The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-05-12
THE CITY PROBLEM

ldE CllI PkUBLEM
It is eaid that in no place has
democracy shown so poorly as in thu
matter of municipal government.
When we read of civic reform, in Des
Moines or Chicago or New York we
vigorously approve, but it is hard to
realize that Denison has it's municipal
problem. problem that should call
for the earnest consideration of every
citizen.
the Review gives publicity to these
matters because for several years the
council has Refused to live up to the
law Of the state in regard to the pub
licity of municipal affairs. The sta
tute governing is plain and mandatory
but it has never been complied with
by the city of Denison. Mayor Roll
Inns tells US that the receipts of the
city of Denison. from all sources.
amounted last year to $12. sol. 20. The
Mayor means that this was the amount
in the general city fund. It does not
include such special taxes as those for
Sewer. Parks, Library. Bond and other
special funds. Nor does it included
the more than six hundred dollars a
year taken from the Water fund for
the purpose of paying the deputy
marshal on the theory that he devotes
all his time to the collection of water
rents. Further it does not include
the fact that the merchants are oblig-
ed personally to pay the major part OF
the salary Of the nightwatch who is
Denison's only night police and that
the merchants are required to pay not
only for the work of street sprinkling
but to recompense the city for the
water thus used.
1t is fair therefore to add at least
$1,000 contributed by the water fund
and by the merchants toward the sup
port of the police force of The city.
This makes the income sl3, 791.7O.
Mayor Rollins, who has shown de-
sire to be straightforward and who
himself confesses that he does not
quite understand how Denison manages
to spend So much and get 80 little.
has given us partial list of the ex-
penditures of the city. This state
ment comes within thousand dollars
of showing where the money went. |
This thousand, unaccounted for is for
minor expenses. airy trifies such
as phone rent etc.
Under the head of Salaries, the
Mayor presents figures as follows:
Aldermen, $500; City Physician, s25:
Treasurer. $500; Mayor, $500; Clerk,
500: Nightwatch, sl86 (balance being
paid by individual merchants); Mar
shall. $3.50; Deputy Marshal, $50.
balance of $500 being paid from water
fund.-; City Attorney, 500; City At
torney. extra. s27. SO: Other attorneys,
s45: Extra police. sl9: Expense Board
of Health and Health officer. s5l2;
City election wages. s32: Street Com
missioner. salary. $443. 80. A total
of 50, $3.50, exclusive Of the amount
paid by the merchants for night
police and the $500 paid by the water
fund for Water Collector. who in
reality devotes nearly all IF his time
to his work as deputy marshal.
The s2s79 pays therefore for the
services Of one man, the marshal for
an entire year, for street commits
sioner half the year and the rest goes
to those who devote but q compare
lively small amount Of time to the
business of the city. Nearly one
fourth of the income has been account
ed for and not spade has been lifted,
not light turned on, not gallon Of
water pumped, not new crossing
laid.
The figures submitted by the May
or for further expenditures are as
follows:
Road Work ..................$ 81, 25l. 45
Grading Observation-Disclosures. 1929. 40
Sidewalk, culvert and cross
ing repairs. 445. O5
Ditch cleaning ............. 1876 l3
Grading (fire fund.-. ...,... 1854 80
Removing ashes and cinders.. 80.
Cleaning crossings. .......... 1872 40
Road work Il mill road) ..... 983. Is
Repairs (sewer) ........ 34.8O
Removing garbage. ......... 74.40
Miscellaneous expenses. $3.50. 179. 80
Principal work was done at the
following prices:
Cemetery road. ........ 5s4.o5
East Broadway ........... 774.OO
fremont (Carcy Resi- .... l25. 90
fremont and Hodges John
Lingle Res ................13 100. 90
N. Seagrave Ave CLAUS Oh
son Resi-. ............... 1890
Firemen' Track fire fund.- 147 81
Road (McHenry Stock FARM $50. OC
Road led. Baum's) .... $500
Street at Washington Park 1000
Dues to Municipal League. 1000