The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-04-29

superintendent of that department
Under his direction we have the audi
tor and treasurer, the clerk and his
assistant, the license collector and
marketmaster. His Is the department
OF figures. If the city's funds are
mismanaged and the mismanag ement
Is due to some clerical error, our Mr.
Schramm must be blamed. The bust
ness world knows the value of system.
Mr.. Schramm must furnish the city of
Des Moines the system, and take the
credit or blame, according to his ac-
complishments.
Department Of Public Safety.
Under this department are class
flied the fire, health and police depart
ments, and all other considerations in
volying the peoples safety. Using
( these departments, it is the duty Of
Mr.. Hamery to give the people such
/ protection as they may reasonably
expec. as citizens.
Department of Streets and Public I'M
provements.
Under this head comes ,all engin-
eering affairs, from the bottom to the
top of the scale. The building Of
bridges, the sweeping of the streets
and all kindred matters, come under
the supervision of Mr.. Mac Vicar.
Parks and Public Property.
| Des Moines is the very proud pos
SCISSOR of fine public parks, owning 625
acres. 1t was therefore essential in
| forming the plan to make provision for
the management of this land. 1t was
thought that public buildings would
appropriately come under this head,
and the two responsibilities were COM
bined The people have placed them
under the care Of Mr.. Wesley Ash, and
he is responsible for their we'll being.
"The law does not set out in detail
| the minor considerations concerning
4 these departments. To have gone In
to detail would have over-weighted
the law. Guided by the law which
created the departments, the council
men soon after their election, passed
a disturbing ordinance, and in this
the details are worked out.
Mayor Mathis then explained In de-
tail the method of making nominations
to fill the superintendencies. ANY
man." he said. may become candl-
date for the commission by filing (ten
j DAYS before the primaries, held every
two years) a petition signed by at
h least twenty-five voters. The signers
declare they believe the candidate to
be man OF good moral principles
TIE petition is recorded by the clerk
without regard to ward lines, parry
aft1liations or other considerations
and when the ballots are prepared the
same plan is followed, save there is
Z observation of alphabetical arrange
ment.
Concerning the abolition OF ware
lines. Mayor Mathis said:
eve abolish the ward lines, main
, tanning them only as convenience II
: registration, ETC., and as a geograph
7 ical guide for the selection of the su
perintendents. It seemed to us that i
J W. barely possible that in our frs
! election, as well as others to follow
. the Eve men hest suited for places il
; the new council, might all reside II
! the same precinct Why then, thu
' people thought, should they go to an
other precinct. far removed, to selec
/ an inferior man, merely to keep aliv
. the myth Of geographical distribu
: ticn?'"
J, AS TO partisan politics, he said:
/ saThe' people thought partisan pol
: tics was an enemy to good city gov
a eminent. Why should we prefer t
l. elect a democrat? Why does higl
7 tariff republican commend himsel
), when a low-tariff republican does not
y What do these affiliations have to d
J. with good city government? Nothins
I the people thought, and they elimina
i ed partisan politics"
n Mayor Mathis explained the recall
r "The recall" he said, lis sensibl
4 process of using the axe, in case
II superintendent does not do his dut.
e If the people are dissatisfied, pet
ton signed by twenty-five per cent
L the voters voting in the last previou
r. election. may be filed with the cit
d clerk and there is at once held a
S election. The people express then
selves as to whether or not the SUI
pected official should be removed, an
E. the majority rules. The recall is M
IS automatic The people must do the
e part. They must keep close watch