The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-08-02

Recommends Enforcement Of Laws Relative to Gambling and
REGULATION Of Saloons Submit Water Question to PEOPLE


we find the finances very satisfactory
On account of the rapid growth of
the city the expenses for the ensuing
year will be much larger, therefore it
will be necessarily to guard zealously
the expenditures in every department.
1t is not wise to be too economical in
conducting the affairs of the city, but
we should get value received for ev-
cry dollar expended, and see that no
money is wantonly wasted. Large sup
plies for every department should be
bought in the open market, and at the
closest prices obtainable.
judiciary.
Under this head I wish to take up
the matter of changing our form of
government. The more I see of our
present form of government the more
dissatisfied I am with it. Our charter
having been granted under the old ter
ritorial laws, when conditions were
much different from what they are at
the present time, is entirely unsuitable
for a progressive city of the size and
Importance of Walla Walla, and 1
recommend a change. At the present
time we are under the necessity of
having a city election every year.
This causes much needless disturbance
which is neither beneficial nor profit
able to the business or social inter-
ests of the city, This feature alone
is sufficient ground on which to make
a change. More authority should be
placed in the mayors hands. He
should have the privilege of appoint
iv,~r hi icfo re In nr hn ont
system his assistants are, without ex-
ception, elected by the people, and
if they are not entirely in harmony
with him it is impossible to carry out
some necessary reforms. The mayor
should be in a position to dictate to
every official, with the exception of
the members of the council, and then,
if the government is not satisfactory
to the people they will know on
whose head to place the responsible
ity for misgovernment. l recommend
that we surrender the old charter and
come in under the laws governing cit
les of the second class, and remain
there until we can change and work
under the laws governing the cities of
the first class, which no doubt can be
l recommend that this matter be plac-
ed before the people for them to ac-
called for the purpose. This election
can be in conjunction with an election
for another purpose, that l snail dwell
on in the proper place.
Streets and Public Improvements.
This is a very important subject
CHI closest 2tton-
ton All have noted the great change
which mas come over the city as
result of the late improvements. The
citizens who have consented to be the
pioneers in street paving are to be
congratulated upon their public spirit,
as we'll as upon results which these
improvements have brought forth.
especially desire to congratulate the
citizens in the residence portion of
east Alder street. for the progressive
spirit they nave Displayed in demand
ing that the street be paved instead
of macadamized. While we may diff
fer as to the quality of pavement used,
the matter was left properly to their
wishes. They are paying their good
money for this improvement and right
fully should have the decision as to
what kind of pavement is used. am
satisfied that they will nave a good
pavement, that will be of great credit
to the city, and l am in hopes that
their example will induce other resi-
dents to demand that their own
streets be permanently paved.
Whatever improvements we make
should be of a substantial and perma-
nent nature. Enough money to pave
half of the principal streets OF
! the city has been wasted on a make
shift policy of Improvement Of streets.
Opening of Streets.
I recommend taking immediate steps
| to open Spokane street from Alder TO
Main street, bridging the creek with
| substantial steel bridge, and to pave
| Palouse street from Alder to Main
| street; and l recommend Also as in
my former messages, the opening of
Ninth street. We have reached
| point when this is a great public ne
| cessity The longer this is put off
the more expensive it will be to open
| this street Too little attention has
| been paid to the requests of the peo-
pie living in the Fourth ward. At the
|
| PEELED, in certain sections, to travel
| a long way to reach the Washington
school building. and, in justice to
these little people, we should proceed
without further delay to give them re-
lief 1 am pleased to know that the
residents on Fourth and Elm streets
object to the paving of these streets
with unsatisfactory oil pavements and
that they will demand that these
streets be paved in a proper manner.
The expense of paving the streets
properly will not be much greater
than of paving with this unsatisfactory
| material.
More Paved Streets.
South First Second and Fourth
streets should be paved to Poplar
street instead of to the alley between
Alder and Poplar. Last year we en-
tered into an agreement with the
county, that, providing they would
macadamize the county road west of
the city limits to the Blal lock fruit
ranch, and beyond, we would pave
| and macada,niZe from the court house
| to connect with their improved road.