The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-07-26

Buffalo, ~. V. March 23.-wlth n
mayor at the helm who in the autumn
OF his life quilt his department store
business In which he amnssed n So
oO0.O 900 fortune SO "a TO give undivided
attention 20 new duties. Buffalo has
walked up TO n realization that the wave
OF reform which swept so many cities
last election brought its 100000 citi-
zcns n government ON business prin-
clplcs-and department store methods.
Its chief executive II running the city
ns he used to run his department store.
James ~. Adam. aged -. a retired
Scotch retail merchant. elected by AN
unprecedented majority because tho
people believed he would throw GU
the graftcra." IL giving this city n re-
form administration. giving the ring
politicians p~rostration. and he
great bulk az tho people a larg" meas
ure OF satisfaction. In the nrst two
months OF his term he hns accom-
plishcd more towards the general bet
tcrmcnt OF the city's conditions. moral
and financial. than has n mayor
since Grover Cleveland started his po-
liticnl career here. which landed him
In tho White House soon afterwards.
Advertised for n Now Chief.
Though Mayor Adams time In once
has been short his intervals OF rest be-
tween radical moves have been shorter.
Sworn In on January l. on January :
he started nm investigation into mis-
management OF funds by Su%perintend-
cnt OF Police William =. Bull. In three
weeks the superintendent was forced
10 resign. A deficiency OF $4,000 In
dog tax funds handled by the supcrin-
tcndcnt was made good. \ week later
tho ex-chief paid TO the city treasurer
1886 secret service funds he should
have turned over In 1901.
The police superintendent being va
Gated. the new mayor wanted a good
mar TO nli ~. In his department store
he found advertising paid. He wanted
an army or navy officer 10 head the
department. 80 he made his
ment and the Associated Press printed
u far and wide. II read like a want
ad. Answers were many and are be-
Ing considered now.
When the police fund deficiency was
made tho subject OF mn investigation In
the mayors Office clerks rocked there
from all parts OF the city hall To hear
the testimony OF witnesses. The Sec
ond afternoon Mayor Adam percmp-
;orily ordered them all back TO their
desks. He said they were paid 10
work certain hours. not to idle away
their time gadding about the building.
III I had n conference OF heads OF
departments at my store you don't
think I would let all the clerks come
In TO listen, do you?" was his re-
mark tn n friend who stood near by
when he read the city employees their
lecture.
That remark IL characteristic Of the
man.
Headed on Franchise Graft.
Following his election. both before
and after he took office. Mayor Adam
was foremost In fighting al attempt
made by the International Railway
company. the only street ear line I'm
town To- get for nothing the franchise
TO lay tracks iu six miles Of streets. He
said the franchise should be auctioned
om To the highest bidder. His opposi-
,lon failed 20 prevent the common
ell making the grant. which n dld Mt
n midnight session. But the park board
had To assent because two miles 90 the
route was ON parkways. The result OF
the fight was that the road paid $500 o
for this two miles.
Complaints that too many dives and
concert halls existed IN the Tcuderloln
were made TO the mayor In February.
Applying business methods. he called
the Brewers association into confer
ence. lie pointed out 20 them that un-
less these saloons were closed their H.
cenEes would be revoked and their
bonds estreated. This would mean $780,
600 loss "a the brewerics. which supply
licenses and bonds.
Let us have three weeks time and
We viii close the places you object TO-"
said the brewers.
'All right. Here ls n list said the
mayor.
The list Included seventy saloon dives
A score were closed inside two weeks.
The Others followed In the specified
time. Some or the 'jointkeepers" had
dened the police for years. They .ound
pulls no good this time. \ few threat
ened TO put up for their own license
and bonds and continue despite the
brcwcries.
You will IND n policeman NJ your
day and night" WAS tho iuforma-
ton the temporary chief sent them.
The result was that quit. For rent
signs ARE AS flentifui In b Tenderloin
az the poor at "A free Thanksgiving div
ner.
His New Depot Activity.
For twenty years the city has been
trying to get n union passenger station.
Since January h mayor has got me-
teen railroads to approve a tcntStive
plan for "A 5000. 900 station.
The foregoing make "A pretty good
record for "A man OF q. They are no
all. Here are "A few more department
store Ideas carried INTO pIlttNs
A n~on-partisan commission has been
appointed To revise n defective charter.
one member IL Mayor Adams defeated
who In n lawyer.
The mayor has announced his inien-
ton OF asking the appellate court To
remove his two fellow police commits
sloncrs. He refused To sit with them,
saying hat they made a trial a farce.
orders hnv been issued that all
clerks work full time. Time clock con-
Germs have offered to- Install their APP
paratus Ia the city hall. IL Is under
Tho mayo works at least nine hours
n day. beginning ~ 5 a. ~. Often he
f. VA mis- office all midnight
lie has asked the county To pay the
city 5000. 600. long owing, ana has
threatened suit.
orders hay. been issued that Their.
are TO be- no more secret sessions 81
boards and commissioner. All min
utcs must b. published.
citizens hlNc been asked 20 report
lnsoicucc and iusttcuiiv"n'ss from
clerks. My clerks az the store were
pcl!,c and they were not paid $50 much
either" Was the mayors comment ON
thu
a Profit and Loss Account.
Al bad taxes due tho city are 90 De
charged up To- pru.. aud los A. "a store
would ,h.fpH. is bad L.bIg.