The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1910-02-24

the snort time the system has been
| working. He was somewhat surpris-
ed that so much could have been ac-
complished. -
Keeping Tab on Things:
The acairs of the city are being
handled in a business like manner.
The auditor hands in a comprehensive
report once a month, which must be
absolutely accurate. The treasurer
does likewise. Altho their sets of
books are not at all similar, their fig
ures must tally to the penny The
president was not surprised that there
was a tangle in the. financial conai-
ton of the city under the old method
Of keeping books. The auditors
,, books were identical with those of
the treasurer. This was the case for
ten years prior to the adoption of
the commission system. The auditor
might balance his books one month
and the treasurer make copy Of the
auditors record and naturally their
accounts would balance.
Conn Iimented Einar1 Mus
Mr.. LeSueur paid fine compli-
ment to Einar Mus, who is at the
head of the finance committee. He
understands his BUSINESS, and the
! citizens do not need to have any fear
that any accounts will get out of bal
| ance. The department knows from
month to month how the various &C.
| NJ
with certainty. -. =.
A Word to kickers.
Mr.. LeSueur took whack at the
kickers, stating that there were those
who kicked because certain ordinan-
ces We're not enforced and in the same
breath kicked because certain others
We're. One man complained because
the gamblers and the prostitutes were
driven out, and another kicked be-
cause LeSueur was going to the pains
to drive them out, saying that he
cou.d not drive them out in 1000
years.
Reforms Needed
LeSueur spoke of the need of legis-
lation favorable to the city commits
sion and commissioners. He said it
was not fair to ask the commissioners
to DO the work at the same price
the old councilmen received. which
was $500 for each meeting The pre-!
sent commissioners have no authori.
; ty to change these salaries. He be-
lieves that a salary law should be pass
ed, giving the commissioners right
to set the price of their own services,
! with a referendum attachment, so
that If the people thot the salary is
too high. or the commissioners in
competent. they could be changed.
Advertising for Bids
Z MT. LeSueur does not believe that
q advertising for bids for improvements
etc, is practical. There is no com
petition among wise bidders, except
the competition to get to the commits
sioners, the speaker said. He must
have meant that the contractors pool!
4 ed their bids, ali belng certain Of
having the price high enough. I'm
der the old council system, when war
= rants were discounted at a large per
{ cent, the bids were naturally bolster
ed UP accordingly The speaker be-
lieved that II the, advertising for bids
could be: done. away with, the City
: could be saved one third on improve.
ments. He, paid, his respects to- Jim
Kennedy, the contractor who put in
the new, water works system, and
seemed disappointed because Mr..
/; Kennedy had not been able to turn
the system over to the city on Nov.
1 as the contract specified.
i Believes in Recall.
y LeSueur believes that the recall
system IS good to get rid of a bad
commissioner and to save a good COM
Il missioner from becoming bad as We. l.
With this system, We would have
better men, better citizens, and better
officers: There would be no incen-
tive to go wrong. The president
also believes that a law should be
passed allowing cities to 60. ahead
and change their form of government
no matter what the financial. condi-
tons of a city might be. -
!! ... :. Warned Everybody
That, Mr.. LeSueur intends to see
that the city is cleaned up in the
early spring is certainty. He will
not stop short Of placing those who
4 disobey the ordinances under arrest.
"Youfwill have an opportunity to walk
up before the police magistrate, where
no doubt the minimum fine will be
] imposed he said. Ii everyone Of
you here, cleaned up at the rear of
your premises as you should, there
would be little left for the hath Of
ficer to oo," Is another pertinent state
ment that he made. ~ g%
! Wants q Meter Inspection a
7 LeSueur says that the commissions
ersa are figuring on securing a meter
inspector to see that electricity is be
ing evenly distributed. He has hopes
/ that within two or three years when
the city will have received nice re-
venue from the water works pant,
We will be able to build GU own cleo