Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-03-30
70 THE CITIZENS or BISMARCK.

; AS a candidate Tor the Responsible
office of President of the City Com
mission l deem it only proper that my
fellow citizens should be informed
concerning the policies and principles
for which | stand, and Therefore take
this opportunity Of making a brief
statement on these subjects.
Our city is growing by leaps and
bounds. There is a demand at the
present time for at least one hundred
modern houses more than are now
available for our rapidly increasing
population. therefore believe in
as active and aggressive administra-
ton of our city's affairs as is consist
ent with a wise and economical ex-
penditure of the funds in the public
treasury. N Ia"
With increasing population will
come a lowering Of the scale of light
and water rates, which | believe to
be high, and l favor at the present
time any action which will give our
citizens relief along these lines, pro.
vided that such action is consistent
with contracts now existing with the
public service corporations. | have
striven to secure such relief in the
past and some slight concessions have
been granted. Further reductions
may be looked for and 1t will be my
policy to make this matter 4 leading
feature of the next administration
should | be successful at the polls
next Tuesday. In this connection !
favor the granting to any responsible
Incorporation of a gas franchise, believ-
ing that competition will result In ma
Iterial benefit to the public.
| believe in the completion and
|equipping of a municipal auditorium
as rapidly as possible. Contracts have
already been signed which consider
to be very favorable to the city. and
there is no reason why a building
worthy of the capital city should not
be ready for use next fall. The un.
fortunate delays which have occurred
in the past have been in no sense
the fault Of the commissioners, but
were caused by the great excess in
cost of the building proposed to be
erected under the first plans and spec
ifications over the amount available
for construction-something like
100000. The city. however, has suf.
fered no %pecuniary loss by the delay,
the $45, 900 voted having drawn four
per cent interest since it was receiv.
ed from the state, thus offsetting the
accrued interest due upon tphe the
coupons. Idesire at this time to state
that the contracts recently signed by
myself and colleagues call for the
construction, plumbing, heating and
electric wiring of a municipal auditori-
UNI for a total sum we'll within the
amount available, indicating a saving
las above rnentioned-of some $780,
600. ArAailNl
Street improvements in the past
have only been undertaken upon the
petition of a majority OF the abutting
property owners and l am not in ia
vor of requiring work on the streets
which calls for special assessment to
be done unless it is expressly called
for in a petition by such majority. l
favor as rapid an extension of the wa
ter, sewer and lighting systems to sup.
ply the growing needs of dull citizens
as is consistent with the means avail
able and that can be secured from the
corporations furnishing the utilities
named. f
l believe in a just and equable as.
sessment of all property in the city
to the end that the burden of taxa
ton shall not be borne unduly by any
one class of property, citizen or cor-
poration. l consider this n OF the
most important duties of the city COM
tnissioners while sitting as a board Of
equalization and pledge myself to give
this matter my most earnest and
careful consideration.
In all things l believe it is the duty
of the board Of city commissioners to
keep in close personal touch with the
citizens, rich and poor, alike, SO that
the interests OF all may be properly
conserved and protected. The pre-
senting Of petitions should be sought
for and encouraged, in order that
public sentiment may be known and
acted upon. In all cases the will 1Of
the mapority should rule.
A Square Deal For All.
A. w. LUCAS.
(Advt)