Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-04-14

Making a total. in six years, OF. ..S7o'664 "
All of which has been paid in cash,
with the exception of about $4,000
evidenced by bonds under the Bateman
law, bearing 6 per cent interest. About
one-third of this sum has been expend-
ed in official salaries, and the pay OF the
marshal and police. These figures do
not include the revenues derived from
licenses, fines, poll tax and other sources
of revenue The question as to whether
we tax payers are getting the worth OF
our money, Is becoming a very serious
one, and will be settled by the action OF
the incoming city administration. Ii
they continue to squander u money In
the payment of incompetent, i%rresponsi-
BILE and reckless ''ward workers." by
giving them salaries out of the public
revenue, then the city will be disincor-
porated, and We will 60 back to the gov
eminent by the county commissioners
and precinct c%onstables, under which
we seem to have Jared just as well, as
under the present costly system. The
police force, at the most, should consist
of the marshal for day duty and n
policeman for night work, who should
be selected solely with a view to their
fitness for the position. They should be
able to speak both the English and
Spanish, and men of discretion and good
common sense. The marshal is especi-
ally important, for while his duties as
city marshal in arresting %evil-doers and
| preserving peace arc very simple, and
| indeed, amount to nothing, yet he is ex-
off1cio supervisor of streets and bridges,
in which capacity he will have a great
| deal to do and must exercise good judg-
ment and common sense.
We have such men, who are willing
to serve, and If any others are selected
as a reward for partisan service, the
wrath of the people will be aroused and
the council will hear from them. 1t is
a matter of absolute necessity that the
bridges in the city be at once placed in
a state of repair, otherwise the city is
liable to suits for heavy damages which
it has escaped heretofore, only by good
fortune. Provision should by all means
be made for properly lighting the city,
not only for the comfort and safety OF
ourselves, but for the effect upon
strangers, and as nearly all our trains
come in after dark, the first impression
upon a stranger will be good or bad,
according as our streets are properly
lighted or kept in darkness as now,
And first impressions are apt to be last
ling. In short, the taxpayers OF Santa
Fe expect from the new %adninistra
ton, business-like methods and hones'
service. The city council is neither t
political convention or a Legislature tt
make political deals and trades, but i:
for the purpose of collecting and dis
bursting to the best advantage OF thu
taxpayers the money which they pa,
into their hands as their agents. TIT
new mayor is a business mar who un
derstands these things, and if he will
do his duty fearlessly and honestly II
this respect, there is little doubt tn
council will follow him, in obedience t.
the public opinion OF the city, which
with the exception of a few chronic
office holders and ward politicians, de
mands such a business-like administra
ton. Very respectfully,
TAXPAYER.