The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-04-14


improve The service, thus shifting the
burden from the shoulders 81 those tax
payers who nrc deriving no direct bene-
Iit from ils maintenance, as well AZ
reducing the cost to patrons of the
plant
While il is our duty To redeem the
outstanding Warrants 81 the city as well
M the old village corporation with NIL
possible despatch, business prudence
suggests conservative course in this
direction. Experience ~ village govern
ment has taught our people that unless
u timely check IL applied, most, II
not all 81 the liquor taxes reach
ing the municipal treasury comes
in the form oil municipal warrants. Our
present financial condition will not per-
init OF this indirect payment of so large
an amount az our indebtedness iinne-
dintely. Fairness tn all parties con
cerned. however. suggests that a portion
Of these evidendences of Indebtedness be
received by the treasurer la his SET Element
on account of this source OF revenue. |
would recommend TINT the treasurer be
authorized by resolution To accept from
the county treasurer in his settlement
on account OF liquor licences an amount
in city warrants not in excess Of twenty
live per centum al the whole, IA like per
centnge in village warrants and the
balance Ia cash, at the same timo nu-
thorizng the county treasurer 10 accept
the sumo per centagcs. respectively,
from ench liquor tax payer. La this
our present financial distress can be re-
lieved, aud at the same time, "A fair pro-
portion 81 our outstanding Indebtedness
paid
In relation to the salaries OF those
city officers whose compensation is fixed
10y ordinance, would sny that, in my
Judgment, some revision Is necessary
All public officials should compensated
| fairly Tor their services, MT least, To the
extent of The ability Of hepublc served,
to pay; but our city iS, ut the present
| time, unable to maintain any lucrative
sinecures. On the other hand. efficient
service can hardly he expected from nm
undergrad official The present salary
Of the city marshal, Ia my judgement, is
much q small. The duties attaching to
this Office are many anil trying and It's
incumbent ought TO he pnid, at least, an
amount that npproximates lair com
penra ton for the service rendered. On
the contrary, the salary al the city
attorney, M now fixed, ! consider To be
grossly excessive While the necessity
az employing and paying for competent
assistance in The construction aud in
| terpretation OF our municipal law Is
manifest, the Inconsistency of paying
| SIS 90 for the execution and enforce
ment Of, approximately, 81 900 worth
of such construction and Interpretation
must shock any mind wherein Justice
holds "A scat. would therefore recon-
mend that, prior To the date fixed by
our charter for filling Tie several appoin-
tive Offices OF the city, these salaries be
re-adjusted and fixed, respectively, Mt
lair amounts, the duties entailed con
sided
While the present policing OF the city
is probably adequate, Notwithstanding
the excessive Irugality in the matter 81
salary above referred to, | would sug
eest the probability Of the necessity. in
nm additional night policeman Tho
influx 81 a floating population, some al
which is 81 Il very obnoxious and dan
gerous sort, consequent upon our inn
structon in the vicinity is RAPIDLY de-
velopng this necessity
Many other matters, time permitting.
might be considered NJ this time. With
these Few suggestions, however, shall
rest for the present, with the hope that
during the continuance Of our relations
we may accomplish that Tor our city and
our people which IL more material than
words and contemplation. With ~
more careful equalization Of tho tax
burdens OF the municipality than has
bcen observed in tie past, and IL vieor-
ous policy 81 Nlrenchnent in the
administration al our municipal affairs,
feel confident OF our ability SO To- do,
and for the accomplishment 81 which |
ask your earnest co operation.
CHHIsToPnER T. RoBERrs,
Mayor.
Crystal Falls, Mich, April IL, 1900.
There being no further business TINT