The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-03-07
City Executive Urges Enforcement of
Vice Laws; Asks Cooperation
of Citizens.
PLEDGES HIMSELF TO AN
ECONOMICAL BUSINESS TERM
Advises Improving of Park System;
Asks Citizens to Make Sugges-
tions to Him.

lied withal by modesty and defer.
ence, Mayor Charles w. Vandersluis
last night at the organization of the
new city council delivered his first
annual address. The council cham.
ber in the city hall was crowded
with many of the leading citizens OF
Bemidji.
wide knowledge of civics, phil
osophy and economics was indicated
by the citys executive in summarize
ing what he deemed Bemidji's needs
and reforms.
Police Efficiency.
OF primary Importance, because it
was the first of his recommendations,
Mayor Vandersluis stated that he
would endeavor to establish and
maintain degree of efficiency, cour-
tesy and public spiritedness in the
police department that would attract
the attention of not only the resi-
dents of this locality but also would
impress all visitors to Bemidji.
The new mayor urged the citizens
Of Bemidji to cooperate with him
and to make suggestions to him. He
also urged the fire department to CO.
operate with him and he offered to
the department every assistance that
ha wOu16 ha ah1o to oivo
Clean Up Vice.
He recommended the cleaning of
the streets, alleys, parks and lake
shores.
He stated that the vice conditions
would be given close attention and
pledged himself to his utmost ability
to remove any such detrimental sit
uations.
He urged economical public i'm
provements.
The mayors address follows in
full:
Hon. City Council and Citizens
of Bemidji:
In making this, my first appear
ance before you as the chief execu-
tive officer of Bemidji I feel that I
can safely state that we meet with
the kindliest wishes for each others
success and the general welfare of
the city-the city which impresses
us all with it's natural beauty and
great possibilities; and whose rapid
advancement in population, public
improvements and moral standard it
shall be our mutual ambition to
achieve.
Duties Outlined.
The charter of the city Of Bemidj1
provides as follows: 1.-THE mayor
shall be the chief magistrate of the
city s. * He shall take care that
the laws of the state, the provisions
of this charter and the ordinances
of the city are duly observed and
enforced within the city, and that
all officers of the city discharge their
respective duties, and to that end
may maintain any appropriate &C
ton or proceeding against any del
inquent officer or other person. He
shall from time to time give the city
council information and recommend
such measures as he shall deem ad'
vantageous to the CITY,"
These duties, it shall be my earnest
and fearless ambition to perform.
It is, however, also my ambition
to have each and every citizen o.
the community realize that all ar
on an equal footing and that no per
sons or class of persons are to b.
either favored or prosecuted.
Public Spiritedness.
1t shall likewise be my endeavor tt
establish and maintain that degree
of efficiency, courtesy and public splr
itedness in the police department tina
will attract the attention OF, ant
call forth favorable comment from
not only the residents of this locality
but also to so impress all visitors u
Bemidji. I desire to have the po
lice officers at all times exhibit
willingness to comply with all reas
enable requests for information, tt
be ever ready to assist in any move
ment for the public good, as we'll al
to exercise good sound judgment II
the enforcement of the laws OF ou1
state and the ordinances of our city
I appreciate in particular my duty
to cooperate with the city councl
and sincerely trust that all OF ou'
relations will be of most friendly
character. It shall, in fact, be
pleasant part of my official cares tc
do all that I can to assist the council
by any suggestion or information