The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-06-30
REPUBLICAN TICKET.
To- Alderman Fourth Ward.
H. 7. HENDERSON.
For Alderman Sixth Ward,
JAMES r. ROBERTS.
THE MATTER OF PUBLICITY


THE MATTER or PUBLICITY.
The demand OF the times is for the
widest publicity regarding all matters
Of public concern. particularly regard
ing expenditures Of public funds. This
demand Is recognized and satisfactor-
aly met by the commission law, which
provides for such publicity with re-
gard TO every feature and department
OF city government Not only must
complete summary of the proceedings
OF the commissioners be published
tnontaly, but, what is of greater I'M
portance, full and complete financial
statement must be published at the
end of each month. This financial
abatement must show what monies
were received during the preceding
month, what monies were expended,
and for what purposes. Under the pres
<nt system OF municipal government
the tax payers have little opportunity
Of knowing what monies are being re-
ceived and what is being done with
tae same. 1t is true that the authors
Hes must make an annual statement
OF receipts and expenditures, but the
people like to keep in touch with these
things all the time. Under the commis-
sion plan the figures are placed before
Them once month. The Clinton Her-
aid we'll says OF this feature OF the
commission plan:
..under the present plan the taxpay-
AIRS know very little about what Is De-
mo done with their money. 1t is true
tIat the councils allow bills, ana tnat
fhe nroper authorities prepare ~
nanc;al statement once year. bul
under this system the taxpayers are
NOT kent informed as to the conu !.
t;on of the various funds. lnueea !.
is doubtful whether the mayor a ~
rouncilmen Of a single Iowa cry
Iea,, In constant touch with the con
dition Of the funds under their controi
After the appropriations are maue
thev begin to spend money anu as
49, do not concern themselves as I,
tha condition of affairs until anotael
:
appropriation is made. 20
aRusiness institutions nowadays r
nuire their accountants 70 iu.nis'
monthly balances, and some OF 1nen
even require daily and weekly "a
ances Under the commission pa
10Th the treasurer and the audlto
ara compelled to submit monlhi
statements and these statements al
rriven to the people. The statemeI
81 the treasurer shows the amount
received into the several funds du
mo the previous month, the none
Maid out of the several funds, as We
as the amount of cash on hand
tae beginning and close of the mont
.sThus the people know at all time
what is being done with the none
and are In a position to call IA
IL the council shows disposition
snend money extravagantly and wit
out regard to income. This serv
another good purpose. With q
monthly balances placed before .
1nayor and members of the coun'
at the beginning of each month, ca
official is in position to know t
exact condition OF affairs a
whether 1t is necessary to retrens
The councilmen watch these montf
balances with the same interest a
care that individuals and firms wat
their monthly bank statements.
"Not only are the people kept
touch with what is being done W
their money, but they are kept
formed as to every act of the coun'
The council is directly under
eyes of the people at all times A
the people themselves take new
terest in affairs. They have expe
ed something better and they are
disappointed, for they get what Il
expected and even more.
at is this wide publicity, this I
that the people know exactly W
is going ON all the time, that sp
the officials on to better things, ;
to give the people the very best t
is In them. Even with mediocre
even with vicious men in office tn
is little probability of the affairs
the city going badly
when the people know exactly
the time what is going on; When
people have the right to step in
any time and call halt, officials
not prone to do otherwise than
right thing.
From beginning to end the C
mission plan provides for the cond
of the city's affairs in business
manner. 1t contemplates the expe
ture of the public funds under
watchful eye of the taxpayers wit
thorough understanding of all the
tails incident to such expenditure,
securing of full value for every {
SO expended, greater things acc
plished because of these very ia