The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-11-21

l sum IoT edcH pdrtiCuldi OuJecl anu Pio'
 hibitions and penalties for exceeding | this in any line. Where this is made | for service, which in the nature of the
 case must run for the whole year, to | have most or all of this money used in | six months and consequently paralyz- | ing the service for the rest of the year | is a defiance and insult to your hon. orable body and the taxpayers, whose servants our public officials are A | marked instance occurred this year through the former board of public works in the care of the street accosnt. No official in his conduct has right to depend upon transfers from other accounts or assume that they can or
 will be made. There Is another marked instance under the board of education.
 A year ago you appropriated $15,000 for the Oak street school, which certainly is much needed. The first three months of the year gave ample time to perfect plans and make contracts for the
 building. so as to have it ready for the
 fall term. Why this was not done at
 that time can only be explained by the
 events that followed, when you were
 asked to transfer this money to the
 salary account, as this would be ex-
 hausted before the end of the year, and
 the schools closed for a season. It Is
 as much the duty of the board of edu-
 action to grade the expenses In the sal
 ary account so as to cover the whole
 year as for any other department to
 grade It's expenditures in this way. I
 hope that your board has the power to
 correct the evils in this line but If not
 that then myself and others may count
 on your assistance at the next state leg
 islature in having the charter so
 amended as to prevent such conduct in
 the future. Without complaining that
 it is so I wish to call your attention to
 the fact that more summary and des-
 potic powers are, granted to your body
 in the way of taxation than has gener-
 ally been considered safe in city gov-
 ernment The review granted to the
 other bodies of the city government
 has been shown in the past to be at-
 tended with so many difficulties in
 getting concurrent action because of so
 many diverse interests that you prac-
 tically have the whole matter in your
 hands. Diminished or restricted appro-
 priations may neceseitate economies
 with just as good service as before. l
 can hardly see the necessity of using
 three dollars of the public money to &C.,
 complish the same results that can be
 had by an individual in private capac-
 ity for two dollars Yet I find many that have given up in despair thinking there is no remedy. I might state some facts, that have come under my obser-
 vation in the way of public expendi- lures that would make the taxpayers ears jingle, but I do not mean by this to accuse parties who are above re- proach in the community where they live of any intentional wrong doing,
 but rather that they are like many others, when the stimulous of competi- tion that was unavoidable in their pri- vate business is wanting, they have fallen into loose methods which would bring financial ruin in private bueiAess
 A few words as to what the city ought justly to pay to those who have steady employment in these positions. Instead of the pay being higher or even as much as similar capacity will command in other lines it should be less, be- cause of its security, not being affected by the contingencies that are incident in most. other lines, just as the investor puts his money into government bonds at per cent. when with poorer securi- ty much more could be expected but not sure I commend these views to your careful consideration in making in this line, and also ask the attention of teachers, flremen policemen and all others who have gtoQdu ,v,1n ant h,t oltx who may be of equal capacity and | have the burden of paying you would | be very glad to change situations with ' you. Allow me in closing to say that my views, I think, are in accord with a | large majority of the taxpayers and | for the public good, and trust will | have your serious consideration.
 Respectfully, John Kerley