Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-12-01
,"cted tn old extravagant city cour
I'll to do for COX n00

City Auditor Young now says:
There has never been much real
work done towards improving the city
sire It's and country roads; 1t is time
something was done and the present
commissioners are brave enough and
energetic enough to face the propost.
ton and are starting to do work that
should have been done years tgo."
A few months before there was any
city commission in Bismarck Mr.. F.
cial club, read his annual report to
that body and gave very flattering
account of tho amount Of street work
that had been done by the then city
administration, especially emphasize
ing the fact that it was no longer nee
essary for any of the liverymen to
give public notice that they would not
send any hacks out after dark, on &C
count of the dangerous condition OF
the streets.
Mr.. Young was probably not in the
city at tho time, but little inquiry
would have informed him that one
city administration, under the old
plan, found an Indebtedness of $685.,
coo practically all funds overdrawn,
and, being beyond the debt limit,
could not issue warrants for about six
months after taking Office. Notwith.
standing this, the administration
faithfully performed all the duties of
city administration, preserved the
credit of the city, placed it on a cash
basis, and in less than one year re-
duced the indebtedness Of the city by
over $4,000 and all on a tax levy Of
$4,000.
When the city auditors proteges
make as good record as that it
will not be necessary for one of their
officials to make disparaging remarks
about others, to gain praise for his
own cff':ial family
The administration preceding the
present not only left a balance in
every fund, but left sum of $4,000
for city hall purposes. This amount
was saved to the city without cost to
the tax payers auI ar the same time
suit started in the district court to
establish tho citys title to property
Of equal value. Mr.. Young can prob
ably tell how active and dill gent the
brave and energetic commissioners
and protecting the peoples rights and
interests.
1t appears to have hurt Mr.. Young's
feelings that "the ',ity 2ound. was
formerly a matter CT constant wor.
ry and vexation. Well, that was
what it was intended for, to persons
who had no more regard for the rights
of others than to let their cattle.
stray onto the streets and private
property.
Mr.. Young draws particular atten.
ton to the fact that city funds are
now deposited in banks and daw hmm
now deposited in banks ad draw in
terest, but fails to say that the COM
missioners are empowered by law to
demand interest from the bank ap
pointed as dapositary, power that
former administrations did not pos.
sess.
Now it would appear that if pub
lie official, like the city auditor, is in |
possession Of Or thinks he is, of know |
ledge that would show that former
city officials were guilty of misfea
since, in failing to perform duties re-
ouire1 of them 'Dy law, in extrava-
gance, in oppressive enfOrc ement of
now would be a good time
to lay n complaint befor> the grand
jury, that has been call I'd to investi-
gate alleged misfeasance on the part
Of SINE county officials. Surely, none
Of the form: city officials would oh.
ject to a fair and impartial inquiry
into their Official acts, and the present
board of city commissioners should
welcome = legal investigation into the
serious charge recently made against
them icy the states attorney, that they
were neglecting or failing to enforce
the laws within tn; city.
Respectfully.
F. R. SMYTH.