The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1895-08-17
Turn About Face.


1t is high time that reign of COM
mon sense shall commence in the city
of Superior; that the pretense of re-
form shall be cast Oft and a genuine rem
ovation in the community's affairs be
inaugurated. In order to do this the
city must turn about face must 90 in a
directly opposite direction from which
it has been going. Such a sudden halt
and REIMBURSEMENT Of the city's matters
would make cold chiIls run down the
backs of those who are manipulating
Superior's business for personal ends
and would create new hope in those
who have selected this place to transact
a legitimate business and TO help build
up the great city which will eventually
be located here.
Last autumn a retrenChment commit
tee composed of citizens did much to
cut down expenses in the city govern
ment, but its knife did not reach the
root Of the eXtravagancies. The Stark
weather investigation has done much to
open the eyes of the community still
wider to the unnecessary expenditures
for which the people are taxed each
year.
Chief among these is the citys de-
teCtive department which costs Supe-
rlor 5000 per year. This department
is an eXcrescence, wholly useless and
good for nothing. This department
should be wiped off the city's pay roll
aud to remain off till there Is a genuine
need of such officials
The police department, according to
| its own testimony in the Starkweather
! trial, has been more intent on protect
| ing the yiolators of law than to protect
| the interests of the people. That de-
partment costs the city $50, 900 a year.
| 80, 600 paid in salaries to force ofhon-
est police officials will give this city bet
ter protection IN one years time than it
has eyer enjoyed up to this date The
| police department should be thorough
/ ly recognized SO that it may be better
adapted to a city of 26,OO0 inhabitants.
! That means the cutting Of the expense
at least one half and appointing
straightforward men to act in the ca
pacity of peace officers.
The Water, Light & Power octupus
which has its long and sinewy arms
around every thing and every body in
this city should be made to loosen its
grip. Think Of city of $4,000 popula-
ton paying $4,000 year for light and
water Fully $3.50 per capita for light
and water. Is there a rational com
munity under the sun, except Supc-
rior, which would cOndone such a rob
bcry?
Then there are several useless CITY
departments, deputyships and assistant
! depUtyships and wherever there is a
chance for sinecure one is made; Of
ticials or their deputies begin work at
nine o clock in the morning and stop
at + IN the afternoon; All this is paid
for by the taxpayer. We believe that
if the government Of this city IN its ev-
cry branch could be let out to some
leyel-headed contractor that he could
for one-half the sum paid out now, give
the city better protection by enforcing
its laws and conducting its affairs in
businesslike manner, improve very
much on the present condition and
make splendid profit on his contract.
This city is in the hands of its friends.
or lts enemies. That il has not been in
the hands Of its friends is evident by
the eNtravagancies heaped upon il and
which have borne it down. 1t is time
Tor change on common sense lines.
Turn about face,