Imperial Valley press., 1934-01-26
EDITORIAL PAGE
FEATURES
BUSTNESS-NOT POLITICS

The hue and cry that has been raised
about getting rid of McIver", appears to
have about as little real foundation as
many other items over which politicians
and would-be politicians like to argue
for there is no intention upon the part of
the majority of the board of directors of
the Imperial Irrigation district to dis
charge an efficient and competent Off
cial.
In other words, Directors Hewes, Kalin
and Young are not seeking ito get rid of
McIver".
They do intend to rearrange the work
of the secretary-treaSurer of the district
so that it will be conducted on a business
like basis and in line with the economy
program to which the majority of the
board is pledged.
Mr.. McIver is elected treasurer of the
district by the people. He is appointed
secretary of the board by the directors.
But the former office has been subordi-
mated to the latter, so that instead of be-
ing responsible directly to the people
Mr.. McIver has in reality been respon-
sible to the board of directors.
With the refunding plan of the district
in operation, the office of treasurer has
become of great Importance, equal to II
not surprising the office of secretary.
At present the brokers' commissions
on the refunding plan are costing the dis
trict close to $4,000 per month. The ma
jority of the board feels that the treasur-
er is fully competent to handle much of
the refunding work at less cost to the dis
trict. They have merely proposed to use
his knowledge of the refunding plan for
the best interests of the district. The
salary of the treasurer is SS1 month
and no one ever contemplated Mr. Nc
liver should work for such a salary. By
shifting some Of the money now paid to
the bond brokers, it will be possible to
provide an adequate salary for the treas
urer and still save the district consid-
cradle sum of money.
The majority of the board is aware
that Mr.. McIver's salary as treasurer
cannot be increased during his term of
office and never tried to convey the i'm
preston that it thought to the contrary.
1t does propose to put him in full charge
of the district bond refunding and refin-
ancing plan, which is conceded to be of
paramount importance to the district.
1t is planned to have him devote all his
time to this work and as it would neces-
state travelling to other parts of the state
and nation at times, salary and eX
penses commensurate with the work will
be given him. The maj ority of the board
also plans to have the salary of the treas
urer raised eventually by law to figure
in keeping with the duties required by the
office.
The treasurer of concern as large as
the Imperial Irrigation district, who is
called upon to handle millions of dollars
annually, certainly rates higher salary
than $81 month and the job is of suf-
ficient Importance, and provides suffi-
cient work to warrant a commensurate
salary The majority of the board pro-
poses to make the treasurer's job the
type of job that it should be.
There is nothing radical in the pro-
gram which the majority members of the
board have outlined. They were elected
by the peopleto perform the duties of di
rectors in a businesslike, economical and
efficient manner. That is what they are
trying to do. If in doing this it is neces-
sary to shift some officials and eliminate
others, it is no more than is done in ev-
ery business house in the country when
need for it arises.
1t is interesting to note that little of