The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-02-16


H f.yeT In the very heart of the bust
ness section, high and dry, but GOV
ercd by tumhledown shacks once
options on all this property wero
tsken by members Of the council at
/ $4,000 bur peanut politics OF the
sort that defeated the nropos tion tc
bulld the Sixteenth avenue bridge
prevented the consumation of the
pan.
Within SIX months after the com
mission plan had been aeopied the
4 city owned May island rhe Old
/ city han site, which cost $4,000, was
sold for $66.500, and his was applied
on the pnchase price Of the island,
which cost .approxim ltely $l25.A0R,
and Is cons idered 10 be worth double
tbat sam today There was enc good
building on the property, which hua
been converted into a comfcrtsble.
oommodious city hail, which VII be
laed for 4 Few years, he city hoping
eventually TO creet fine public
building and 10 have located across
Tho avenue therpfrom county court
= tNhRN 'REt-tAS nan - hHblSiis
The commission plen provides that
thc council Shall net as Il board of
health. When the present council
came in it was found that the city
was literally peppeged with small
poX This fac was known to the
tofmer mayor and council but Moth
Ing was done. the administration evil
IDENTIFY fearing It's political fences
might be impaired by rigid quaran-
tine. which generally engenders more
Cr less Ill feellng Over lee cases
were handled by the present council
ieroush the health department with
out the loss, Of life The quarantine
was strict The detention hospital
was filled to oyerflow.ng But every
bcly Ind he hc35tcf care ana The
pcslilence WIS strapped out IN short
ordes. No city ever ha7 a more eff
eient, rigid, active board Of health.
instead Of dischaigine experienced
ard competent employees. the council
retained thom in few cases nereas-
ing salaries The civil service sys-
em was adopted and has been In sue
eessful operation There Is no deaf
timber on ttha city's yroll. The
ablest lawyfr who could he eigploy-
I'D was named as city solicitor, and he
aas done great work in femodeling
be ordinances ana assisting the cou,t
eil oye, the reugh places incident to
the re-adiustment Of affairs on the
1ew basis
The ci;f hall was transformed from
f pollicsf hotheG 20 a BUSINESS Of
flce. The meetings Of the council
are remarkable far their common
seuse and business like methods Of
All current bills against
Ihc city arc paid oycry Mond2y morn
ifg and discounts running into the
hundreds cf dollars are taken. The
repre- eu,adyes OF the press are al
aays pecsen; a The meetings, and
everything that trsnspires ia given
10 the people. tic council also publish
Ink monthly namphlet for general
istrihu;ion which contains all re-
,eipts ard disbursements, etc.
Not a single star chambe." ses-
sion OF the council has been held.
rhc public Is welcome to attend each
inl every nesting. at 10 oclocN Mon
isy, Wednesday nd Friday morning.
rhe council pays nothing for the pub
ication of rs proceedings, except the
est Of tse monthly pamphlet, all the
printing gwen the papers being the
publication Of legal notices,
When the plan came into operation
L Cedar Rapids the city had bad
y disorgani1ed and depleted policei,
orce This has bren reorgan zcu,
.dded to and ought under discipline
ND made 10 do effective service A
lew police station and Jail has been
.raVided. convenient sanisary anu ,
,afc. az an cXpense OF about $500
The increase IN the amount OF cash
nccne Of he department from po
ice cpurt fines and penalties. ambu
ance 0nd other fees. dog tax, etc.
sas hacn So noticeable as TO be re-
narkabie There has been no IN
rease IN che amount Of crime: prHe
ically no increase in the number OF
Irrests and convictions. Yet IL Is |
forthy ~ note tbat during the last
e months Of the old administration
he income from these sources was d.
nlg Sial5. while durng the first
verty ucnihs Of The commission I
3 n the receints from the same !
uurces were sl2A62. Sc Il remem- +
'efed' also net under the old plan Z
he houses hi the Tred ligat dis. I
rict paid q monthly fine, while sinceli
be commission plan was inaugurated 2
ae red Light district has been put ont y
! business IN accordance with the !
sM ivN1 iaN.a lliete llsts D1eA 4 l
'ofe stringent eniercement of every y
einll oi ne mnlct liquor LAW and the 4