The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-31
Mayor Jones Has Had a
Busy Twelve Months
In Spite Of His Multiarous Duties the Cys Executive Has
Succeeded in Solving Many Doughty Problems and in
lnstitutns Reforms Which Have Made Him Known
Turnout the Country. .

Mayor David 2. Jones has led a
strenuous life during 1905 The null
hilarious duties of the chief executive
Of the metropolis of the northwest are
sufficient to occupy the time Of one
man, but in addition he is the ex-efficio
member of eight different municipal
boards and it is doubtful if he has
missed any Of their meetings. z Then
there are his private business interests,
which have demanded some attention
Moreover he has been much in demand
as a speaker at conventions, banquets
and before clubs and other organiza-
tions. In the past year he has aver
aged fully three addresses 3 week,
making fully 100 talks for the year.
The mayor is a member Of the board
of park commissioners, the board of
charities and corrections, the board of
sinking fund commissioners, the arm
DRY board, the library board, the board
Of health, the board of tax levy, and
the municipal building commission.
Everyone knows in a general way what
these various bodies are required to
do, and will realize that the mayor has
been very busy man simply in at
tending to his many boards. Many
citizens who are members of only one
board find that it interferes consider
ably with their private affairs.
Mayor Jones was inaugurated on
Jan. 2, but previous to that day had
given considerable time toward pre-
pairing himself for his official duties.
On the day he was indicted to office
his official staff was announced to the
council. which was organized on the
same day.
Began Series of Reforms.
Immediately on entering the office
he began the series Of reforms which
he had in mind for the uplifting Of the
: moral tone Of the community, the re-
striction Of vice and immortality. It
was his general idea to place all evils
under the lid and to sit on the lid.
The first order was to rid the bust
ness and resident districts of houses of
ill-fame which were conducted under
various guises, such as bath parlors,
candy stands, furnished rooms and
other subterfuges. Many were openly
conducted on the main streets Of the
city. There is recognized red light
district, not sanctioned by law, but ex.
listing as necessary evil. into this
district the women Of the town were
forced to go or leave the city. Many
of them left. Within the first month
Mayor Jones also began his crusade
:. against public gambling houses, with
the result that all were eventually
closed. ~.-.-., :,
The saloon traffic was also one of
the first to engage his attention. Attic
the ordinance requires saloons to close
at midnight, the proprietors were vir
tualiy given leeway /of one hour in
20 which to bring the nj ght g business tc
close. The result was that the sa
looms were open until l O'Clock anf
often much later. The new order re-
qulring all barrooms to be vacated By
1915 sharp went into effect forthwith
and has been vigorously enforced.
Police Department Improved.
= While there has been no radical up
heaval in the police department., thu
force is vastly different from what i,
was year ago. By constant care
with changes from time to time, there
has been gradual regeneration. Care
less and inefficient officers were spurre(
to activity by threats Of dismissal
Some were retired in favor of younge
and more vigorous men, The frs
step was the appointment Of new cap
tains in the first, second, third ant
fourth precincts, with various change
among the lieutenants and sergeants.
On Jan. 26 Mayor Jones submitte,
to the city council a. communication
calling attention to the dangerous grad
crossings in Southeast Minneapolis
The result was the appointment by tn
council of special committee OF
grade crossings and this committee ha
recently made an agreement with tn
Northern Pacific and the Milwaukee
railway companies for the separation
of grades at Washington avenue, Uni
-. versity avenue and Oak street Sc.
Learning that much time was los