Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-02-20
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT TALK
NUMBER I
BY WILLIAM H. BRIGHT

hold, for the simple reason that the majority in the commun-
iy, which elects them is densely ignorant.
If you don't believe that statement make it your busin ess
to prove it is not SO by asking any citizen of the community
in which you live the most simple question relative to the
workings of the municipal government under which you live
and satisfy yourself of its truth.
Ask for instance how much money is raised by taxation and
what it is spent for-follow that up by asking if any or all of
the appropriations have been %overdrawn and if SO for what
purpose. Ask further if there is any other source of revenue
in addition to that raised by taxation and if that truly shows
in the appropriation or only at the end of the year when the
detailed report of receipts and expenditures is printed.
Ask further if there is any other way in which money can
be spent, that does not show in an appropriation ordinance.
There wont be any need to go further-Yes, ask yourself the
question. Do know? If you can't answer it,and you are one
of the persons contributing to build up your town, wouldn't
it be only fair to get busy and learn at once that much about
the municipal government you are supporting
The moment you start that that moment your city is in
possession of a better citizen, and a better citizen makes a bet
ter community and a better community elects better oficehold-
|ers-It has been we'll said that every community is judged by
the character of the men whom they elect.
Now the first expression we started out with(read it AGAIN.
in the light of the questions submitted don't seem SO untrue.
The fact of the matter is, it is the whole truth, and that's
what hurt you when you first read it. But it is doing good
for this reason; no one is willing to be called ignorant or re-
main so when it is in their own power to become educated at
such a small expenditure of time as it will take to learn all
about a matter of such great Importance; one that enters not
only into the life of each person living in a community but
enters largely in the life Of the community as a whole.
Nowadays people are becoming of an inquiring turn of mind
and they are not slow to realize that a town or city highly
taxed is not the most economical place to live in, IN fact it is
a place to be avoided and that of necessity initiates against
the true interests of the resident whose hope is built upon the
fact that the place will grow in prestige and wealth and of
necessity bring to him or her holdings the increased value
that is usually banked upon as being the one asset that will
prove to be the nest egg fortune of old age. Consequently
being in possession of the principal reasons and facts which
are the main pillars of any municipal government, an init
mate knowledge of its financial affairs, it is one of such
prime Importance that no one interested IN his or her own
welfare can escape censure if they do not now take it up and
make a study of it and when this is done all the leaks and
extravaganza will disappear. There is no o~f6ceholder SO cal
1ous, there arc none so blind who will not withhold their
sanction to the expenditure of money if they know that their
actions are being scrutinized and that everyone who contrib
utes to the common treasury is wearing allow are you spend
ing my money look on his face.
It's the utter indifference Of the rank and file of the peo-
pie in any community that gives life to the arrogance of place
holders and no class of people are SO quick as a rule to sense
the mood of the people as office holders. Most peoplein the
past) have felt that when they had voted for their choice of
candidates that their civic duty was finished and acting on
this theory left the office holder to follow his own inclinations
according to his own sweet will but the new thought, and the
best thought today in municipal government is and especially
SO under the commission form of municipal government which
destroys the representative government feature of service
without pay for the better one of an employee on salary.
That his taking office is the signal for the people themselves
to participate in affairs of their own government, become the
ruling power in it, have a lively and steadfast and growing
interest in its proper working. This of necessity calls for
vigilant action, unceasing care, a knowledge of municipal ex-
penditure and accounting; it means probably some sacrifices
of time and energy and money but its rewards are rich; they
flow in a bountifu1 stream not to one but to all in dividends
in the shape of lower taxes, in greater improvements at les
sened ratio of expense. In a more careful husbandry of the
resources of the municipality it calls for greater efficiency,
that spells economy. The word ECONOMY is u~ppermost in
the minds Of the people today not only here but all over the