New Officials And The Old

The newly elected city officers succeeded to the duties of their office last Monday. It is now Mayor Brown and ex-Mayor Copeland. It is now President of the Council Walz and plain Capt. Haarer. It is now City Clerk Granger and James E. Harkins.

Mayor Brown starts out his new administration with the best wishes of all the people, except possibly two or three irreconcilable partisans. And the belief is quite general that the new mayor will have a successful administration- one of judicious economy, the kind of economy which shows something for the money spent. He was elected in a republican city by receiving many republican votes and after a clean campaign. In his efforts to improve the city, while putting its nuances into shape we are sure he will have the support of all parties.

Mayor Copeland, who retires, has had the support of the Argus in most of his measures. Had it not been for his efforts to bond the city, for which undoubtedly others were more to blame than he was, he would have gone out of the office as one of the most popular men that have held it. In the two years he has wiped out $18,000 of the deficit he has strongly advocated and got started grade separation, which when properly completed will afford much more safety to life and limb and will consequently greatly increase the value of property in the second and third wards. He has projected a system of park improvements, the main expense of which will not fall on the taxpayers. For the good he has done he deserves the thanks of the people whom he has served for one gold dollar a year. The bonding project was defeated through the efforts of the Argus and we are inclined to believe that down in the bottom of his heart Dr. Copeland is not sorry it was so defeated, for we are inclined to the opinion that he was misled as to the true condition of the city by incorrect facts and opinions furnished by subordinates.

Mayor Brown is well equipped to succeed Mayor Copeland both by training and experience. He possesses a knowledge of the city, its needs and a knowledge of the charter that most mayors only acquire after being months in office. At this time his legal knowledge will also be of great value to the city, involved as it has been by its city attorney in a multiplicity of law suits.

City Clerk Harkins retires after four years of service. He is an extremely popular man with the same, popular qualities which have always made him such a great vote-getter. He is always going out of his way to do others good turns, always accommodating. It is only in keeping with characteristics of the man that he has volunteered to stay in the office with City Clerk Granger for two or three weeks to post him upon the running of the office. City Clerk Granger's strong run against George L. Moore, a good man, shows that he possesses Harkins' popular qualities. His military training has been a training in accuracy. He will make a good clerk, he will do his share in the task which will early confront the new administration to so put the city books in all the offices into such shape that the public will have accurate information at all times of the city's condition. Wherever the old system of bookkeeping, the growth of years, has proven defective or misleading it must be improved. His personal attention is to be given to the work. He will undoubtedly quickly "catch on" to his duties and will prove a popular clerk.

Of course City Assessor Seyler succeeds himself. It is doubtful if any city has a better assessor. His books are models. His work is well and conscientiously done and consequently there was never a moment's doubt of his re-election, no matter who opposed him.

The same may be said of Justice Doty, who received more votes at the last election than any man whose name was before the people. He made a careful and conscientious justice, exercising as much care in the drawing of papers and the decision of the cases coming before him as any judge of the circuit would do in cases involving larger amounts.

The city is well officered. May we hope that the new administration will prove as successful as its prospects now are.