Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-18
HOW 70 GET GOOD Government

The people OF OttumWa ,ndVci eNeA,
more attention to city governmental
affairs in the last two or three years
than ever before The purchase OIL the
CITY waterworks by the people and the
campaign leading up to such purchase
had the effect Of establishing closer
relationship between the great bulk OF
the people and their city government.
That was a case where the voters were
asked to spend quarter OF mlllion
dollars of their money for needeo
Improvement. They were asked as
stockholders in the corporatlon-'he
cfty-to vote on the question OF spenu-
ing a large sum of money-the1r money
and that of their neighbors. Iney IN.
yestfgated. They attended meetings al
which thew learned the extent OF the
citv's bonded and floating indebted.
meas MANY learned with surprise that
the city had been living beyond its IN
come. They learned something aoous
the amount o. annual revenue run
taxes. about the tax levy. IN snoit, ~.
the first time, they began 10 olsp,as
the interest stockholders snoulo ols-
play in corporation IN wnlcn tneir
money is invested.
II Ottumwans continue to display
This same interest In city affairs, W.
tumva will have good government. II
the people will act at all eiections as
thav acted at the waterworks electlon
lthev will get as good value Tor tnelr
they then made. .o.
At city elections the people OF W
.tumwa as stockholders in the CITY,
=. at men to run their business Tor
them These men spend every year ap-
proximately $150,00O Of the money the
neople pay in In taxes; In ADDITION 10
money as they got by the purchase
aums received from fines, licenses ana
other 40. les Of revenue. In two years.
the. term for which city officers are
elected. they spend considerably more
~ the peoples money than was PAID
far tho .waterworks. Isn't 1t perfectly
main .thst the people should use great
Caution II. picking the men for these
noaitions Of trust? Isn't it the citizens
d,,tv ia himself and to the city IN
which he is a stockholder. TO vote lor
and va k for the most able ana cum
petent and honest men ne can 1lno as
administrative officials?
Isn't the city's business his business:
rsn't II his money that is being spent:
shouldn't he demand that he get dol
Lar n service in the things the city
sives in return for the dollar he pays
4 Nc taxes 2 Is there any reason why
IA al ould demand value received for
none, spent for private purposes, ana
then nav his money out for taxes.
money that he has worked hard for.
without giving q thought as to how
that money is spent and who spends 1t!
There can be no graft and incom-
petence in the management OF city s
business where the people are vide
awake and exert some supervision
over city affairs. If the people use the
ballot properly and elect men OF char
acter and ability to office, and then CO.
operate with the officials in working
for the best results, there will be good
government.
Graft in cities is mainly due to the
lack Of care in selecting city officials.
The voters OF cities are to blame sor
graft in their city government. The
voters Of cities are responsible for con-
ditions that govern in cities.
If the people Of Ottumwa continue
to look upon the city as big corpora
ton in which they are stockholders,
and all equal partners as all have the
same voting power, and if they see to
1t that the best available men are
elected to office, Ottumwa will have
an honest and efficient administra-
ton Of it's affairs.