Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-02-06
CITY CONDUCTS ITS AFFAIRS ALONG
LINES OF BUSINESS EFFICIENCY
Each department handling monies has check on the
other complete record of every transaction and coun-
Gil matter is kept; accounts balance at end of month

The part that efficiency mas takel
and still takes in the business world
the effort to apply the most practicable
time saving, correct and efficient means
in the handling of their business by the
biggest and most successful concerns III
the country and the world at large is nc
longer news to the reading and obserV-
ing public. The railroads, packing firms
manufacturing concerns and large firms
generally are spending money to learn
and put into practice more efficient
means Of carrying on their various
works in order to get the best results
at the least expenditure. The magazines
and the press in general are full OF
reading matter bearing on this subject.
There are some forms of government
that have followed the lead of the sue
cessful business firms and have found
that efficiency Yin the conduct of prl-
vate business is just as applicable and
bears quite as good results in govern
mental business.
This is quite true of Ottumwa's city
government where efficiency has be-
come the slogan and system in handling
city business is held quite as important
to the city as efficient methods are to
the privately owned and operated busl-
ness. Officials with their attention riv-
tied upon the affairs of the city and
jealous for it's advancement. have UNI
der the commission form of city gov
eminent perhaps a better chance to ap-
ply business principles to municipal at
fairs TN under the old method, al
though it is easy to be slip shod or
careless in city management just as In
private business regardless Of the form
OF government prevailing.
Business System 10 Used.
The present city officials have inclin-
ed to the idea of efficiency in municipal
affairs and system in the handling of
the city's business is practiced. The
same care and attention to the business
Of the running the city Is applied as
that in practice by many Of the success
full corporations and mercantile con-
Germs.
A place for everything and every
thing in its place. is the rule that now
obtains in the city hall. An inspection
of the system in force there makes this
apparent to anyone who will take the
trouble to make the investigation and
the officials will welcome anyone on
such a mission.
The business is handled in a bust
ness like manner and every transaction
Is properly noted. Every action by the
council as governing body is record
ed in its proper manner and every
record is easy Of access for the system
Of filing is quite perfect. No resolution,
petition, ordinance, ETC., is completed
until signed by the proper officials and
duly recorded and then 1t is filed away
where it can be had on a moments no.
tfce with all the history of the trans
action appended to 1t.
Have Check on Everything.
A double check is made on everything
and triple check on nearly every item
OF finance that comes into the hands of
the city or passes between the various
officials in the handling Of city affairs.
- REGENTS are made in triplicate, max
clerk and leaves permanent record for
the state checker. The receipt is also
marked for the fund intended and dis
tributed as to what it is for. When re-
corded in book for that purpose, the
amount, the number, what 1t Is for, the
fund to which 1t goes, the date and the
purpose for which 1t is received is all
shown. A recapitulatfon Of these re-
eeipts is made a record Of deposits In
the report to the council with the
treasurer's receipt and becomes part
OF the permanent record.
This applies to all monies received
over the city clerks counter except dog
licences for which a separate book is
kept showing the numbers Of the
licenses starting with one each year
and running consecutively. Provision is
made to take care Of Implications where
this is necessary and a record is made
Of them. The account Is run on a