Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-05-04

rants, $1,750; tax, 71-lU0 mills. rms
/ levy will raise about $500, leaving a
balance of $3.50 to be paid in 1915.
Voted by the people.
County Fair Fund-Bonds outstand-
ing, $4,000; tax, 73-1O0 mills Voted
by the people.
Library Fund.--Annual appropria-
ton, $1,000; tax, $40 mills. Voted by
the people, through acceptance of con-
tract with Andrew Carnegie providing
that Dallas shall support the library
forever Appropriation from general
fund of city.
Sewer Tank Fund.-Bonds outstand-
ing, $1,000; tax, l mill. One bond and
interest payable each year. Voted by
people.
All of the foregoing special funds
voted by the people aggregate tax
of 6-1O mills annually.
[ Road Fund-Tax, 3h mills, bring
ing in a total of $3,500, which can
only be used in cleaning, oiling and
repairing streets, building street in
tersections, working county roads
within city limits and building and
repairing bridges. I would recon-
mend that no money be paid this year
for street intersections from any fund
except the road fund. We can spare
none from the general fund, for the
very good reason that there is no gem
eral fund.
Cement dewalks-Cement side
walks mean better sanitation and are
more economical to the property own
er in the long run. Such walks save
the council much labor and the city
great expense. I am in favor of a
} gradual extension of the cement dis
! trict, and would recommend that the
boundaries be changed this year to in
clude the following territory: All that
district lying between the west side of
the center of Lyle street and the west
side of Levens street, and between the
south side of the center of Academy
street and the north side of the GEN.
ter of Clay street
) Macadam Streets-In all macadam
work to be carried on this year, l
would recommend that all streets so
) smoothness and perfection of grade
that in the near future a hard-surface
dressing may be laid on the macadam
at a minimum expense to the proper
ty owners Time has proved that
hard-surface dressing can be laid on
macadam even better than on a con-
crete base. With a view of eventually
hard surfacing such streets, money
spent for macadam is not thrown
away.
/ believe that a skillful, well-trained
brass band is an asset to any city
That this view is shared by the peo-
pie generally is indicated by the pc
tition recently presented to the council
asking that the band be given munich
pal aid, which petition was signed by
a large majority of the taxpayers The
council granted the petition and pass
ed an ordinance giving $500 year
toward maintaining the band, being
under the impression that the road
fund could be used for this purpose.
The mayor, after examining the fin
nances of the city and the law, wise
ly vetoed the ordinance and the coun-
ell sustained the veto. l believe that
, next year, if the band will give as
surance of a high-class organization,
some provision should be made for a
reasonable appropriation for its sup
port.
General Expense-In contemplating
the city's running expenses, l am un-
able to discover where any material
reduction can be made without de-
: priving the people of actual necessi-
ties and impairing the efficiency OF
our government. Our water and light
bills are already provided by contract;
crosswalks must be kept in repair to
: protect the city from damage suits
The charter demands that we have a
: marshal. The marshal attends to his
5 duties as a peace officer and cleans
the streets as well. This officer re-
t ceives $50 month, and is underpaid
/ rather than overpaid. The charter al
: so provides for street commissioner
= He works for the small salary OF 30
cents an hour for time actually en-
= ployed.
A city of $500 inhabitants requires
2 a night policeman. without such Of
t fcer, we simply throw our gates open
( to the criminal element to rob and
: burn. This night officer receives a
salary of only s65 a month. The city
e attorney receives a monthly salary oi
$40, and the city engineer is paid for
t the time employed. If the council
= however, can see at any time where
t our running expenses can be reduced
e without impairing efficiency, shall
gladly cooperate.
Law Enforcement-I desire to say
S the mayor will not undertake to sus-
t pend the action of any ordinance
a Ordinances are placed on the books tc
r be reasonably enforced, and no Officer
e has a right to suspend them. In 1916
I when the statewide prohibition law
r shall take effect. I recommend thai
our city officers put forth extra enori
= to detect the sale Of liquor, and
J. assure these officers. as well as th'
sheriff and county attorney. that the,
= shall have nv every personal assist