The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-12-01

| completeness OF the new charter.
Some propaganda has been dis
tributed and set afloat before the
February election in regard to the two
commissions embodied in the new
charter, viz: Chapters TX and K, es-
tablishing Water, Power, Heat and
Light Department and Police Depart
ment. The propaganda was directed
at the clause in the charter which asked
the two commissions to serve without
pay and also that the commissions
would take away the powers Of the
council in the "hiring and firing" in
these departments.
The powers Of the council would not
be diminished one iota by the adoption
LOT the charter but, on the contrary,
their powers would be much greater
with much less responsibility under the
new document. The Water, Power,
Heat and Light Commission would re-
lieve them Of much Of the worry now
their lot besides putting this depart
ment on paying basis. Authorities
have figured that instead of going into
the red, year after year in this depart
ment, the city should be making a
profit of about $4,000 yearly.
In making the assertion, the commits
sions in other cities were studied.
The one nearest to Ely is that of Vir-
ginia where Water and Light Com
mission has existed for many years.
The report of the Virginia Commission
made in october showed that it would
not be necessary to levy any taxes for
the water and light department this
year the same as has been the case
since the commission was established
in 1918.
The report also showed that the de-
partment had surplus in the treasury
Of 100000 at that time and had pur-
chased and paid for most of the coal
it would use for the winter. It was
also shown that the department had
loaned the City Of Virginia $4,000 at
the beginning of the year which was
being repaid last month. The report
also showed that the utility organization
of three members had borrowed $685.
900 from the city several years ago for
construction Of q boiler plant and that
the same had been repaid entirely.
This was not all the report showed.
It showed the rate paid. Lights were
listed at cents per kilowat; cooking
and domestic heating at 1.8 cents;
power, cents; steam heat at 60 cents
per 100 pounds.
Some objections were voiced against
the Police Commission plan. These
also are unfounded. 1t seems that this
has been somewhat of a nightmare for
the mayor as everyone thinks himself
capable of being policeman, one Of
the hardest jobs in any city. The OBJ
jections were based on the fact that
the new charter called for qualifications
for such job. The qualifications OBJ
jected to were Section in which it is
stated mo person shall be eligible to
any appointment in said department
unless he is a citizen of the United
States and qualified voter Of the City,
is able to read and write the English
language and is of good health and
physique and has not been convicted of
felony"
The objections appear silly when one
stops to consider that man not
answering these requirements should be
named to position Of trust and a
position which is fraught with re-
sponsibility and danger both for him
self and the people he is chosen to
protect
A chapter which should carry the
charter without dissenting vote and
one of vital Importance which gives
the council additional powers in the
conduct of the city's business and es-
pecially in the matter of authority for
making public improvements is Chapter
XIV, entitled Local improvements and
Assessments.
1t will be noted that this chapter
removes from the Council the matter
of making assessments for every little
job attempted. The council will be
able under the new charter to make
all preparations for streets, sewers and
sidewalks up to the point of actual
surfacing with concrete or laying of
pipe without making an assessment
therfor on the AUDITING property. This
will give them authority to do much
necessary work on the streets of. the
city which the present charter fails to
provide for. Read that chapter and see
if we are not correct.
Anyway, the measures viii be up for
your vote on Tuesday. Do what you
think is best and not what someone
with an axe TO grind tells you to do.
Be sure and vote on all three ballots.