The daily tribune., 1909-01-27
the CITY COUNCIL.


and otherwise. Years ago there was
much apprehension as to the wisdom
Of building reservoirs. putting in the
water works, laying . new sewer sys-
tenn establishing the water meter,
making concessions to secure the es.
tablishment of various industries and
all the other matters that have mark
ed the growth Of Florence from an
alfalfa fielo to busy little city.
Along the onward march Of progress
many propositions have been consid-
ere and rejected by the city councils
some Of which doubtless might bet.
ter have been accepted. Others have
been considered and accepted--some Of
which might possibly have better
been rejected. Time and experience
reveals the good and the bad. Each
succeeding council has had much to
consider and much work to do Each
one may have made errors-a COM
pany of men never lived that has not
made mistakes. They have been crit
icised both pro and con and where
such criticism has been properly made
it has often done good and given en-
couragement to public officers engaged
in q thankless task Of caring for all
citizens, protecting their property
and looking after their safety. com.
fort and pleasure-servIng without
adequate compensation and for pit.
tance Of a salary that is a bagatella
compared to the amounts they might
earn by less effort and in q shorter
time II selfshly engaged in the pur.
suit Of their individual business.
The writer has been a resident Of
Florence 3 good many years and In
that time has seen q number Of his
neighbors and business men elected
members of city councils and to vari-
ous positions. They have come from
the ranks Of all political parties and
all lines Of industry. Amongst them
All we do not believe that there has
haa 1,N hoo ha
work assigned to him honestly and to
the best Of his ability and has cons.
cientiously striven to do his best for
public veal. All may have made
small errors but each has done much
good. The present council is no ex-
ception. There has never been an
administration that has had more to
contend with nor worked under less
prosperous conditions. Never yet hes
there been one called to face more Ad.
versity than that caused by last
springs flood. nor one that has had
weightier questions to solve.
In replacing the bridges, they have
given us that which will endure for
many decades and is an ornament to
the city. The question Of the re-
demption of part and the refunding of
the balance Of the water work bonds
has been solved to the satisfaction OF
every tax payer In the city and other
questions Of ~ grave import.
The present adm n istrAtion is en-.
titled to much credit and to the TO.
spect Of every citizen and to uone OF
the constant, senseless, unjust, un-
fair and vicious oensure OF those who
would wilfully misreprosent the facts.
Personally we do not believe in the
feasibility Of everv plan nor approve
Of sll the methods Of this nor any
former council, nor of all the or
dinances and laws upon the statute
books. but we do believe In being at
least fair and truthful when we know
the facts. That the present council
at any time has forbidden the
playing Of a piano on Sunday un-
less the council might select the
hymn or the smoking of u pipe
where 1t may be seen from the
street" ia the silliest nonsense and
certainly no person can believe that
the author OF such statements cx.
pected the shAllowest brain In Flor
ence to believe such rot, and yet
all this appeared in the editorial
columns of last weeks Ex Parte.
That . request was made that pub.
lie dancing in q public hall be dis.