The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-08-22
BUSINESS METHODS SAVE
CITYSEVERAL THOUSANDS
Washington Council Ahead $50, 900 in
One Year but did not cut Down
improvements.

SlVlS improvements oA0 olAA ASooSn
the running expenses, is the interest
ing fact brought out in the annual re-
port of the city clerk of Walla Walla.
More improvements have been made
in this city within the last twelve
months than ever before, while at
the same time the running expenses
have been reduced $4,000. AS a
result when the new council convened
August 9, it was the first one in ten
years that did not face a bigger in
debtedness than the new body of the
year previous.
The history of the reform" would
read like the most impossible fairy
tale were it possible to 20 into
minute details. The result of a pro-
gram of big expenditures for i'm
provements is that this city, one of
$4,000 inhabitants, is one of the
most beautiful in the northwest, but
taxpayers had to pay for beauty out
of their own pockets. Finally, three
years, ago conditions grew serious.
The limit of the bonded indebted
ness was reached, while the city war.
rants, for which there was no money
to pay, piled up, each drawing six
percent interest Walla Walla was
bankrupt.
It was at this time the citizens
took stand. They did not resort
to the commission form of govern.
ment but at the next election put up
typical business men as candidates
for council. Eugene Tausick, who
when he first landed in Walla Walla
carried his belongings in a big red
handkerchief, but who is now one of
the wealthiest men in the city, was
put up for mayor. He is the only
person to ever receive the unanimous
vote of the people of Walla
Walla. Twice since then Mr..
Tausick has been reelected without
opposition. He has shown the tax
payers how to run city on an ideal
plan and they consider him the
most practical man ever at the helm
of municipal affairs of the city.
If you were to ask Mr.. Tausick
the secret of his success he would
say, Business principals applied to
city affairs" The first move the
council under the direction of the
new mayor, made was to examine
the bookkeeping systems of every
large city IN the country. The best
points in each were used in the
formation of one of the most CON-
plete systems of accounting in SER
vice today.
BY a glance at the city clerks
books it is possible to learn just how
each department of the city stands.
1t took T. D. S. Hart, for he is the
head of the clerks office, just one
hour to make out his last annual re-
port, so complete is the system.
Requistions for everything pur-
chased for every department of the
city is secured at this Office.
The water department, saved
$40, 900 last year. When the ap-
preparation was made it was divid-
ed into twelve equal parts. The
clerk, by the use of the requisltion
system, knew just how that depart
ment was running and at the end
of the month was able to deter
mind at glance wheather it had
stayed within the appropriation or
not. Other savings of the part
year are: fire department 81, 600;
street department, 81, 900; bridge
department, 81, 900 and legal de.
partment, 1900.
The tax levy this year is fifteen
mills, the assessed valuation be-
ing thirty-hve per cent of the
property valuation.
AS we'll as meeting the actual
current expenses and managing to
save $4,000 over recent years, the
council last year expended $175,452.'
81 for paving and macadamizine
streets. NH .
If you were to ask Walla
Walla what to do to correct the
errors of the average councilmanie
body, he would not suggest the
commission form of government, blu,
his reply would doubtless be, "Pu,
men in your council who have been
successful In private life and allow
them to apply business methods te
the running, of the affairs of the
city"