Arizona republican., 1922-04-30
.DEPLORES TOOMUCH
CRITICISM FROM
SELFISH PURPOSE
Mayor Plunkett In Final
Report To City Commits
sion Says 1t Has Caused
His Term To Be a Keen
Disappointment


Lack of citizen cooperation made
HIS term a keen disappointment"
Mayor Willis H. Piunkett said in his
final rerort, a summary of the busl-
ness administration of the city OF
Phoenix during the two years of his
regime. submitted to a special meet
ing of the city commission at
o'clock Yesterday afternoon on the
eve of his retirement from pubic
office. Mayor Plunkett did not seek
reelection this spring.
Too much criticism without con-
strI1ctiye clements handicaps rather
than aids city officials in the ad-
nniuIstration of public affairs, the
Yaayor said in recommending the Gre
ation of q department to be known
a. "the complaint and suggestion de-
partment."
eEntirely too much valuable time
: ia consumed listening to petty mat
ters even il there was a basis Tor
con1plaint. Traditional habits OF the
neonie have brought many of those
directly to the mayor instead OF 10
f7e manager or department heads.
Afy recommendation is that young
lady Of pleasing personality, tact anu
courtesy be placed in charge OF sala
department and that all complalnants
be directed to her" the report con-
tinues.
Bonded indebtedness
OF especial interest to the tax
payer and those interested in finance
is an appended report of the clty's
bonded indebtedness and sinking
fund requirements. These reports
were carefully prepared under the di-
sreetion of the mayor, himself an ex-
pert accountant. It shows . total
bonded indebtedness of $3,713,000, on
which the annual interest is $195,350.
Referring to the Verde water sys-
ter1, the mayors report says that its
completion viii be among the first
tasks for the new commission.
TT now appears that a reservoir
will be necessary for the successful
operation OF the system and that the
supply without such storage facility
{ will be inadequate to meet the peak
loads during the summer months,
when the consumption is quite heavy
This. Of course, will require a bond
issue and it is a matter of great
regret that when the $4,000 was
svoted some provision was not added
for this purpose. In this instance
our hindsight is much better than
our foresight. As these matters viii
she sufficiently aired | have nothing
further to say at this time, nor any
apologies or alibis to make, the re-
port. says.
Taking up the question Of the
scity's bonded Indebtedness, the report
says:
some provision must be made for
the creation of sinking funds for
those issues not specifically set out
in the ordinances. The Roosevelt
road bonds mature two years hence
and at least one-half of the $67,oOO
should be included in the next bud
get. Sinking funds have been accu-
mulated for only three issues, name
ly: Funding bonds 1909. Sl55,0OO,
funding bonds 1914, $120,500, and
municipal improvements 1914, $780,
900, leaving unprovided for $3,2S7,o00
including the armory bonds about to
be issued"
The mayor expresses theb opinion
that there is sufficient money in the
city treasury to pay all regular ex-
penses of operating the city to the
end of the fiscal year without a
deficit. This opinion is expressed, he
says in the report, on a review of the
treasurers statement as submitted
to the city commission April 19 last.
Points Out Needs
Need for a combination ambulance
and patrol for the city police depart
ment as a means of more effectively
and efficiently carrying out the work
of that department was pointed out
in the report. In concluding this.
section of the report. Mayor Plunkett
recommends the early purchase OF
such a machine.
Belief that the Santa Fe railroad
should be requested to install an au-
tomato crossing alarm at Six Points
for the protection of the tourists who
will utilize Christy park as an auto
camping ground in the future. was
expressed by the mayor. He also
recommends that rights to conduct
a general store at the entrance of
the grounds be advertised and let to
a responsible bidder. who will act as
the caretaker subject to the regula-
tions of the commission and who will