The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-03-02
MAYORS ADDRESS TO NEW COUNCIL

! MAYON0 4AODNE0s
.'Mr. President and Gentlemen of
the Council: a.
"Having been called by the people
of this city to be its chief magistrate
for the second time, take this &C.
casion to again thank them for the
honor conferred upon me. I am not
!unmindful Of the duties and response
/ bilities, which the office imposes on
me, particularly at this time when
there is a feeling of unrest and dis.
kcontent, not only in our favored city,
but all over the land-all over the
world. -
| For me to attempt to point out all
the reasons for this unrest and dis
content would be as futile, as for me
to suggest the remedy. It is fact,
which cannot be denied, however,
that the Unprecedented high cost of
Living and the activities Of profess
sional agitators, many of whom are
not citizens, have largely brought
about and are responsible for this
unhappy, not to say, alarming state
I'm this connection 1 recommend
and urge that all employees of the
city employed by the day at manual
labor, be paid fair living wage, tax
ing into consideration the high cost
of living, that they be required to
work but eight hours per day, and
that in return, it be seen to that such
employees given an honest days work
in return.
Reviews Past Year.
II am gratifed to feel and know
that many Of the recommendations
made by. me, in my first message to
YOU have been carried, or are being
! carried out. Among these is the re.
modelling of our city hall, the extern
sion and repair Of our water works
and the demonstration beyond doubt
or question that we have an unfail'
ing supply of the purest water, with
out resorting to a filtering plant, the
cost Of which would have been enor
nous, and although perhaps health
full, still, lake water.
"Our city hall is modern and up tt
date in all respects and affords ample
office rooms for all departments Of
our city government, besides splendid
quarters for our Civic and Commerce
association.
| Outline. 1920 Program.
''This, year will, hope, see the
completion Of our armory, or at leas'
1.-THE question Of our getting one. IN
1.-THE near future definitely settled in
the affirmative. My Recommendation
for q suitable memorial to our soldier
boys has taken form in the securing
by the park board, I am advised, so1
a site for a memorial park, near the
Normal school, but I am still Of the
opinion that such memorial, or an
other memorial should take the form
of a fountain in our downtown park
and thus combine beautiful re-
minder of their sacrifices with cry
ing necessity, the lack Of which has
caused bitter and we'll merited criti'
cism by strangers and our own people
as well-a drinking fountain.
Report on Finances.
I "The condition of our finances, is
on the whole, satisfactory, although
some of our funds are largely over
drawn, viz: General fund $29,719.39
permanent improvement $8,396.87
revolving $7,082.34, water SO, 309. 80
making in all over drafts of $48,
508.4O. To, apply on this, we expect
to, get from the county, at the Apri
settlement, about $4,000. Our ex
penditures for the year have beer
extraordinarily heavy-$159, 57.72
the largest item of which SGT 1881
was drawn on the water fund, and
am satisfied, and believe the people
of the city, generally, are well salts
fed that it was we'll spent in securing
an adequate supply Of artesian water
and in. extending our water mains
and improving our water system, and
it is a splendid showing, that with
such a large expenditure, that fund
is over drawn only $3,309.S0.
Ia General Fund.
1.-THE general fund shows an ex'
penditure Of $43, O44.13. Out Of this
fund is paid, practically all Of the
running expenses Of the city, and
am glad to be able to say that no
city Of the size Of Bemidji, in Min
nesota, can make such a good show
ing, and as the public examiner well
said, few years ago: Although our
city continues to grow, we manage to
run it at minimum cost. I cannot
too strongly urge that the precedent
thus established and followed for
lCH0ST0 IPlVr HONEY + .y