Semi-weekly herald., 1913-12-18
but who will undertake to tell us that

but who will undertake to tell us that
it requires all the time OF one man to
boss the job; who will undertake to
tell US that it is necessary for one
man to put in all his time bossing the
street commissioner; who will under
take that it takes much time bossing
the chief of police and fire chief.
Place one man at the head of affairs
and he will be able to fill the bill and
have time to spare. He will have men
under him who will be subject to his
orders and if they do not fill the bill
then he can let them go and put in
those who will make good We will
wager we can dig up 100 men in Du-
range any one of whom who can do
all the writing and all the city book
keeping, including minutes of what
is being done in the city, and be glad
to do it for 800 per month-especial-
y with treasurer who makes out
and collects all funds.
What about one man power" some
one asks? There should be an advis-
ory board, say five or seven, elected
without regard to politics or pull and
we believe there would be no trouble
in getting board of this kind to
serve free just the same as directors
OF the board of trade serve without
compensation. AT times it might not
be necessary to meet over once every
other month, especially during the
winter season. The gathering some
days ago was in the nature of an ad-
vlsory meeting With a little study
we believe that any one of the three
present commissioners could handle
every department. If not there are
men perfectly capable of doing So.
True, Commissioner Scouton is not
versed in the water department; but
1t would not take him long-in fact,
he should keep in close touch with all
! departments and we will guarantee
that for the $500 a year he is receiv-
ing he can do all the supervisory work
OF every department and have time
to spare.
So far these articles have been
written without going into detail or
conversing with any of the three COM
mlssioners. 1t is our intention to in
terview each one and go over the
grounds completely and ascertain if
any one of the three could not and is
not able to do the headwork and sup
ervision pertaining to the city affairs.
inns is not matter of sentiment, but
| one for careful consideration, We are
paying $1,000 a year for three men
to act as heads of the city. Outside
OF supervising and directing how
much real work do they do Right
here let us say that they are doing,
so far as we know, what the charter
| calls upon them to do and what the
people elected them to do, with the
possible exception of the clerk whom
some claim is not doing the work in
tended but hires stenographer at
city expense. AS to the latter it
should be fully investigated as re-
garding this connection we are not
tuiiy advised. Can the city afford to
pay three men to do the work of one
Is 1t well to have three men cover
much the same ground?
That hundreds are not satisfied
with the workings of the present
charter is quite evident from men and
women We encounter from day to day.
They say something is wrong. Manv
nave no complaint to make against
the officials, but to put it in the words
oil one man, Saturday-"They are in
each others way at the city hall y
That radical amendments will be mi
tiated at the next election is assured.
The charter provides for a treasurer.
The board pays this treasurer $50
per month, but require him, we un-
derstand, to be on duty eight hours
per day. If you get the right kind
Oh treasurer, one who is honest and
capable, he cannot well afford to put
IN all his time for the money paid
and he should be given additional
duties or hours necessary to do the
work.
1t is is not hard to discover some
OF the reasons for the high cost of
living and the increasing cost of citv
and county governments every wear.
In this we should have added the
state. Taxpayers know that the can
itai building at Denver is running
over with useless boards and emplov-
es. A business corporation can take
charge of the state house and its
work and reduce the force from one
half to two-thirds. Why should a
man working for the city, county or
state receive from one-third to one
half more salary for less hours than
Is paid by the general run of busi-