Arizona republican., 1919-10-02

An ordinance creating a department of public service to act in an advisory capacity to the city administration, has been prepared by City Commis- sioner J. A. R. Irvine and, according to his announcement yesterday at the commission meeting. will be presented at the next meeting of the city com missioners.
 The membership of the new depart ment will consist of a representative from each of the principle civic or ganizations of the city, under the pro visions of the proposed ordinance who will be given every opportunity to in- Vestigate and criticize all actions of l the city administration.
 Representatives of two civic organ izations have made favorable com ments on the proposed ordinance. That of the chamber of commerce being as follows;
 The attention of the chamber of commerce has been called to an ordin- ance soon to be introduced, proposing the creation Of an advisory public ser vice board, one member of which shall be chosen from each of the following organizations: Merchants x Manu ! | Kiwanis Club, Phoenix Trades Council i Chamber of Commerce.
 i In our opinion, the adoption of the ordinance, and the creation of the commission would he highly desirable ! The business men of Phoenix are in- terested in a high degree of civic probity and official uprightness. While 1 the functions of such a commission | B1 Jtric l,a lieve that the cooperation of a rep resentative board of business mer should be welcomed alike by the city commission, and the public generally
 Tn matters of policy of administra- tion and efficiency of all city depart ments, we believe that the proposed Public Service Board will achieve . full measure of success.
 Wallace Button of the Berryhil company, president of the Rotary Club made a statement yesterday in regard to the ordinance proposed by Com missioner Irvine that is very favorable
 Any cooperative work in the inter est of civic improvement is highly de- sirable." said MT. Button. We are al working for the same purpose, which is a greater and a finer Phoenix.
 If such a board as MT. Irvine pro- poses is acceptable to. the city com mission, it would be capable of accom- plishing great good for the city.
 Tt would undoubtedly populariz' movements for public improvements The greater the number of people yol can interest in such work the nor,
 likely is it's accomplishment.
 "The matter will undoubtedly be dis
 at n nf
 Rotary Club"
 The Proposed Ordinance Commissioner Irvine made the fol lowing statement regarding the pro
 posed ordinance;
 To the Honorable City Comisslon O Phoenix,
 Gentlemen:
 I desire to announce that at the neX meeting of this city commission l vii introduce an ordinance creating de partment of the city government of thi
 city 10 be known as "The Departmen of Public Service"
 The board will consist of five mem bers, to be selected by the followin named civic organizations of Phoenix The chamber of commerce, Merchant and Manufacturers association, tn | Phoenix Trades Council, each organiza ton to select one member of this bod. to he known as the public service boarC This board is to serve without pa. and to act in advisory capacity to tn ] commission. in all matters pertainin to the public service and public utilitie My reason for offering this ordiT ance for your consideration IS three fold, namely:
 l. I believe the people should I taken into the fullest confidence of tn Z city government, and in a way thS \ they will know that we are, in a things, working for their best interes X and that in order to secure the fulle | mea sure of success and efficiency in oJ E work we desire them to consult and aC wise with us in all matters of the pull lie welfare.
 Q Because it has been open charged by a periodical Of this city, ; well as covertly insinuated by some pr vate individuals, that there was t scheme of graft connected with Il
 construction of our Verde water systeI by which scheme, it has been charge members of the city commission al city officialst was alleged, had COT
 spired to mulct the city of a large SUI E of the money voted for that purpose. 3. Because a very considerable nun
 Der of our business men have que
 toned the wisdom of the city commi
 sion in electng to costruct Verde col \ duit of wood stave pipe instead of col \ crete.
 And then I believe strongly in tl , principal of such a board. The city \ Los Angeles has placed the control S all public utilities under boards orgal
 ized along the lines of the ordinan < proposed.
 The plan Of selecting the membe
 of the public service board from | e organizations named Will insure a re
 resentation of all the varied interes
 of our city. and will, 1 am sure, COT 6 mend the confidence of the people.
 And then the public service boar E appointed as provided in the propos
 ordinance, after investigation repoI to the people that there is no graft
 connection with the waterworks co
 struction, the people will know that
 Is true. If, on the other hand it shou ETT#TTTFxS k55sTIT TTTT II.T TTITJTTm