The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-03-05
Interest on Bonds is About One. Fifth
of the Tax and Total Needs to
Be Cut If Possible.
EFFICIENT POLICE NAMED
Mayor Promised That Men Would Be
Working All the Ti1ne-Bursley
Only Re-appointed.

Mayor McCuaig, in his written mes
sage to the council Monday night,
sounded the key note of his admin
istration. He declared for less fac
tional strife, economy in the conduct
Of city affairs in order to reduce taxes
to the minimum, and that saloons
must be run according to law. His
message in full follows:
"This day, pursuant to our city
charter, the city officials chosen at
the last election enter upon the per-
Torrance of their respective duties
and your honorable body is to dis
charge the important task of appoint
ing officers for the ensuing year,
whose work is to be conducted under
your direction.
"Following the usual custom,
have the honor to address you brief
ly, commenting upon the work before
us as seems at this time to merit
special mention.
"Our city government is largely
under the direction of the city coun-
Gil. That body has both legislative
and administrative functions and the
power of the mayor is limited to ap-
prevail or disapproval of council acts
and to the privilege of Offering ad-
vice and suggestions. Responsibility
for the results, however, rests upon
all, and 1 am certain we are entering
upon the discharge of our duties with
a full determination to give our best
service to those who have elcted us
and given us an opportunity to serve.
No More fractional Strife.
"Although factional strife has in
the past entered to some extent in
our city government, we can, I hope,
congratulate ourselves today that fac
tional strife will be thing of the
past and that our obligation now is
direct to the people. Consideration of
measures as to how it would affect
some faction is no longer necessary or
right, and this fact, it seems, should
lead to closer union of efforts on our
part for the public good.
"Combination or trades to secure
advantages for our friends or our
selves should also disappear and the
most available opportunity for effect
i've work at this time, in my opinion,
lies in the direction of securing great
er efficiency in our officers, thereby
lessening overhead expenses of our
city government. The plan for econo-
my and ~lessened tax burdens is
prompted by hundreds of our home
owners to whom taxes are quite a
burden.
'"Closely connected with the ques-
ton of taxation is our bonded indebt-
edness. This is now $4,000 with
an Offset of about $4,000 in sinking
fund investments and an additional
Offset Of about $4,000 in
taxes levied and to be LEVIED, leaving
net bonded indebtedness of $4,000.
The interest on this debt alone makes
a tax Of. about three mills, or one
fifth of our total city tax.
"No question need be raised with
regard to the proper distribution of
the money received from the sale OF
those bonds in improvements for Be-
midi. cannot repress the feeling
that is is wise for us to hesitate In
undertaking any improvements re-
curing an increase in our indebted
ness until we are thoroughly convinc-
ed that it is of real necessity at this
time. +.
All are Responsible.
RESPONSIBILITY for various condi-
lions which exist from time to time
in our city, to the annoyance OF Its
citizens, is so divided that an indivld-
ual hesitates to give notice Of the
condition which ought to receive at
POI tention. Every city official should not
only be willing to receive complaints
regarding conditions under his
ohoroo h,,& ~, nh + n Give them nrOm Mt