The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-04-13
The MAYOR TALKS,
Annual Message sent to tho
Council last Monday.
One Assessor. Stop Dirt and Wood
Piilng In Public Streets and the
Continuancy In Control OF Water
and Light Plant.

4
and Light Plant.
To THE COUNCIL:
The statute under which the city Is
organized contemplates that the
Mayor shall, from time To time, recon-
mend such measures as he deems ex
pedient While 10 is not my purpose
at this time 10 urge upon your atten-
tion any specific legislation, IL may
not be Inappropriate, at the beginning
OF our administration, TO indicate, in
general way, the policies which, in
my opinion, should control MS in our
future conduct as city officials.
The people have intruSted MS with
the management Of their public affairs
and expect us TO administer them in
wise and careful manner. can
think OF 40 truer conception of our
duties rs aldermen and mayor than to
view them as substantially similar to
those which attach TO the position of
directors in an ordinary business cor
poration; where the time, emery,
knowledge and judgment are justly
required and devoted 20 the enhance
ment OF the prosperity and general
well-being of the interests they have
i'm charge. And ! believe that IL we
hold this conception in mind and act
upon IL always, we shall not fail to
manage the affairs OF the city with
that degree OF efficiency which shall
correspond 10 the expectations which
our citizens have right TO entertain.
The financial condition Of the city
remains unsatisfactory. With the
various funds greatly oyerdrawn, and
with large amount of orders out
standing in addition 10 the bonded
debt, the necessity for prudence in
our expenditures must be apparent TO
all. While there should lie no hesita-
tion in providing for the necessary
running expenses at reasonable prices
for materials furnished and services
rendered, the lavish expenditure Of
the public money for purposes either
wholly or at the present time unneces-
sary can not be too strongly discour-
aged.
Special care should be taken by
those officials whose duties concern
the raising and leyying of taxes, in
order that the tax levy this year may
not be yitiatcd by jurisdictional de-
fectS or irregularities. The tax rate
should be made as low as il can be
made, consistently with the require
mentS Of the city government econom-
ically administered, but when the
rate has been adjusted upon this con
seryative basis, there should he little
loss through inability 10 collect the
taxes authorized.
One OF the defects i'm the taxes last
year would probably have been
avoided, II, instead OF there being a
separate assessment In each ward,
there had been only one assessment
for the entire city. The statute en-
powers the council TO provide for such
entire assessment and for a city
assessor TO make the same, thus re-
llieying.the supervisors from the duty
OF making assessments for their
respective wards. would recommend
the passage Of an ordinanc to accom-
pllsh this change, SO that IL will be
effective in the levying of this years
taxes.
Large sums OF money due the city
for light and water furnished TO pri-
yate consumers remain uncollected.
These amounts should be covered into
the treasury without further delay
and steps TO effectuate this object
should be taken Immediately by those
who have the affairs OF the public
works in charge. IL might not be inn
proper to adopt a regulation 20 the
effect that consumers OF light or water
shall be deprived Of the service as
soon as they become delinquent In
their payments for It..
Considerable money has been APP
propriated and expended in the last
two years for the supposed improve
ment Of the light and water system,
but much remains TO be done TO bring
10 TO the requisite state OF efficiency.
Will IL does not seem prudent at
this time lay out very large sums In
the improvement OF this system, |
believe the city should not adopt the
alternative, which has been TO some
extent discussed, Of leaving the city
plant 30 a private company. The
modern tendency is distinctly towards
more extensive municipal control
OF public utilities, and the Instances
In which these have been taken from