Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-08-10

on the other hand, II contracts are
| made exclusively by the finance com
| mittee with the party furnishing
| dispute afterwards. The work OF the
| finance committee in authorizing bills
should he audited. checked or o. K'd
| by an auditing committee of which no
member is engaged in finance work.
During the past week protests have
been made by parties whose bills
have been reduced by the finance
| committee which knew little II any
| thing OF the iustness OF the claims.
| and the protesting parties have de-
| clared for revenge through boycott
methods which are always wrong
1t is the duty of each committee or
| nead OF department to contract hrst
| Tor the thing needed, specifying sup
ply, material or service and fixing
price and thereafter to pay according
| ly, and not to cut down bills con
| tracted. as under the former system,
| and doing this there will be no dis
appointment or friction afterward. Ii
a minute man In the fire department
Is employed by the four in that work
| his time should be properly kept by
tne fire warden and he should be paid
for his actual time without deduction
and without unnecessary delay.
We have board of trade known as
q commercial body. looking after and
promoting the interests of the city and
| county, at the expense of members,
| three or four hundred in all. and we
wonder If results obtained are worth
the expenditure? Do their proper com
| mittees, appointed to look over vari-
ous matters ever take peep over
the fence at city, county or school
affairs. and offer either administra-
tion or friendly suggestion. contem-
plating the public welfare?
About two years ago the city of Du-
| range was up in arms, brother fight
ing brother. neighbor fighting neigh
bor friend fighting friend. and church
| Ggnting church, in a school election.
| The aggressive side of the school
| board, in the controversy, declared
that former scnool boards had not
| taken the public into its confidence,
and that II the aggressive side were
permitted they would get very close
| to the people, the taxpayers, and show
| them where large amount of mon.
ey could be saved. they would pub
lish statements showing the expendi-
| lures and detail OF conduct of the pub
lie schools, so the people might know.
but up to date The Herald has fail
ed to discover any published official
statement by the school board.
The people are talking about these
matters very generally they probab-
| ly do not go to the proper officials
Ior information: this the public may
regard as an irksome. II not unweild-
| y an unusual procedure. The Herald
feels 1t duty 10 direct the attention
of tne school board to these matters.
that the public mind may be put at
ease.
All public officials having a proper
regard for the public interests should
he ready and willing to render ac-
counts of their stewardship and to
| listen TO suggestions made with
u proper interest in public matters,
and an alliance between public of.
fcials and taxpayers may prove bene-
| hicial.
Again, how is nay and grain pur-
| chased for the fire department? Is
this feed purchased with the same
| 4l 40 httgt
would exercise? Is 1t checked up?
How much does 1t cost per day, mouth
| or year for feeding eacn animal? :?
Does the council know how much
is required and how much is con.
sumed.
payers and people who elected them
| members to make thorough and
rigid examination of affairs in the
health department, particularly with
reference to the handling of the re-
ent small pox cases
The council is to be congratulated
Tor having placed the water depart
ment upon splendid basis of
economy, enabling the proper com
mittee and officials to know what
tne cost of supplying gallon OF
water is. In this department the an
| nual cost, receipts and expenditures
are easily obtaiuable at any time.
Every other department of the city
government can be conducted in the
same manner and with tie same
economy. The city knows what the
publication of ordinances at two cents
per line is and should he able to know
wnst each nail in a sidewalk costs.
The Herald favors rigid economy In
public afrairs and Is glad to say that
The people are taking a lively inter
est in thesp matters. The people
believe saving can be made in sew
eral OF the city departments and the
The Herald will urge the council to
see If II cannot be done.