The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-12-05
Thursday, December 5, 1907.
THE BOARD OF FINANCE,

THE BOARD OF FINANCE.
 The resignation from the Board of Finance of three of its members, MT, Lewis, MT. Herz and MT. Nesbit, calls attention to that department of the city government in a rather startling way and suggests a more sober con- sideration of it's duties and demands than has yet been given. There can be no question of the value of central clearing house for all of the recom- mendations made by the different ad- minsstrative boards. It came into ex- istence in order to escape the extrava- gances which were encouraged by three independent governments doing the business of one common communi- ty, The question now is how to preserve what is demonstrably good in the prin- ciple which lies at the bottom of the boards organization and how to avoid the danger of inefficient service.
 The gentlemen who have resigned have been in the minority of the Board Of Finance on practically all matters which involve a general in- crease of salaries and more extrava- gant municipal policy than has hither- to been approved We do not under stand that they failed to agree with the majority in some of the increases and to certain degree in the views of that majority with regard to more expansive scheme of general govern rnent. The parting of the ways came when 1t appeared to the minority that all things being considered, especial ly the business condition, it would be better to proceed cautiously and let time figure in the full grant of in- creased demands. Tn other words the conflict came between moderately radical policy to which the majority were committed and conservative policy which the minority insisted up- on. Under such conditions and in the ordinary run of things it is too much to expect that citizens should continue to serve who feel and know that they are without influence on a board which calls for far more than ordin- ary sacrifices both of time and peace of mind. At the same time 1t is unfJ:. tunate that differences of opinion should arise which deprive the city of the service of men who have display ed such admirable public spirit for such great length of time as these three gentlemen have.
 If these had been the first resigna- lions to be recorded for reasons ot discontent 1t would not be necessary to discuss the organization of the Board of Finance from the point oi view of its efficiency. From time tc time men of excellent business judg. ment have resigned because they could not agree with the policy of the majority, not that the majority on tha' account were, or are to be indicted a the bar of public opinion as incapable but that a system may well be consid cred in it's broadest aspect whicl makes it increasingly difficult to ob tain the services of men experience. enough in business matters to be use ful on board of that character. Mem bership on the board carries with i heavy burdens and very little thanks Aside from those public officials wh become ex-officio members, the mem bers serve from motives of publi spirit The theory is that while 1t i too much to ask of business men t give one night week and the whol month of November for an unlimite time, there will always be patriot citizens enough to fill the seats at tn council table without difficulty. w doubt if any mayor since the presen charter was adopted and put in for> will testify to the soundness of thi theory. We should expect them to sa that it was with the greatest difficult that they succeeded in getting men t serve who are by experience qualifie to intelligently pass upon matters { such importance as those which com continually before that board. In othe words, the difficulty the appointin power confronts of inducing the trair ed man to take the job, coupled wit the certainty that capable men will nt continue to serve when they find the influence gone, suggests the queI whether after all the municipal orgaI ization as we have it is best calculate to give the best results in the financi
 administration of the city as compa, ed with another in which fitness wit proper compensation dominates.
 It would unquestionably work ba,