The herald., 1895-02-14
HE EAVORS THE AMENDMENTS
A City Official Gives His Views
on the New Charter
WHAT THE CITY WILL SAVE
New System Of Reports viii Keep the
People Posted
An Argument In Favor Of All the Amendments
to the City charter-The
Election
WHAT THE CITY WILL SAVE

The City Clerks office presented busy
scene yesterday while the supplies for the
election places in the charter election were
being prepared.
The election takes place on Friday and
was the occasion of considerable talk
around the hall yesterday, anent the pro-
posed amendments to the charter.
In an interview with Herald reporter
Q prominent city official who has had
much to do with the preparation OF the
proposed amendments gave some inter-
esting facts in regard to the effect OF some
of the amendments on the city's affairs
and the benefits to the general public
which the supporters of the amendments
claim will accrue if they are carried.
Gust take the matter of collecting
taxes" he said. "It,s an old subject, but
don't believe the public thoroughly
understand it yet. Under the amendment
there would be no City Assessor. The
Office would be abolished and with it
would go not only the salary paid this
officer, but also large sum that is yearly
paid out to his deputies and in other ex-
penses of the office. The office is unnec-
essary, for the work is now done by the
County Assessor. The office of City Tax
Collector would be dispensed with for the
same reasons for doing away with the
Assessor, and the abolition OF these two
offices would effect an annual saving OF
some twenty thousand dollars Think OF
that for a moment, and then we'll go on:
why, ] tell you, the amendments will
save the city $25, 900 year. All moneys
due the city would be given directly to
the Treasurer, which would prevent the
holding of large sums by the different Of
ficers indiscriminately as is now done
and would greatly lessen, if not entirely
remove, the possibility of loss by defalca
ton or carelessness, for all money would
be in the hands of one man, whose bond
would be sufficiently large to cover any
loss.
1.-THE amendments will require more
accurate system of bookkeeping, especial
" in the Auditors office, and a system of
reports which will enable the Council, the
Mayor and all the city officials to keep in
touch with the city's affairs at every stage
of the game.
lone of the best features of the whole
thing is the provision for revision of
the pay roll of the city; and the provis-
rules for the government of all depart
ment will also greatly increase the
efficiency of the service throughout the
municipal administration.
Another thing; provision is made
whereby all contracts for public service,
must be advertised for at least six months
prior to the commencement of the
contract. This will give anyone
who wishes to engage in such bust
ness with the city ample time in
which to prepare for carrying out con-
tract shonld their bid be accepted, and pre-
vent the monopoly of such work by few
people who can bid under the present
rule, by reason of being the only ones
prepared to do the work. It's one of the
best features of the movement, l think.
''But, I'll tell you, if there was not an
other good thing in the whole business
except the separation of municipal cleo
tions from the state and national cleo
tions by period of eight months, which
is in line with all advanced thought on
the subject, by the way, | should say that
the amendments ought to carry on that
point alone. Students of municipal gov
eminent all agree that the corruption
from which we suffer is the outcome of
the tenacious hold which the political
manipular has upon party organizations,
and, when municipal elections are held
near to the times Of holding general cleo
pervades all classes, leads many to adhere
closely to their party organizations, and
therein lies the power of the boss. The
removal of local elections from these in
fuences will break that power, leaving the
voter free to think only of the, good OF
the community, and good officers and
pure government will be the result. This
is a matter of grave importance.
Then there are a great many other
things. The Board of Education will not be
fettered by ward lines, the street car COM
panies will be handled without gloves, the
City Attorney nor his deputies will not
be permitted to practice law for private
parties, and the building department will
not be in the hands of one man, but of
commission. l tell you these things are
good"
The tickets which will be used Friday
are not very confusing. The voter will
either stamp an TX" after For the char
ter amendments or Against the charter
amendments, or else he will write one
with lead pencil, in which case, how
ever, he will not be voter, for his vote
won't count.