The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1911-12-22
]. r. BROWN ON
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
He Promises a Business AdmiriStrd-
iioE and Tells iiCw tie Thinks
Money Gan be Saved City

To the voters and taxpayers of the city
of Grenada:
Having announced as a candidate fol-
the most important Office within your
gift, that of mayor, . deem it proper
to give you some of my ideas of public
policy and tell you what shall attempt
to do if | am honored with the office Of
mayor.
believe in law enforcement to the
letter. This is best for all and is g
public duty.
do not think that the, public al
large appreciates the business relations
it sustains to the discharge of Official
duties. When we stop to consider what
we pay to city, county, state and ma
tional governments in the way of taxes,
we can not fail to realize how much
each and every citizen is made to do
nate towards the operation of public
affairs. | shall ~endeavor, if made your
mayor, to apply the strictest business
rules to the conduct of u city gov
eminent. To do this, in my judgment,
several changes are necessary, among
which are the following:
The recorders office should be ap-
rointive instead of elective. The mar
shall should only be paid 5 per cent on
the street tax collected, his part of cost
of the mayors court and enough addi-
tional to make his salary 500 per
month. The recorder should collect
city taxes and receive l 1-2 per cent
for collecting, which will be about
1910, and a fixed allowance of $40 per
month additional, making his salary
500 per month.
By this change the marshal could be
on the streets at all times and the re-
corder in his office. .
Next, the street commissioner should
be hired at a reasonable salary, say
SIS per month, and should be required
to put in his time as q laborer with
other hands. There is no economy or
business in hiring a boss 70 superintend
four or five men.
AS it is now We pay the marshal q
salary Of $40 per year, average court
cost 5000 per year. commissions on
money collected $3.50 per year, total
$25}5.0 90. We pay the recorder $500
per year, street commissioner 5000 per
year; total salaries for three men,
$40l5.00 {. Mhereas. by my plan, the
city will only nay $4,000. 90 for the three
men, thus n 4g q seving of $7l5.C0
and the labor of the street commits
sioner $500, making a total saving of
$1615. 90. AS i row stands, the mar
shall receives, within SIS, for his SER
vices more than The mayors stated sal
airy, the salaries OF the six aldermen
and the recorder.
There are some reforms and changes
that can be safely applied at the water
and light plant. am trying to work
out a plan which, when l get matured,
l shall be glad TO make known to the
public. The operation of any vast
amount of machinery is more or less a
problem to most of US.
What | say as to the matters above
mentioned is the rule and method l
shall seek to apply, ii elected, to every
department of our city government. 1t
is d well known fact that, except in
rare cases, governments, whether
city, state or county, pay more for any
commodity or service than individuals.
l shall do my utmost to reverse this
policy. | ask the citizenship of Gren-
ada a careful consideration of these
matters and if you can consistently
vote for me, | shall make you the best
officer of which am capable.
Very respectfully,
J. Fl. Brown.