The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-05
ture to enact a law granting civil service
to this city. ,.,... .. T.
VOTING Machines.

" ILLS CltS.
Voting Machines.
Permit me to call your attention to the
statute which authorizes the cities of the
state to adopt voting machines. These de-
vices have been in actual use for several
years in the cities Of Buffalo and Roch-
ester, New York state and other towns,
and with p- rfect" success. They have fully
passed the experimental stage. Since
these machines operate automatically
there can be no disputes due to error or
fraud and hence no contests nor delays.
At the election in Buffalo last fall the re
turns. were all in and tabula ted within
forty minutes from the time that the polls
closed. + commend this subject to your
careful inyestigat ton. a.. {, 49, : = sxrsn2
inspection of Public Accounts.
Il am strongly in favor Of the adoption
OF some system under which the records
and books of accounts of the various cit.
les and county officials in all departments
and boards shall be subject to proper ex-
animation and approval by a board of
audit or some persons duly authorized
for that purpose-such system is need
ed. not only as a protection against pos
slble dishonesty, but also check
against mistakes and imperfect methods
OF keeping accounts, so liable to occur
when there is no direct supervision. This
reform has been strongly urged by some of
\
should receive earnest attention-person-
ally 1 have favored the plan ever since
was a member of the first charter COM
mission, when the subject was seriously
considered. but too late in the session to
become a part of the purposed charter.
IF such system Of inspection had been
provided for under our original charter
and properly enforced. it would undoubt-
eddy have saved this city many thousands
of dollars.
Waterworks and Filtration.
II would also call attention to our water
supply While "a member of the council
and serving upon the committee on health
and hospitals, had occasion to investi-
gate this subject quite thoroughly and
became convinced that, all things con-
sidered, the Mississippi river affords the
| only feasible source Of supply for general
purposes and I am equally positive that
the entire supply should be taken from
a point far enough up river to- avoid all
possible contamination from the sewers
Of the city
"Cond1tions have greatly changed since
the nrst pumping station at the falls was
established. Years ago the contamination
from sewers and other causes became so
apparent at that point that competent au
! thority condemned the water furnished as
dangerous to public health and the danger
has certainly increased as our popula ton
has multiplied.
1T was to meet this emergency that the
| Nortn size station was built and the
Northeast station is now in progress Of
| construction. The latter work cannot be
| pushed too vigorously, for the supply at
| the Falls has long been an intolera bic
nuisance and should be wholly abated at
once ~ - as e.. +. j ~. =
Ample and up-to ate school facilities.
! beautiful party and parkways public IL
/ n fr M
! street improvements are all Indispensable
! to the uniform and satisfactory develop
| ment OF a. great city. but the public
! health is concededly Of the most vital I'M
portance and hence whatever affects thu.
! same Is entitled to first considerat ton 1t
| therefore becomes one Of the highest d,1-
ties Of the civil authorities, not only to
provide pure water for the present popu-
| lation, but to adopt every precautionary
measure to insure it's purity for all time
to come. :, - d. i ~ i$E gs.ts. Z
The demand for a filtration plant is
already pressing hard upon us and it will
soon become necessary to decide this
| question. Il 1t will involve considerable de-
| lay and ought to be carefully and scien-
tifically investigated before any plan il
1 adopted NJ III is5 @ f@.s
4 There are two kinds of f1lters-the me.
i chanical and the sand bed for natural I'll.
II ter. The former can be installed for less
money than the latter. but the cost q
4 operation is greater--it is also somew ha
! experimental, whereas the latter is in
! variably reliable "a 49,; 80 4
Provide Against Adversely.
THE mechanical filter would be mani,
!. featured elsewhere and be shipped her,
to be set up. while the principal cost O
the sand filter would consist of common
Z day labor and would furnish employment
to many hundreds of our needy citizen
for a long. period OF, time.
| ut seems to me the pert Of wisdom ii
, time of prosperity to provide against ad
l. versity-why not decide to build the san,
: filter and, In order to provide the requi
FL site cash, arrange to Great a sinking fun,
j by means of small Increase upon tn
81 annual tax rate. During the good time
and in the course Of a few years the re
4 quired sum could easily berratsed.s Pros
: l-perous and happy as we now are and IN
y pleasant as 1t is, to even suggest til