Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1913-05-06

L tration to the welfare Of Dal-
las, asking the cooperation OF
the Commercial club and the Wo-
man's club in all matters connected
with the improvement of the city,
and promising continuation OF
street Improvement, efforts to reduce
water rentals and light charges and
quarterly statement Of the city s
finances, Mayor VanOrsdel's first
message read at the meeting Of the
new council on Monday night is a
short, concise outline of the admin
istration's policy in line with the
printed platform Of the Taxpayers
ticket published before election The
full text of the message Is given
herewith:
Mayors Message.
To the Council and Citizens of Dal-
las, Greeting:
AT the election of April 9TH, the
voters chose us to administer the
law and make laws to govern the
city. The council as a body Of men
should give the people the best ser
vice in their power.
know that |, as mayor, voice the
sentiments of every one of the coun-
cilmen, when l say that it is our de-
sire to work for the peoples inter
ests and the welfare of the city.
l want the cooperation of the
Commercial club, the Ladies club
and all other organizations IN the
city. l am ready to listen to their
suggestions for the improvement Of
Dallas.
Now, in regard to our streets, |
want to see the improvement contin-
ued until we have as good streets
as any city in Oregn in proportion
to its size.
NV desire is to work in harmony
with the property owners, for they
are the men and women who have the
bills to pay, and we must see that
they get value received and that all
city contractors must make good.
| see by the records that the city
has a great amount of work started
and that some of the property own
ers have paid money into the city
treasury, and the first thing in my
Judgment, is to complete this work
as far as possible, before we tackle
any new work.
In a financial way | understand
we are in good shape. We will here
after publish a statement every
three months, of the financial condi-
tions of the city.
Quotes City Charter.
Section 40. The City Treasurer Is
receiver of taxes, and must receive
and keep all moneys that shall come
to the city by taxation or otherwise,
and he must give a duplicate receipt
therefor. He must pay out money
on the warrant of the mayor, attest
ed by the auditor and police judge.
.and not otherwise. He must keep
an account with the general fund Of
the city, and a separate account with
each special fund that may be raised
for any specific object, and when a
warrant is drawn on any particular
fund it can only be paid out of such
fund. He shall make a report of all
the receipts and expenditures of the
eitv for the quarters ending on the
last day of April. July, October and
January of each year, and file the
same with the auditor and police
Judge within five days after the eX-
piration of each of such quarters.
respectively. which reports must be
published by the auditor and police
judge, as may be prescribed by or
dinanee.
l will recommend to the council.
that they employ an accountant to
expert the city records and check
them up; also, to give Us a system
of bookkeeping. so that any taxpay-
er can look at any time and see Just
how our finances stand.
I will insist on the auditor giving
the people a published statement a.
10 above section and / know this
council will back me up in this.
I would ike 10 call the council =
attention to another section In rela-
tion to the present water rates:
Regarding Water Rates.
Section 36. Of the city charter:
To grant TO any private person. or
any private corporation. a franchise
or permission for the erection or
construction Of water works within