The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-01-03

Following is the text of Mayor
Handley's address to the city council
'In assuming control of the city gov
eminent for the ensuing four years, IT
is we'll that we should consider soma |
phases of the city's business that will |
confront us during that period. 1t is
plain that the citizens of Richmond |
have given us a grave responsibility-t
one which We must assume and meet |
10 the best of our ability. No man or !
set of men could hope to satisfy every
one and criticism is bound to come, |
but if every official and every depart !
ment shall keep uppermost an honest
desire to do only that which will be
for the best interest of the city as a
whole, mistakes and criticism will be
reduced to minimum.
I'VE must at all times particularly
bear in mind that we are the servants
OF the city of Richmond, and every
complaint and every inquiry should be
met with courtesy and careful con-
sderation. Service should be and
must be the first consideration of
every official and every department.
Discharges Personalities
No more important branch of the
city government exists than the city
council Your executive is personally
acquainted with every member and
has not the slightest doubt of sin
cere desire on the part of every men-
Der of that body to do only those
things that shall be of benefit to the
city 1t would be a great disappoint-
ment il any member of council should
vote for any measure through friend
fv1cf nv
measure from a desire to embarrass
the administration. Personally your
executive has no idea that any mem
Der of council would allow him
self to be swayed in the discharge of
his duty by personalities. Council
should be kept fully informed regarc-
ing all problems confronting the city
and its advice and cooperation asked
not demanded
In the declaration presented to the
people during the campaign your exc
cutive enumerated certain things IN
which he believed and among them
you will find the following:
To Fix Responsibility.
"'He believes that the various
boards and heads of departments
should be chosen for their fitness,
willingness to work, and ability, and
should not then be interferred with by
the MAYOR or be subservient to his
personal preference in the makeup OF
the personnel of the employees. The
results obtained in the various depart
ments should be the first consldera-
ton and each board or head of de-
partment should be held responsible
for the work performed
"He still believes in that sentiment
and expects to carry out that plan SO
far as it is possible to do So
THE operation of the municipal cleo
trio light and power plant should re-
ceive our best attention Your eXecu'
tive is convinced that the superintend
ent of this plant should be man
educated and trained as an electrical
expert or engineer if possible, and also
with sufficient business experience to
efficiently handle all phases of this
most important utility. To obtain
such man we must be prepared to
pay more salary than in the past. II
is folly to expect to secure well
qualified man unless we are able tc
meet the competition of private bust
ness concerns 1t is not believed that
the citizens would approve the selec
ton of any man who is not competent
to take charge of the plant and oper
ate it efficiently without having tc
get his knowledge and training at the
expense of the city. 49,
Points to Past.
THE experience through which We
have Just passed and the extraordin
airy expense caused by inefficiency o.
neglect should teach lesson of the
greatest value to the future manage
ment of the plant. The serious prob
lem of selecting a competent superin
tendent is one your executive does no
care to undertake alone and in add
ton to the board of public works h
has called to his assistance commit
tee of five business men who are Civ
ing of their time and thought unself
ishly to aid in solving this most i'm
portant problem In a short time tn
members of council will be called int
this conference to approve or disaI
prove the work of that committee an
TO authorize the payment of such sa
airy as may be necessary.
IF there is any one thing the pee
pie of this city have demanded NOR
than another it is efficient work b
The police department. The illega
sale of intoxicating liquor is prob
bited by federal statute and yet tn
law has ben defled and illicit still
are said to be numerous. The vii
connections produced are a menace t
health and even to life itself, and Will
your executive has the greatest syn
pathy for the poor individual who ma