Arizona republican., 1914-08-01
MAYOR YOUNG |S
 FOR ECONOMY
Before the City Commission City Executive Points Way to Save the City's Money and Secure h. creased Efficiency

yanced detailed suggestions Tor the consolidation of various department heads of the city government ana for the cutting down of forces of ol- flee employees which he believes Will 20 a long way toward solving the problem of economy in the carrying out of the business of the corpora ton of the city of PhoenlX. some ol the suggestions, the majority Of them, in fact, could not be carried out except through an amendment ol the city charter, but Mayor Young directs attention to this relief and making it plain that all or the ma jcrity of the suggestions should be presented to the voters of the city of Phoenix at the next municipal election.
 In addressing the commission and those assembled in the commission chambers upon this subject, Mayor Young said:
 My duties as mayor as required by the charter, are to suggest and inform the commission in all things pertaining to the best welfare of the city. As this is supposed to be the last meeting Of the commission for probably thirty days, I offer the following suggestions and request that they be made a part of the minutes of this meeting. As all informed people know, the mayor, under the present city charter of Phoenix. except ~1n few instances, has no power or authority except by i+ ;t- ho nf intent that l suggest the following: The organization of this corporation known as the city of Phoenix, so made and created by the city charter, like ! most municipal and governmental or eanizations of today, is built on lines for greater population than the city possesses at this time, or will possess | for same years to come. It is true we ! should look ahead and be prepared for | a greater populatio but it is nonsen- | scal and expensive to maintain the or | ganization which we have under the | conditions which exist today and which will continue to exist for some time to come.
 | For your information, permit me to I officials who are paid by the city for their entire time, and. like any busi- ness corporation, for which value is 1 supposed to be received. I have segre- 1 gated those officials from whom no re- l lief can be expected, because whether their time is fully occupied or not. they are supposed to be at their posts of | r,; I have attempted, as accurately as pos sible, to classify on a percentage basis the amount of time the city is actually receiving.
 l The list of No Refer officials is as follows: City manager city attorney. city auditor, chief of police fire chief. sealer of weights and measures health officer. sanitary officer, free employ ment agency.
 The balance of the officials, on a percentage basis, are employed about the lengths of time stated, the balance of the time being a distinct loss to the city: City clerk. 8 per cent; city mag 1 istrate. 30 per cent; city treasurer. 15 per cent: with street bonds. 65 per .. city engineer, A per cent superinten- dent of streets. 40 per cent; superinten- dent of water B per cent; building in spector, 9 per cent, plumbing inspec- tor 25 per cent; electrical inspector, 40 per cent.
 Therefore, I suggest the following:
 1st-That the city clerk and city magistrate be consolidated
 2nd-That the city engineer. super intendent of streets and superintendent of water be consolidated.
 3rd-That the building, plumbing and electrical inspectors be consolidated
 4th-Not to exceed four assistants in the city assessors.
 5th-One assistant only to the city manager and city clerk-this assistant to be a stenographer
 6th-Allow one office assistant in the office of the city engineer. superinten- dent of streets and superintendent of water
 7th-Divide the city into districts and allot a district to be covered by each police officer; each officer to report to the chief of police by phone each hour his exact location, the same as is done in other cities.
 l am making these suggestions only for the reason that we have approached that condition in the affairs of the city for which l believe distinctly stated from the chair I would not be respon- sible for after September 1st. Finan- cial conditions over which we have no
 control have brought that crucial time not later than the 18th of August. and that is the basis l am using for these
 suggestions.
 The condition which have intimated is not the fault of either the city off cials or employees, but the fault of all of
 us. It is now up to the commission to do what it can toward bettering this condition and making such recommen- dations to the people to remedy this condition at the first election we may
 have, with a full explanation why the charges should be adopted.
 For a moment after the mayor had ceased speaking there was absolute silence. and then Commissioner
 Woods broke the quiet:
 MT Mayor. I want to say at this
 time that I think some of your sug gestions are very good ones,' he said
 Thank you, MT Woods,' replied the mayor q hope soon to see some