The Punta Gorda herald., 1920-03-18
DEPLORABLE SITUATION.

Punta Gorda has council, q
mayor, marshal, a city attorney
and great volume of laws. but all
are apparently useless on account OF
the officials conception of their
duties. The mayor conceives it his
duty to deal with persons brought
before him for trial and there his
responsibility ceases; the marsha!
conceives it to be his duty to serve
warrants and make arrests when he
sees q person committing an unlaw-
full act, and there his duty ends; the
council has nothing to do with en-
forcing the laws it has made the
city attorney draws ordinances, gives
advice in legal matters and generally
represents the city. This leaves no
one to see that some of our most I'M
portant laws are enforced: Namely,
those prescribing the duties of cit
liens in keeping their promises and
vacant lots clean.
Such a state of affairs is deplor-
able one. We believe that it will
never be corrected without frank
discussion, free from personalities
aad rarcor, by citizens.
We believe that our officials are
the towns biggest and best mon, and
as such they will feel no enMity to-
wards us for discussing what seems
to us not only a serious but rather
ridiculous situation. We Will regret
it if they regard us in less kindly
spirit, but shall lose no sleep over
the matter.
With such q state of affairs exist
ing some people pile brush in the
middle of the street, scatter paper,
tether their COWS in the streets, plant
gardens in the street, allow vacant
lots to grow up in weeds, and seem
to be entirely forgetful of the fact
that they are residing in an incor-
porated town of 1900 people, with
laws prohibiting all the things men
.ioned. 1t is safe to say that while |
some do these things, fully go per-
vent of the people would cooperate !
heartily with the officials if they i
own and keep it clean, but there is
title If any incentive to clean up and |
,eautify when ones neighbor's prem
ses are allowed to go in an insight
lent want of authority and law en-
orcement. Not only is the present
tate of affairs discouraging to the
majority of citizens, who want to
their premises and thereby
he town, but the result of that dis
undoubtedly keeps
lany a desirable settler from locat-
ng here.
In order to get the town cleaned
p and that it may be kept that way
re have a suggestion to make to the
own Council, and hope that that
'ody will at least give it considera-
ion.
We suggest that the Office of ''or-
finance officer" be created. The
uties of the ordinance officer should
'e to make a monthly inspection of
he town and when he discovers that
my person Is not observing the law
Ii regard to keeping their premises
n clean, sanitary and slightly con-
Iition make information against
hem and thus cause them to be
'rought before the mayor for trial.
such a tour of inspection should not
AXE more than two days and we be-
ieve it would be possible to find
omeone who would take the Office
or $40 month. When, if ever, the
ouncil decides to carry out such
program, it should not forget that it
equally responsible for keeping
he town clean and should assist
iti2ens in cleaning up.
We, and when we say I'VE" it
means every citizen of the town who
lopes to see it grow and prosper,
annot permit such a state of affairs
o exist indefinitely and we believe
he majority of citizens demand that
be corrected by some means
nd that without unnecessary delay,