Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-01-22

ers relating to public improvements
would be subject to his veto when
they did not come within the scope of
the Board of Control. and all expendi-
lures of money over $500 should meet
his approval before being binding on
the city.
This plan in actual operation would
be found much more simple than it
may appear to the average reader.
Only the Board of Control and police
Judge would be added to the present
officers. One would relieve the mayor
oil duties that do not belong to the
office and give him time to attend to
sponsible for it, The other would in
no sense be a.legislative body. There
would be no chance for deadlocks on
necessary legislation, as we have had
between the council and commission
ers Their whole duty would be to
confirm or reject all appointments to
office, expenditures Of money over
certain limit. and the granting of all
franchises. They would only have a
veto power, but as the term of office
would be only one year, the best and
most solid business men in the city
would consent to serve. A body OF this
kind would have saved the city con-
siderable money last year when the
Market street paving contracts were
let. The contracts were not let to the
lowest bidder and the only redress of
the property owners was to 20 into the
CO art. This was expensive and caused
n long and bothersome delay. Where
the Board of + Control has no veto
power the mayor acts as u check on
the commissioners and council. On
expenditures, amounting to less than
$500 the commissioners have authority
to act 1T present. Under the present
system no watch is kept of these small
sums, and ii the taxpayers
are wronged there is no
chance for redress. The plan pro-
posed would only make 1t necessary
to convince this board that one or
more commissioners had been guilty
of carelessness or failure to attend to
duty to end their official career The
Board of control would appoint to fill
the vacancy until the first election
when candidates for the balance of
the term would be ballotted for,
When franchises come up for action
there Is always cry that this coun-
Gilman or that has been bought, and
while have never seen 1t in Akron it
has been done in other places and may
happen here before we know it. The
recent investigation in Cleveland
proves that One thing that makes it
easy for large corporation
for the use of streets and
attain money. 1T is taught child
h. han IA, ,,inp fVhp. mi nf
means lis no better than the laborng
man, but his honor is at stake and
that honor means more dollars than
does that of the poor man, For this
reason the Board of Contol would
probably be more diflicult to influence
than n council. The members would
be mon whose business reputation
would not allow them to do
the least act that would
look suspicious. In addition
to this il corporation could buy
the Board of Control it would still
have to buy. the council. While this
would have less members they would
be better Gloss of men than Mt pres
ent, and consequently more exclus-
i've.
The matter of franchises does not
receive the consideration by the peO-
pie that it should. AS the city grows
they are rapidly increasing in value
until some of these free grants are
worth fortunes. This was illustra ted
last week when the Northern Ohio
Traction Co. bought the Rapid Tran
sit lines. Mr.. Walsh got the franchise
for the original road us an attorney.
After he had it the parties to build
the line could not raise the money.
The grants along the roads and in. the
strt cts were too valuable to forfeit
and Mr.. Walsh went into the street
railroad business to hold the fran
chises. OF the purchase price paid
for the road large part of IT was for
the rights given the Rapid Transit by
the pubir's servants. These matter
do not come up every day, hut when
they do we should he prepared for
them. Ono mi tnke NJ, w"'n 500 :
Oij0 to the city during the life Of the
franchise in question. The public
grants that have already been allowed
will not run forever, and the time for
their renewal Will come before We
know it, We do not want to have an
o hDr Central Union Telephone eXpe-
rlence when that Time comes, but un-
less we prepare for it 1t is certain TO
! follow.
! The foundation Of Akron in a busi-
ness sense has been laid during the
last 10 years and during that time 1t
has changed in appearance from a
country village to IA healthy, growing
city. In 1890 the entire length of Main
street was sea of mud part Of the
year, West Market, North Howard,
East Exchange ana many of the other
of our hilly streets were washed out
country roads after every rain storm.
Today we have about "a miles Of pave
ments in the city, all of 1t laid dur
ing this time and during the
coming summer this will be increased
to 80 miles. Then only few sections