The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-02
MAYOR JONES' MESSAGE
Document Names Several Ideas Which
Will Be Taken Up.


as follows:2 ~ -
The occasion which brings us: together
today is not only the Inauguration OF the
mayor, but the beginning Of the two-year
term of the next council. The executive
and. legislative departments thus assume
together important duties and RESPONSE
bilities The city charter provides that
1.-The mayor shall from time to time give
the city council such information, and
recommend such measures, as he may
deem advantageous to the city,
Somewhat unusual circumstances have
prevented my presenting to you today
anything like q comprehensive message,
following the time -honored usage OF the
past, but I may from time to time. as
suggested by the charter, send to your
honorable body communications more I'M
detail having bearing upon matters OF
vital public interest. g
Ours is q city government by council,
In which: body most Of the important mu-
nicipal functions are located, to be per-
formed thru the medium Of committees.
I do not recall any instance among the
larger American cities where greater re-
sponsibilities are imposed, or larger OPP
portunities for public service are offered,
than here in Minneapolis. You, as mem
bers of the council, serve the municipal
corporation as board Of directors to
practically transact most Of It's business;
while the mayor, to continue the figure,
is a sort Of executive head to see that
your orders are carried out. The en-
tire revenues Of the city are placed I'M
der your control, and the annual expendi-
ture Of a sum now considerably over
SO, 000,0 900 Is made entirely under your
direction. You raise the money and you
spend it without any check outside Of
your own body where the responsibility
rests as a whole. The exercise Of sound
business judgment with economical man
lagement thru the heads Of the several
departments justifes this council form OF
government. while the Lack of both con-
| dennis it.
! AS mayor, cannot directly connect
with your body except thru the exercise
| of the veto power, and even that check
| is subject to the adverse action Of two
thirds Of your membership. The 1nf1u-
ence of the mayor, therefore, is only in
direct, but In my own case six years OF
service In the council has given me a
personal asset Of no small value in con-
nection with our joint relations. I shall
feel in consequence even livelier interest
in the success Of your, labors IN behalf
Of the welfare Of the community, and
stand ready to cooperate with you fr
any way, and at all times, without desir-
ing to become at all obtrusive.
The Mayor 3, ,specihc Duties.
But while the mayor may not directly
effect legislation, he is not left without
his office. The chief magistrate of this
city is responsible for good order and fo
the security Of the life and property O.
its citizens. He should also aim t,
maintain standard Of civic conduc
which corresponds with the high averag,
of character and intelligence Of the in
dividual citizenship. In my opinion, tn
conservation Of public morals in this cit.
should be the chief concern Of it's mayor
and am profoundly impressed with m,
responsibility in this connection. Seldom
in municipal history has g. mayor face
greater problems in his particular depart
ment than ara now presented to me, an
I realize that my attitude toward then
will have much to do with determining
, the standard of municipal morals In thi
community. During the campaign jus
closed I assumed, In the plainest Ian
guage I could command. certain respon
sibilities in the event Of my election.
left no doubt as to my attitude towar
certain public evils which have so seri
ously impaired the reputation Of this cit,
n and I stand pledged to a certain cours
. Of action against them. from which
: have no notion OF retreating. The pee
d pie who elected me were not misled, an
. 7 am justified in assuming that the
expect me to carry out my promise.
The homes Of this city must be protecte
from rampant indecency and lawlessnes
for the home interest Is paramount
this community, and I have right I
J ask and expect the cooperation Of ever
l good citizen along these lines. There al
some evils in a large and rapidly CROWN
' city like this which all respectable ele
l. ments in society are agreed should (
Il abolished.
r. 49,, The Police Department..
p The police force is the chief instr,
: ment placed by, the charter in the han,
= of the mayor. to- effect the results aine
at, and there are virtually no limitation
= on his use Of it. The best results CO
II only be secured, therefore, thru a spir
- Of loyalty and hearty cooperation on tt
- part of the force and nothing short
~ the most efficient service on the part
20 both officers and men will be acceptabl
- In the work of arriving at this standa
le in the reorganization Of the force,
J. partially will be shown, neither will al
- kind Of political or personal pull be re
ognized The police department belon
IL to the taxpayers and is not person
e perquisite Of the mayor, who is simr
j the servant of the public In his directi
W of the department.
a The present force of about 235 men,
"a which only ISL are In active patrol So
~ vice, is far too small to satisfactor
e. cover the city, for we now have but
er few more men than we had fifteen yea
es ago, with about half our present popul
r. ton. AS there are. no physical limit
n lions to the growth Of Minneapolis,