Semi-weekly herald., 1915-04-12

the result of Tuesdays city election.
SO FAR as mayor is concerned, it was
matter of choice between men. In
one sense personality entered into the
contest and again it was largely a re-
action against the commissioner sys-
tenn as administered in the city of
durango the past two years which has
not been ut all satisfactory as a whole.
Some of the commissioners evidently
went on the assumption they were 1T
and the positions created for their
special benefit. Now that the election
is over The Herald will mention a
few things it refrained from doing be-
fore hand because we did not desire
to take any undue advantage.
ihe revolt against the system as
handled by the commissioners started
over year ago when Mr.. Wilson in
sisted that he was overworked and
had to have deputy. The imposition
was foisted on the people at time
when economy was the watchword
with the general public. Mr. Redman
stood IN with the deal and the plan
was only frustrated by the refusal of
Mr.. Scouton to sign the warrant for
the pay of the deputy and uprising
of taxpayers. For this refusal the
mayor came in for commentator
while the commissioners in question
were criticesd on all sides. Agan, a
great many people feel that the wa
ter commissioner could have attended
to the duties of water superintendent
and saved the city 5000 per year as
under the new charter the water COM
missioner had nothing to do with the
collections which formerly required
much time. 1t was probably this fel-
low feeling that responded in attempt
ing to continue Mr.. Wilson's deputy.
1t will be remembered that recall
was started at the time but the mat
ter dropped, The Herald advising
against it. Then the general public
believed that the mayor could have
attended to the work of street COM
missleaer several months of the year,
at least wlth the aid of the marshal.
Especially so when there S little do
ing in way Of sidewalk building or
street crossing repairs. The grading
of parts of Main street and towards
Animas City was move in the right
direction. There is also considerable
complaint over the expense of the fire
department, the general public feel
ing that the men could be transfer
red and profitably employed at least
portion of the time 1t must be
remembered these are times of finan-
cial distress all over the land and
while individuals and business con-
Germs have been reducing expenses the
city has continued with excess help.
Take. for instance, the headgate keep
er. Men work on the farm from early
morning until late at night and the
average wage is $50 per month and
then only during the summer months.
Why should a favored position with
little work, except at intervals, COM
mand more money? 1t may be that
the charter was at fault-would not
permit the transfer of men or LAYING
them off when their services were
not actually required. If so, the
amendments relieve the situation and
permits the head man to use employees
in any department desired. We mem
ton these facts more especially at
this time in order to show the de-
throned commissioners and future
commissioners, or rather manager
that the general taxpaying public ex-
poets the same economy and use of
men from city officials as though EN-
ployed by an individual.
The result of the election also DEM
onstrates the fact that voters are no
respector of individuals. As The Her.
aid stated last fall, the day when vot-
era go to the polls and blindly vote
for party men has passed forever in
colorado. Inc day when men can
command support because of being
good fellows or on party ticket is
at an end. People are voting for ef-
ficicncy these days--the ability Of
men elected to properly look after
public affairs for the least money.
Party fealty does not count. The re-
buke administered 70 the Democratic
party in this state last fall when
such men as Brake and Kenehan were
left In the discard should be lesson.
It is pleasing to know that voters
have risen to this high plane; that
they are carefully watching public |
officials and expect more Of them
than in the days gone by; that they
nrc not in favor Of elevating men to ]