The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1917-04-21

The only changes in offcialdom
at the city hall are two commits
sioners, G. R. Magney succeeding
w. I. Prince as mayor and COM
missioner Of public affairs, and
P. G. Phillips, succeeding Leon
idas Merritt as commissioner of
public utilities.
Several other changes would
have been made if the two new
commissioners could have had
anything to say but the Dauntless
Three, Voss, Silberstein and Far
rell, to please themselves, the sui
len liquor interests and Little
Tammany, prevented any changes,
no matter how badly the public
welfare seemed to demand them.
City Assessor Scott has been re-
tanned at his old salary of $4,000
a year. There was some talk of a
heavy reduction but nothing came
of it and Mr. Scott emphatically
announced that he would not re-
main if the salary was reduced.
There was some opposition to
Mr.. Scott retention but nothing
loud or aggressive. That he is
competent, few dispute. There
has been a feeling by some that a
small taxpayer was apt to receive
a shorter, less careful and less
cordial reception by Mr.. Scott
than the millionaire who, natur-
ally, pays taxes heavily. r
There may be nothing in that
criticism but, if so, a word Of ad-
monition has been given Mr.. Scott
not to give any cause for it during
his future incumbency of the posi-
tion.
It is stated that one reason for
retaining Mr.. Scott and not seri-
ously considering other talent is
the fact that some big affairs are
up which, if properly closed, will
mean an increase in the city's in
come from taxes in one grand sum
of about $4,000. Mr.. Scott is
credited with having a heavy
hand in developing the source for
this boost in tax money, therefore
those who might have considered
some other man, did not feel it
good business to try to put the.
skids under the West Duluthian.
No changes have been made in
the department Of the treasury,
both Mclean and Campbell re-
tanning their positions as treas
urer and auditor under Commis-
sioner Voss.
Entirely two many citizens fail
to remember that the city assess
or's office comes under the super
vision of the commissioner OF fl
nance. There has been GOODNESS
between Mr.. Voss and Mr.. Scott,
at least on Mr.. Voss's part, and
it was stubbornly declared up and
down the street that Mr.. Voss, if
no other commissioner, would
vote against the retention Of As
SCISSOR Scott. But even the city's
financial wizard caa change his
mind.
During the informal sitting and
shaking down of matters before
the formal re-appointments, the
other commissioners were amazed
to find that Commissioner Voss
had absolutely no knowledge OF
many important facts and figures
in the city assessors 8 Office. Inls,
probably, was due to lack OF al
fnity between the two men.
There is a feeling, both among
the commissioners and the tax
payers, that the interests OF the
city would suffer no harm il Mr..
Voss ceased to read, plot and
brood so much in his private Office
and make a thorough study OF
conditions, methods and even
theories pertaining to the asses
sor's Office. ~.
Since the lurid clouds Of war
are likely to lead Lieut.. Trux to
CORY fields of honor, some change
likely will be made In private Sec
retary to the mayor. Capt. Cleve-
land has been retained In the park