The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1918-05-11
CHANGES COMING
WITH REGULARITY
CITY COMMISSION SEEKS TO BRING
EFFICIENCY WITHOUT ECLAT
OFFICERS MUST BE Efficient
Poundmaster Given Notice That he
Must Deliver the Goods or he
Will be 0usted From Office


The city commission has started on
its work or putting the city on an eff
ficiency basis without making any fan
fare OF trumpets about II. They want
1t understood that they cannot work
miracles, but that II things go as they
expect them to they will be able at the
end OF this year to show up a much
increased amount OF work for less
amount OF money.
Their first effort so one OF the
commissioners tells a reporter for
The Diamond Drill, is to get the &C
counting in such shape that they can
show the people just what they are
doing. This will take some time. A
system has been decided upon and is
now being put into effect in all de-
partments. 1t will probably be a
month at least before this system will
be in working order.
BY means OF this system any tax
payer can be told in few minutes
what each item OF expense amounts
to and a comparison can be made be-
tween the present cost and last years
cost. Last years cost will not be a
positive one, but next year there will
be such a record that one can tell at
a glance IL the same work Is costing
more or less.
Officers On Good Behavior.
One important item Is already in
evidence and that is in relation to
the tenure OF public officials and thei'
work for the money they get.
None OF the officials have a cinch on
their Jobs. They hold them just as
long as their work is satisfactory to
the commission. If they loaf on their
jobs they can be got" and the COM
missioners say that they will be got "
One of the commissioners in talk
ing on this point with reporter said,
I'VE want the people to notify us n
any officials is not doing his work.
That doesn't mean that we will heed
personal prejudices or differences Of
opinion as to how work ought to be
done. We are not going to let out q
public servant just because some per
son doesn't like him or because some
one thinks he ought to do his work
differently. We want TO know IL he Is
working. We must have return for
the money we pay these men and we
propose to get IL. III you or anyone
else has evidence that any employe is
not delivering the goods we want that
information"
This policy was made plain by the
commission in the appointment OF a
poundmaster. Mr.. Koepeke was
poundmaster last year, and when he
was brought upon the carpet he was
told OF his faults He acknowledged
that he fell down last year, but asked
that he be given trial this year with
the understanding that II lie doesn't
deliver the goods he will be let out.
IL is upon that understanding that Mr..
Koepeke IS poundmaster and II any
resident Of the place finds him shirk-
ing his work in the future, the com
mission will deem IL favor II re-
port Is made.
Seek Agreement With Township.
One OF the first matters to come
up will be that OF making an arrange
ment with the township Of Crystal
Falls in reference to being paid for
furnishing fire protection TO the town
ship The commission will not be sat
isied with any payment based upon
calls for the truck. II will insist up
on a yearly contribution to the up-
keep Of the department in return for
which the services OF that department
Will be AT the call OF the township as
well as the city.
In the past the truck has been OF
very valuable assistance in saving the
Of the township. II saved
the Carpenter mine In two instances
u saved several dwellings at the old
Columbia location besides buildings
ON the location about the school prop.
erty. For these responses to the call
for aid the city received the sum OF
sls per call, the flrcmen having been
paid by the property owners.
Under the new arrangement that Il