The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-10

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port at this time precludes such further
investigation by this jury. ~! -, =
We commend to the ineomirg grand
july the recommendations lin full of our
predecessors; a copy of whose report Is
herewith attached. There should be, as
stated therein. complete and thorough
system Of audit inaugurated, covering
each and every department and board Of
the city. There are at present depart
1nents and boards Of the city and county.
receiving and expending large sums of
public money, and on whose ,administra-
ton. this jury makes no reflection, but
which, nevertheless. ore not subject -
such audit. In our Judgment no money
| could be more wisely expended than in
paying the expenses Of such audit, and we
recommend to the city council that it
Immediately put into operation such sys-
tom and include with it the provision that
no city enploye shall pay. out any money
except on proper warrant, and shall turn
| in all receipts, on >thessarla day as re-
ceiVcd, to the city treasurer or a duly
appointed agent In the Judgment of this
| jury there is no one thing which will do
SO much to retain good men in office and
! keep designing men out of office as the
adoption and rigid observance of:<this& rule
eve desire to4a@reconnmend most
I earnestly to the favorable attention OF
/ the representatives Of this county in the
state senate aud house the proposed civil
| service law governing all employees of the
city. The time is ripe for the adoption
Of such a law and: pendingsthe adoption Of
a. charter by the city Which shall enable
the municipality to put such rules into
effect, the legislature lis Sour &onls' &: re-
| course. Boodling ana grating cannot
thrive where such asfaWs3sin effect, Wb n
| the opportunity for graft is removed. as
<, it is under stringent%c service rules
| and a rigid auditing system. ,grafters seek
,,1rr OBJ al all
This jury also wishes TO go OIL record
as depreca ting the altogether too
| prevalent custom Of making the grand
! jury a; collection agencyis an instrument
| for. the execution Of revenge or spite,
when other means Of procuring redress
have failed. We belieVeTsthat equitably,
| if not legally. the person who delibera teiM
] bargains with the one who has betrayed
| his trust putting criminal prosecution as
! the alternative against failure to make
good a shortage forfeits his, right to re-
dress except by civil process. 49,. ~:
| ...< 2 ~ "Wide Open" FalIscy. =. ,..-s,
In closing this report we wish TO
commend most emphatieallys the admin
istration of our present acting. mayor aud
tiously, but most effectively, have they
officially emphasized the principle that
a public office is a. public trust, and that
the welfare and prosperity of the city of
Minneapolis is not. contingent on the*pu
| suance of the so-ca1ied:; wide OPEN
policy, and that morality is not .incon-
gruous with prosperity, and that the pro-
lection Of the home aud Areside,> repre-
senting, as they do. fhe vast majority
Of our citizenship, should be the: chief
concern Of the citys officials: that not
only the law abiding, but the law evading
portion Of the conllnullity$respect and will
CO. operate With regulations which. they
can depend upon, and tina t the entire sys-
TEN Of graft and payment for illegal priv
| ileges is neither. desirable nor necessary
fare Of the law abiding portion OF the
Community SHOULD be the chief concern
Of the administration, ra ther than the
| reverse. . & ~..- : r.. =. - -: 49,
! ! We commend particularly the recon-
| 1nenda ton of the mayor to the board of
tax levy that the system Of fines here
| tofore in effect in connection with the
Questionable houses of, the city should be
| abolished; as also hts order prohibiting
the use Of nickel In the slot ma chimes
and similar petty gambling devices and.
in this connection, we recommend TO the
merchants of the city that they disceur-
age the use for advertising purposes of
| lottery schemes of any aud every form
/ gift. enterprises and similar propositions
some Of them clearly ATTRACTIONS of the
law. and others closely sapploa ching the
| same. RespectfulIY, submitted. - s s. I
| ~ - w lillian L. Harris, Foreman:
Dated Dec. 9; 1907. ~. X = x :. .:~s