The record-union., 1895-11-07
NOW FOR WORK.

The city election being over, and the
people having decided whom they wish
to administer public affairs for the two
years following the first Of January, let
the motto for the hour and the future be
"All for Sacramento" The new Off
Gals have two full months in which to
acquaint themselves with all the provi-
sions of the charter and the character
and requirements of all the book
of ordinances. They will have an
advantage over the officers elected
at the last municipal election in
this, that in the Board of Trustees there
is a majority of hold-overs and re-
elected members, and their experience
will greatly aid the two new members
of the board and the new Mayor.
The very first requirement is that the
Board of Trustees and the Mayor who
i to take office with the new year shall
come into harmony concerning the pol
icy to be pursued in advancing the in
terests of the city and of the people.
The board must concede something TO
the Mayor in the matter of appoint
ments, and he must recognize in a fair
and broad spirit the right Of the board
to reasonably refuse concurrence. The
disposition of the patronage being out
of without carping, -mindedness
or hide-bound partisanship on either
side-there will come the administer
ing of city affairs for the good Of all
the people, in the interests of progress
and economy.
These essentials are not antagonistic,
gardly policy in the matter Of expendi-
ture, nor the search for the cheapest;
nor does progress mean lavish expendi-
ture and the adoption or experimenting
with all sorts of new tangled ideas and
propositions The dearest is by no
means always the best, nor is the
cheapest in price by any means always
the best for the city in service. So, too,
because a thing is new is no reason for
its acceptance, nor is every scientific
discovery and advanced idea as to pub
lie works by any means the wisest for
this city.
What the people want is that in all
directions which will most conserve
community good and remove commu-
nifty evils. It has been said that If one
is right he cannot be too radical, but as
every man ought to know this is not
true 1t is very often more desirable 10
be conservative in the right than radi
cal We need new and improved sew
erage system. That is by all conceded;
we need a new and better water supply;
as to that the people are divided only
in opinion as to the methods of obtain
ing it. The new administration must
agree within itself on these subjects
and will not be pardoned for any in
harmony whatever concerning them.
The people demand, and have a right
to expect that intelligence and expert
ence shall take charge of the street de-
partment, and that there shall be no
more wastefulness nor false construc-
ton In the last twenty years Sacra-
mento has thrown away money enough
on false construction in street and alley
work to have given her the very best
and most economic street system in the
land There has been improvement IN
many respects within the last four or
five years, and we are now understand
ing that reform ought to have been in
augurated very much earlier.
Another demand, and an imperative
one, is the better and permanent sani-
tation Of the city. This is SO closely re-
lated to the sewerage system that tie
two may be said to be inseparable. But
that we need to get rid of the filth pit
system just as quickly as is possible, TO
inaugurate a system of STRENGTHENING,
and to set up and enforce rigid regula-
lations regarding the disposal of garb
age and waste is not to be denied with
truth and reason.
We believe it is easily possible, and
without distress to those who pay