Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-03-07
|SOMf GOOD TALKS
CITIZENS TALK ON VARIOUS
CIVIC PROBLEMS SUNDAY
NIGHT AT COURT HOUSE

CITIZENS TALK ON VARIOUS
CIVIC PROBLEMS SUNDAY
NIGHT AT COURT HOUSE
s Discussion Of civic questions was
listened to at the court house Sunday
evening by fair sized audience, who
gave close attention to the speakers.
A. H. Vernon, who was chairman,
said the meeting was called to discuss
the various problems which might
tend to forward the progress Of the
city, and that although suggestions Of
fered by the different speakers might
not be favored by some or many, they
were in no sense final, but would fur
nish valuable thoughts. to ponder over.
Mayor Brick, who was slated for a
talk on law enforcement, said that he
was much more at home in q two-hand-
ed encounter, cut his talk, very
short by referring to his administration
Of the past year, saying "Actions
Speak Louder than Words.''
The commission form Of government
was the basis of talk by N. N. Berg
helm. He was sorry that more men
had not turned out to the, meeting
and said that statistics showed that but
five per cent Of the voting population
took real interest in public affairs
they were Indifferent. The women
folks outnumbered the men at the
meeting and the speaker took occasion
to say that he hoped that they would
soon be able to vote on all questions
pertaining to the government. Every.
thing was being reduced to science
nn Vxrhxr
ment should not, and that there was
but few who understood the present
plan of government. The government
in general use at the present time was
one Of checks and balances, and that
necessarily there was divided re-
sponsibility.
He told Of the introduction of the
commission plan Of government in
Galveston, at the time Of the big flood
in that city, where the local authori-
ties felt that they could not cope with
the situation, and Is business men
formed into q commission took hold Of
matters, their efforts being crowned
with great success. After the city was
again normal, the success Of the com.
mission was SO apparent, that this sys-
tenn has been followed ever since. He
referred to Mankato and to st. Cloud
in this state as having success under
the commission plan. Under the com
mission form the officers are elected
at large, therefore responsible to the
whole people. Also each commissioner
has full charge Of some particular de-
partment and was held personally re-
sponsible for the able management of
it. The speaker explained the work.
ing of the Initiative, Referendum and
Recall, which 60 hand in hand with
this plan of government. Five per
cent Of the voters Of the city was nec-
essary to petition the charter commits.
sion for a vote on the commissions form
Of government
F. A. Nelson spoke on the welfare of
the boys. He said that while the mould
ing of the boys character, and his
training should begin at home the
authorities were responsible for the
environment and surroundings when the
boy was not under the parental roof.
That children should be taught to obey
law and order and when grown they
would be better able to take their prop
er place in the community. He thought
the boy from the country was more
liable to be successful than one reared
in the. city as he was less liable to con-
taminating influences. He thought
that the moral uplift Of the city was
better than heretofore and at the same
time paid a compliment to Mayor
Brick s administration.
Educational matters were touched
on by Superintendent Dobbyn of the
city schools. He said that of those
who enter high school but per cent
/ enter a college or university, although
the course had been but preparation
for entrance into these institutions.
/ That 95 per cent should take course
i which but per cent availed them
selves was an error. He thought it
; but a matter Of time when scholar
going out of the high school could at
once take up something that would
Immediately put him on an earning
; basis. The taking up of agriculture
and industrial courses was start. On
the completion Of the new high school
building, commercial department
| would be added Later trades might
be taken up.
Speaking on city cleanliness, A. F..
Koslosky said clean city was Of prime
Importance. When looking for home
one looked for healthy location and
healthy surroundings. Proper drain
age had much to do with the health
and beauty Of q city and heJthought
that a system SHOULD be adopted in
| which the flow would be with the ma.
tural lay Of the land. This might not
be done all at once, but little each
year. He thought also that the removal
Of many of the signs along the street
and on the sidewalk would improve the
general appearance Of the streets.
Often he said, one, observed fine
house with we'll kept lawn and garden,
yet the alley Of the same premises re-
ceived everything in the line Of rub
bish. He urged the re-establishment
Of the city baths.
Public parks was discussed by Val.
=. Kasparek. He pointed out places
he thought would make fine parks for
the city, seven in number: The court
house square, library grounds, the
new high school site, the postoffice
site, the Riverside park, which has al
ready been cared for at different
times, Maple island and the Pine Grove
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