winter that we will be derelict in
duty should we not insist upon this
being effectually done.
Much has been said lately re.
garding our finances, and the city
press has very well stated our con-
dition. More work is needed In
this direction, however, for the in
formation of our people.
would suggest that the recorder
and treasurer, working in coDjunct-
ion, quarterly make statement of
our funds for publication, making
lsu-A list of all warrants issued
upon the treasurer and unpaid and
unindorsed to date.
2d-A list of all warrants endorsed,
not paid for want of funds, to date.
3d-From the total of these two sub
tract funds at date in treasurer's
hands. The remainder added to
our bonded debt will give our entire
Indebtedness.
Any Of our papers will gladly pub
lish a concise summary of such q
statement and the public could not
complain that the condition of our
affairs was withheld them.
The question of consolidating our
fire department should have our
consideration. One of our Oldest
counciimen, and several of our beat
fireman. assure me that saving of
from 81 900 to $1,000 annually could
oe made here and in nowise affect
the efficiency Of the department.
We could use one steamer, holding
the other for serious confiagration.
A good team for the engine and one
for the hose cart would he necessary.
They could all be housed in one
building, and the other property
rented or sold. The spirit Of the old
volunteer department, that has SO
long and well served US, Is dying out
aud we have now reached the time
when . paid department would best
serve us. Give this matter your
attention.
The recorders Office and Affairs
need our care. Proper furniture
should be given him for the safe
keeping OF our papeis and to expe-
dIte business. vouchers, rceipir. etc,
should be filed 20 they can be readily
consulted- An abstract book Of all
warrants drawn should be kept. -
nnon - ood uoalwd. that ~ auY