The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1911-07-14

There is never a revolt among any
governing tody but that some good
comes out OF it. Sometimes reyolts are
accompanied b. measures not alto
gether commendable. and are respon-
sible for abuses through which some
suffer. often unjustly, but reason will
return aud in the end dominate the
actions Of men IN these upheayals
the few are sacrificed for the benefit
Of the many. The outbreak in the
town council Monday night was a
mild revolt. brought about by NUM-
cipal conditions that demanded imme-
diate and heroic treatment. and when
the excitement created by the action
dies down. the atmosphere clarifies,
and the aim and object of the actors
is properly understood, the action of
the councilmen will be found TO have
been wise and about the only course
that could have been pursued under
the circumstances. While there may
not have been direct mismanagemen
in municipal affairs, there has been at
least carclcssness, until the town has
drifted into a heavy, and, in part, I'M
necessary. Indebtedness. The new
water works have cost large sum,
and it is openly alleged that the cost
has been far greater than it should
have been. 1t is not our purpose
TO find fault or make accusations
against any one connected with the
town government The fact is said to
exist by those in a position to know.
There had to be some curtailment OF
the running expenses OF the town, and
the council decided that one way of
saving would be in the reduction OF
the number OF salaried employees. This
may be only a temporary makeshift,
but can be prolonged if the citizens
will sustain the council in an effort
TO run the town on an economic basis.
This effort to get down to bedrock
economy, late though it may have
come about, is a movement in which
every property owner is vitality inter-
ested The individual who succeeds
must live within his income. and the
same rule applies to a community OF
individuals The revenue of the town
should be handled in a business like
manner, or the present large debt will
grow more burdensome. There are
necessary running expenses that must
be met, interest on a bonded debt is
regularly falling due, and provisions
must be made TO meet the principal.
ii the outgo is more than the income,
a warrant indebtedness will be piled
upon the debt represented by bonds.
warrants will depreciate, the town
will pay higher for the work that
must be done, and chaotic state of af-
fairs financially will soon exist. For
the present a few officials are sacri-
feed for the good of the eXchequer. Ii
it is possible to continue on under the
new order of things there will be
large saving and a gradual accumu-
lation of funds. Now, that a start has
been made, the council should be firm
in its campaign for economy and
stricter watchfulness over the affairs
of the town requiring expenditures
should be inaugurated. 1t can we'll
be understood how the council hest
tated so long 10 take the step it has.
1t required great moral courage to
precipitate the action taken at the last
meeting, but now that the ice has been
broken, the councilmen are firm in
their purpose to 'hew to the line, let
the chips fall where they may" and
there will be no receding from the
position taken 20 work ior more eco
nomic and business-like adninistra-
ton. The people should put aside any
and every personal prejudice and diff
ference Of opinion that may exist, and
extend to the council all the assist
ance in their power in it's effortto con-
fine the expenses of the municipality
well within the revenues, TO the end
that the Oroville warrant will be
worth it's face value anywhere, that
the credit of the town is maintained,
and that way may be found to wipe
out the existing Indebtedness