Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-02-17
IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS
IN CITY HALL

22x45 has been fitted up for the
council chamber. 1t Is a great i'm
provement over the old council room,
and is in keeping with the growth
and general prosperity of the city.
Adjoining the council chamber on
the front Is the new office of the re-
corder, which is fitted up for busi-
ness and reminds one of offices Of
this kind found in larger cities
There is plenty Of room for not
only the recorder but all the clerks
that may be employed for years to
come.
Recorder Opdyke, during the past
year. has completely reorganized the
office, in fact, there was no organi-
cation before, and he has certainly
brought order out of confusion by
opening a complete set of books, so
that each department is reorganized,
there being a place for everything
and everything in its place." This
shows great painstaking and ability
and proves his knowledge Of such
work.
Among the new features of system
izing the offices Is that of the pur-
chasing Of all supplies and keeping a
record OF all money that 1t spent by
the various departments. All pur-
chases are made by requisition, and
no one connected with the city is al
lowed to purchase anything unless he
first secures a requisition properly
made out and copy OF this requisi-
tion is kept In the auditors office.
All departments are now working
under what Is known as the work
order" system. Uuder this system
each department must keep accurate
account Of all work done and men
employed, and all expenses. Each
grade of work in the city is under
work order numbers, and If an en-
ploye works on any kind of work
in a ward any fraction Of a day, the
individual work order sheet must
balance a the end Of the month |
with the amount of work that en-
ploye has performed. At the end of
the month the auditor complies all
the work order sheets on a general
sheet for the month and glance at
this sheet will show just how much
work was done In a certain ward on
certain class Of work and how
much 1t cost. This general sheet is
good for a year and at the end OF
The year a glance will show Just how
much money has been expended in
each ward. Also at the end of each
month all individual work sheets
must tally with the amount of
money expended for the month.
All having claims against the
'ity must be vouched for on vouch-
or that has been prepared, and all
'laims against the city must be in on
Or before the first Monday Of each
month or they will have to lay over.
heretofore the auditor has peddled
me warrants around town to the
merchants, but in the future mer-
'hants Will have to call at the Of
ice and receipt for the same in n
warrant book.
This official serves in the dual ,
'apacity OF recorder and police Judge.
ma In the latter position he seems TO =
iaNe an Intuition to meet the re- ,
lnirements OF each case. Woe unto
he follow that comes before him the :
econd time. He may be a drunk.
nd II so the Judge in a burst Of
makes the fine only S25.
explanations are listened to with
reat attention, but the fine isn't
hanged thereby There are quite
umber OF fellows who are about due
or third or fourth visit to his
onor' and they will be surprised
hen they hear the sentence Of $50
r the mll extent Of the law. This
new sensation in Grants Pass.
ut 1t simply means that drunken
len ON the street will no longer be
,lerated.
Among other improvements. the
ty engineer has now two rooms
hese connect with the recorders of. /,
ce. A
The second room is the one form.
.lE occupied by the library, the
'oks having been removed to the
'om back OF the new council room
he fire laddies are now In the old
'uneil chamber, and everything has
zen made comfortable for them
lkihg all together the committee
ON the council having these i'm.
'oNements In charge Mcssrs
hllllps and Woltersberger. should
complimcnted for the good work =
icy have done To- the upstnirs n,r,I
the old building ltis to be hoped {
'at the city will soon find it possi. a