The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1897-02-20

the burdens OF the city IN the way
of building fire houses and stations
that are now of no value or use to
the city; they cannot be sold, nor
can they be advantageously utilized
by the city in any manner what.
ever, but have simply become dead
letters. | would not detract from
the value and great service that
this efficient fire department has
rendered the city, but at the same
time | am ,impelled by sense of
duty to speak of the extravagant
and useless expenditure of the city's
money in the fire department in the
last few years. The department,
under the administration of the
government during the year 1896,
has been efficient, well conducted
and economical, and we have every
reason to hope and believe that,
under its present administration, it
will be the same In my opinion,
/ believe that there could be a
saving to the city in the expense OF
one horse and one man. | there
by recommend that you appoint
a committee to confer with the
chief of the fire department to
ascertain if. good and effective
service in the fire department could
not be maintained, and at the same
time reduce the force to the extent
of one horse and one man.
POLICE.
BY a provision of the council,
police authority has been conferred
upon the sanitary Inspector. This
| believe to be a wise and whole
some provision / think, however,
that it might be well for your body
to inquire into the ACCESSIBILITY
of doing away with or
suspending-if not for a whole
year, part of the year-the office
of sanitary Inspector. 1t could not
be done for the year 1897, because
you have elected an officer and his
election has been for one year but
it might be worthy of your consid-
Grafton for the future. | believe
that the offices of sanitary Inspector
and market janitor should be COM
bined, and, while there are some
advantages in having market jan
itor, am persuaded that the duties
of the sanitary Inspector might be
so arranged that, at certain hours,
he might attend to all the duties of
market janitor and dispense with
that office, thereby saving the city
the expense of about $4,000 a
year. | beg leave, also, to suggest
to you the Importance of having a
good, active and efficient police
committee, and the importance of
their being awake in the discharge
of their duties. During last year it
was very sad and unfortunate
affair in which one of the police of
the city conceived that his author
ity was such that he had the right,
and it was his duty, to take human
life. From an investigation before
the police committee of the coun-
Gil, it was apparent that there was
no real necessity for Sc grave step
as was taken in that case. 1t was
a matter of very serious moment,
and one which, l fear, was very
lightly dealt with by the council.
1t is matter that the city has re-
ceived some criticism on from the
public. 1t affects immigration and
the good name of the city wherever
the matter has been generally
known. | believe it would be we'll
if this council were to instruct all
of its officers that they had the
privilege of going to and consulting
with the city attorney, who would
advise them as to the extent of
their power in the discharge of
their respective offices. If the Off
Gals of the government had con-
suited the city attorney as to the
extent of their authority, this un-
fortunate, homicide would have
been avoided. | am impressed,
also, with the fact that, while there
was no authority to take human
life, the officials felt sure they were
honestly and conscientiously dis
charging what they conceived to
be their duty towards the city, but
they were not advised as to how
far they could go in the discharge
of that duty. Respectfully,
w. S. BULLOCK,
Mayor.