The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1921-04-21

The old board OF city COMMISSION
ers with President Shaw and Commits
sioner Householder absent, held their
last meeting Tuesday morning and
approved of the minutes of the meet
ing the day before, whereupon the
new board went into session.
On motion Of Commissioner Brats-
berg, seconded by Com. Gross, the
new board was organized as follows:
Fire and Police-F. Otto Gross.
Financed. w. Bowker.
Streets and Public Improvements
&. D. Shaft.
Watersworks and Sewer - Sksel
Bratsberg.
Com. Bratsberg was named vice
president Of the commission. The
commission decided to make no ap-
pointments until the meeting next
Monday at p. m. as they want time
to select the employees.
A letter from B. E. Stewart was
read in which he recommended that
Geo. Wartchow be reappointed as sup
erintendent of waterworks, stating
that saving Of from $4,000 to $1,000
a year can be made by such contract.
II do not believe, that an immediate
change, without investigation, will be
to the best interests of the city, or
the welfare Of the department" Mr..
Stewart states in his letter.
President Smart's message follows:
AS. the new city commission is about
to take the management of city affairs,
1t might be proper for me as president
Of the commission to outline to you some
of the policies that I believe that we
should pursue. and l offer these recon-
mendations not in a dictatorial spirit
but in a spirit Of cooperation. realiz-
ing that to get the best results for
Minot all measures Of Importance af-
fecting this city should be decided upon
by the commission as a whole and not
by the president alone,
believe that the people of Minot are
supremely interested in two questions:
and efficiency in the management of city
affairs. The other is the maintenance
of order and the enforcement Of the law.
Economy
A preliminary survey convinccs me
as believe it does all of you gentlemen
that considerable sums can be saved in
each department without decreasing ef-
lures are variqVsly estimated at from
$500 to $500 pd department per month.
To this saving may be added large
amounts that may be saved through
Of all departments will cooperate in
this undertaking. I believe that large
sums can be saved in running expenses.
do not believe that we should pur-
sue a niggardely policy in the matter
Of expenditures. but see no reason why
the city of MinOt should pay higher
salaries for the same kind of work done
than the business and financial institu-
tions of the city pay nor should we pay
more for what we buy than the average
large consumer. I believe that the city
funds should be guarded with as much
care as the funds of any Minot busi-
ness institution. Furthermore, every
employe of the city from the lowest to
the highest should give the city the
same service both as to time and energy
as he would give any private employer.
Only necessary help should be employ
ed, but the employees should be treated
fairly and squarely and should not be
asked to work for less than the GUS
tomary pay given that particular class
of work on the basis of the present
cost of living.
Law Enforcement
No city official who has any regard
for his oath of office can object to a
strict enforcement of city ordinances
and state and federal laws against all
offenders, whether high or low, rich or
poor. If the people do not want the
laws enforced they should repeal them,