The record-union., 1896-01-08
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.

With the solitary exception Of the
similar questions, Mayor Hubbard's
inaugural message is to be commended
1t is a dignified, frank and sensible
document. If the policy he has outlined
is carried out, we will have practical,
peaceable and profitable administration
of city affairs.
The claim of the Mayor that his ap-
pointments should not be interfered
with by the Trustees is sound. The
charter jealously prohibits the Trus-
tees from interfering. 1t goes so far as
to say that if any Trustee even suggests
to the Mayor whom he should appoint,
he shall forfeit his office. True, the
confirmation of appointments by the
board is necessary. But this is not in
reference. 1t is intended, and the whole
: spirit of the charter makes this plain,
to check the Mayor in abuse of the
appointing power, to prevent him ap-
pointing person clearly unfit and dam
gerous to city interests. 1t was never
designed that the Trustees should re-
fuse to confirm simply because they do
not happen to like the Mayors ap-
pointee It was never intended that by
repeated refusals to confirm he should
be driven to name some one in fact Sc
Iected by the Trustees. If the appointee
is fit, if his competency is admitted, if
the Mayor has not abused the trust
reposed in him, the board should con-
firm his appointments, no matter what
the politics of the man, or the personal
estimate Of him by the individual Trus-
tees.
AS to the water and drainage and
other public improvement questions,
the Mayor gives it to be understood
that nothing should be done until the
city debt is paid off. That is to say. we
should rest upon our oars in these mat
ters four or five years longer. In this
the Mayor goes too far. If it be con-
ceded that we cannot now command the
means for these improvements so ur-
gently needed, nor have the money
. without distress within the Mayor $
term, or until the city debt is fully dis
eharged-though we do not grant it
why should we lose all the intermediate
time that may be profltably utilized in
making ready?
Why not at once set on foot the cost
less inquiries into plans and systems,
and before the time for construction
indicated in the message arrives be
ready with adopted plans and prepared
to get down to the work of accom-
plishment? If we sit idly by until finan-
cial ability is assured, according to the
Mayors suggestion. then at that time
we viii have to spend year. perhaps
tive years, in agreeing what our sys-
tenn Of sewerage shall be; another year
in determining what method Of dis
posal Of garbage and deoderized sewage
shall be adopted; another year in agree
ing what shall be the new water sys-
tenn and what the source Of supply,
and what sort of q City Hall should
be built, what its cost and what its
location.
All these things can now, the present
moment, profitabIy engage official at
tention. Mayor Hubbard ought to sig
nalize his administration by making it
the originator Of the plans to be here
after carried out, so that they will go
down in history to the credit of his
term of office. That is the sensible
and business-like way to proceed.
Let Us do as do wise young married
couples-prepare our plans and agree
upon the lines of the home that is to be
erected when the pair have gathered
the money to meet the cost. Such a
policy will save US from the waste of
haste; it win proftably and intelli-
gently give exercise to public thought
it will widely advertise the city, and
above all, it viii enable US to pick and
choose at leisure and free from politi-
cal chicanery, and get the best and
most economic.
THE POPULAR LOAN.