The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-05-07

EG1NAL ~
that the city is now mourning a loss
IL continued, will have to he
met by direct taxation.
After a careful study Of the situation
1 am satisfied that three changes
should be iaaugurated at once
First, that We fix by ordinance. a
meter rate.
Second, that all new connections he
required to install meters.
Third. that we change the fiat rate.
This conclusion is reached from the
fact that we are now pumping about
$780, 00, 600 gallons per annum while we
not to be pumping over 500, 00d,-
900 per annunl, showing a loss of Is
per cent. BY fixing a meter rate it will
give those wishing 70 economize the
privilege Of s doing without working
any hardship upon those who wish to
continue on the fiat rate.
The Treasurer's Office.
At the present time the water rents
are collected through the auditors de-
partnent. We believe this to be q
mistake as the ~treasurer's Office is the
place where all money should
collected and we recommend that
expert accountant be at once em-
ployed to check up both the auditors
office and the ~treasurer's office, and
when the same has been completed
the water rent collections be
transferred to the t~feasurer's Office.
The Accounting System.
Fargo has long ago outgrown it's
accounting system now in use. It is
a reasonable proposition that we ought
to have a. system whereby the auditor
could tell at the end of each month
the exact condition of our city's fl
nances. Let all the people know all
the facts all the time.
Building Permits.
The city is now requiring those wish
ing to build to a from S1.50 to 81
for a building permit. We believe this
not only to be a mistake, but a gross
injustice, inaslnuch as the city makes
no pretention of inspecting buildings.
We believe that the building ordinance
ought to be reconstructed. 1t is very
that the city issue building
permits, that we may keep a complete
record Of all the improvements, but
would recommend hat the part per-
tanning to the fees be at once stricken
off until such: time as the city can
afford to employ a competent building
inspector.
Engineering Department.
Under the present arrangement, the
engineer is superintendent of the wa
ter works department and keeps a
complete accounting system. We be-
lieve this to be a mistake and suggest
that the two departments be separat-
ed and that all the accounts be through
the auditors office. This change will
save the city several hundred dollars
per year. 4
Police Department.
It is my sincere desire and hope that
the commissioners upon whose Shout
ders is placed the responsibility OF the
police department will conduct the
same without fear or favor. Fargo
citizens will not be satisfied with a
department that is not in keeping with
the ideals of q large majority of her
population.
During the past few months a police
matron has been added to this depart
ment. We believe this to be a step in
the right direction and recommend
that Miss Irwin be retained.
Official Paper.
Under the law it is the duty of the
commissioners to name the official pa
per or papers. Fargo has several pa
pers that are doing their best to build
up the city, county and state. The
legislature has fixed the rate for Of
fetal printing and feel that it would
be no more than right that we name more
than one paper as the official paper
with the understanding that the city
auditor alternate between the papers
from month to month. Fargo also has
several job printing plants and it
would be no more than right that we
give each Of them an equal amount
of the city job printing.
Streets and Bridges.
The last fiscal year the city's bud
get carried under the head of streets
and bridges the sum Of $4,000. We
believe this is too large by at least
$1,000 and suggest that the street
sprinkling be let by yearly contract
to the lowest bidder.
Levies for Yearly Budget.
Outside of the state and county, there
are three boards in the city that make
their own levy, namely, school board.
board and city board. In view of
the city's financial condition and be-
lieving that it Us tho duty of all the
boards 20 make their levy such that
the combined levy will not exceed the
total levy1of 1912, l recommend that a
conference be asked and held by a
committee of the three boards. (not
later than June 10, 1919, to canvass
the situation tending to hold taxation
to the lowest point possible. This
conclusion is reached from the fact
tnat Fargo ought to be a city of homes
and high taxes will never build homes.
The Appointments.
The city now has persons employed
in some of the departments who are
giving the best OF satisfaction. I be-
speak for them your kind consideration
and trust that when the time comes for
making appointments you would con.
slider those as first applicants for their
respective positions. / also believe that
no appointment should be made until
we have gone owe the entire list and
by resolution fix the various salaries.
This conclusion is reached after q
careful study which leads me TO be-
.iieve that certain salaries ought to he
changed.
In conclusion let me remind you that
government by the commission is AN
experiment In Fargo. Let lis, there
fore. be deliberate in our actions and
quite sure that the changes that we
make from time to time will produce
better results. Let our slogan be,
economy n efficiency In every de-
partnlert. Respectfully submitted,
H. II. Emery,
President Of the commission.
Dated May 8, 1913. city OF Fargo,
state of North Dakota.