The daily tribune., 1905-03-29


part Of the financial side Of city govern
nent the raising and distribution of
funds through the general fund depart
ment, think that all persons Who are
interested in trying 70 better the city's
condition financially may have some
more definite notions IS TO the handling
OF city a6airs on the money side. Mu-
nicipal administration Possesses all the
features to make 1t pure science. The
leading political economists all agree
thst the highest perfection and success
can only be attained by recognition OF
otness, experience. honesty and abilities
Of men. They all denounce party or po-
ltical preference, or mere popularity AS
safe basis for selection Of city officials
The whole matter is one Of business, Of
abilities Of men to handle their respec-
tive departments, 20 harmonixing with
their co-ofBcials ~ to become . working
unit, each having his own views, yet
breadth Of Judgment enough to give and
take in matters where honest men will
necessarily differ. 1t is conceded among
leading cconomists that in at least most
Of its departments civil service rules
could be we'll applied in city manage
ment but the customs Of our country, at
least, do not, except on rare occasions,
accept this view. Because the president
Of the U. 8. is elected on party lines or
for like reasons, just as weigh:y munich
pal administration is made partisan. 1t
We shall now pass to the other de
psrtments Of city affairs; these it will be
seen are more and more pure business
and entirely lose tho feature Of being
governmental. In those departments it
will bs easier for US to see the folly Of
80 called party preference or political Sc
lection.
I have few observations to make now
on the sewer department.
This department pertains to the sew
age Of the city throughout the estab-
lished sewer district. 1t followed your
water works system. To put it in you
voted bonds known as sewer bonds and
levied upon all the lands within the
sewer district a sufficient sewer assess
ment to pay the bonds and the interest
thereon. Your city clerk and treasurer
are the principal persons to look to in
this matter now and until all those bonds
shall have been redeemed. About all
your city administration, outside OF
those officers has to do with this de-
partment is to SOC that your sewer sys-
tenn is in good repair, unobstructed and
operative, open. You have no tax or
charge aside from expense Of construc-
tion which was levied on each lot in
the sewer district when the sewer Was
constructed. II you take up yesterdays
paper and review the table, ''appropri-
atoms" and assessments and levies"
You will observe no sewer fund levies.
You find sewer fund appropriation Of
500 for each of the past two years.
Being no tax levy therefor the query
arises where will that money come from
il raised? 1t will come from your water
fund. The present plan contemplates
that the water revenues shall keep up
sewer repairs, etc. But under head
"Sewer Bond, Redemption and Interest"
you find appropriations Of $1,000 last year
and 5000 for the coming year. This is
an estimate of the amount Of sewer
taxes or sewer assessments which will be
paid into the county treasury and by
him turned over to the city clerk from
your sewer tax or assessment levied up
on your property when your sewer bonds
were voted. All this money must be
used for the redemption Of your sewer
bonds. Those bonds now outstanding
are Of denominations Of d, 200 each and
as soon as your treasurer has q sufficient
amount on hand to warrant call, he
calls them in and cancels them. Your