Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-19

pany. They argue that the possible in
crease under an efficient business poll
icy should be considered as well as
present income.
The city council has now given the
company ample opportunity to produce
the statistics OF it's business forathe
enlightenment Of the council In fixing
reasonable rates, but on the show dnwn
it appears that the company is unwill-
ing to do what its president blandly
promises in verbal conversation. IL the
earnings of the company would not
permit of the proposed reduction in
rates the company itself would be de-
manding that it's books be examined,
would even he insisting upon 1t. Now
that it refuses to have them examined.
the council need look no further fQr
proof of the reasonbleness of $110 gas.
The proposed ordinance should be
passed at the next meeting. The COM
pany can then entoin 1t At 1t wishes,
and the books can then be opened by
order Of the court at the company
expense If 1t loses No court would De
likely to permit the company to choose
it's own expert accountant, either.
y
Things are looking up In Marshall
town. A man with the cash In the bank
says that he can't buy modern seven
room house close in. Then there Is the
pottery plant running full blast, with
sixty men employed. and the Lennox
Furnace company adding steel ranges
to its line, which will develop into the
equivalent of new factory in a very
short time If 1t succeeds at all. Car
penters are all busy now and there Is
already more building in sight for next
year than we have ever seen before.
Members Of the present board OF SUI
pervisors complain that they should
not be held to account for structures
upon policies which were instituted by
a previous administration. That is
true so far as the pre- sent board Is not
disposed to continue the same policies.
However, there will never be good pub
lie policy until it is realized that to
save money Is not the sole function of
governing board Public money is
not raised to be saved. 1t is raised in
order that we may have public serv-
ice. 1t is governing boards duty to
get the service at a cost as wisely OK
pended as Is possible but the service
first and the cost second II the coun-
ty is to give medical aid to its poor
it should give the aid and not accept
bids so low that the medical aid must
BID sighted by the bidder. II the
county is to bury its poor, al decent
burial is the right Of humanity under
an enlightened civilization. To turn
the destitute dead over to All under
taker who is willing to bury mil
lion of bodies for one cent is not
strict requisition as to quality Of servs
ice, altho it may be that no complaints
can justly be made upon the service
in the past. A reasonable fee with, a
strict requirement as to quality of
service should be the policy, and then
rotation OF the contract among reput-
able undertakers would be good
business policy. Whether county
doctors are to be employed per
visit, upon requisition of the overseer of
the poor, or upon salary, does not mat
ter so much as does the question OF
getting the service performed. II a
salary is paid it should be an adequate
salary, and monthly report should be
made by the county doctor showing
what he has done for his money. The
present board can show that 1t has
raised the salary from $50 to 5000,
but that was because no one would
bid at the lower figure. The fact still
remains that the poor are not getting
the medical aid they need and 1t is
probably because the pay is too low to
permit them to have it.
&
While the paving of Thirteenth street
to the soldiers home gate would be
distinct public improvement, and
should be done, there are several
miles of paving in other parts Of
town just as necessary. East Main
street. for instance, should be relaid.
now down should be paved, If possible.
AIT $1.25 per square yard concrete paw
ing would cost only $125 for each sixty
feet frontage and on a seven-year as
sessment this would be less than SIS
per year plus interest. Let's have
some more paving, wherever the prop
erty owners want it.
-
While we are improving and watch
ing our city boom, let's hope that the
Christian church materializes its plans
for a new church. It will add an
other public Improvement A piece Of
ground like the Burkart corner on Main
street ought to be purchased and the
church placed we'll back in a beautiful
setting Of grounds well Handicapped.
Such a plan, under the eye of a good
architect, could be made beauty spot
in the city, at once unique. and a
source Of constant pleasure to every
resident as we'll as a striking impress
sion upon every visitor.
Now, if we had our interurban we
could laugh at the bad roads, or If we
really understood the possibilities of
road drag we could get along very
well while waiting for the interurban.
SAVINGS ASSOCIATION ELECTS.
George Wilton Chosen President
and p. L. HayzIett Secretary.
Tho diroo+orn of