The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-11-23
since five years ago at Salem, oregon

since five years ago at Salem, Oregon.
II is not necessary to say before 90.
ing into the details of the plan that
there is great need of substituting
sound business methods for the aver.
age partisan graft The latter as
conducted in the average American
city would eliminate in managings in
a mining. camp.
What are the municipal problems
common TO all cities? They are not
political, but absolutely relate to col.
lecting and disbursing revenues, and
police regulatlons-the great strain
coming upon any administration at
two points-iinance and vice.
Tho collection of revenues, con.
structing and maintaining streets
sewers, ETC., funding debt paying sal.
aries. erecting public buildings and
managing public service franchises
are as purely a business matter as
any other business matter on earth.
In conducting large business rams.
actions. as II necessarily must, a city
administration must cope with the
keenest intellects OF the community
withth aggregate predatory element
of society-and 1t is folly to expect
good result without a well-defined pro-
gram.
For FIVE years this city has had the
affairs Of the city government con.
Quoted on a strictly business basis
Whether an alderman has been Re
publican OF Democrat, he has stood
on that platform.
II is assumed that whoever is elect
ed on the 7th OF December next will
continue the application Of those lrin.
ciples.
Since last year a new charter has
been adopted, doubling the popula
tion and increasing the territory of
tho city three-fold The newer por.
tions OF the city must be given rea.
sonable improvements.
Il Is assumed that whoever is eject
ed will not object to conducting the
municipal affairs on this platform.
Before business program was
adopted the deficits each year wero
growing largeN The limits Of debt
and taxation were being exceeded
Under a business program the debt
was reduced, taxes We're limited. and
interest was reduced TO the lowest
limit 10y the popular loan plan.
The current expenses OF the city
were reduced about one,third; the an.
nual interest charge was reduced
about one-fourth. No further debt
wac created.
The electric lighting bills werc re.
duced nearly one-half and the city Sc.
cured The lowest lighting contract OF
any city on che Pacific Coast of its
size.
The popular loan plan Is simply
this Whom bonds are issued, instead
of selling them in lump sum 70 some
banker or Eastern syndicate. they are
sold ON direct subscription TO the
bona hde residents of the city. In
sums from $50 upwaitls. each citizen
having the right TO subscribe once
and the smallest subscribers being
served first when the bonds are is
sued The popular loan bonds are
ten-yCar call bonds and interest Is
payable semi,annually
This plan makes the citizen an in.
terested stockholder in the debt Of
the community and ne In turn be
comes interested in the continuance
OF a business program.
Under this system taxes have de
creased, deht has been reduced, Prop
cray has advanced in value invest
ments in factories and private eorpo
rauons have increased. Improve
ments have been carried on TO a great
or extent than ever before.
Following are essentials OF a bust
ness program, as We have carried il
on at salem;
FiSt-An officials on a 1at salary
aud all fees. perQulsites and earnings
OF each once to 50 into the treasury,