Mayor Smith On City Affairs

Mayor Smith, in his report, after apologizing for the financial affairs of the city not being in the condition in which they ought to be, for which he says he is not to blame, has a good word to say for the electric lights, which he thinks ought to be kept lighted until half past three a. m., and for the water works. He recommends a paid flre depaitment, with three new hose carts to be drawn by horse power. He abo recommends that the mayor and recorder should be deprived of their right to vote at council meetings and that the mayor be given the veto power, also that the recorder be given an office in flremen's hall, with a salary sufflcient to enable him to devote his whole time to the office. He recommends sewerage. He says it meaus a debt of about one hundred thousand dollars but is necessary to retain the honor of being the healthiest city of its size. The report contains the lollowing remarkable passage, whicli we give verbatim: You elect a mayor and give him no power and then you elect a Council with him that will remove an officer quicker for'doing his duty thau for the ueglectofit. You then start off and blame the mayor and think that you have done your whole duty as a citizen. The Mayor should have the veto power. The appointing of the Treasurer, Marshal, and Patrollmen with power to remove at will. You then flx the responsibility upon one man. As it is now, it is on fourteen men and it is almost impossible to remove an officer, as it is a very easy matter to manufacture sympathy among that number which prevent their being removed. Under this change when the Mayor called on the Treasurer for a monthly statement he would not neglect making it for rnonths and so with all of the officers, they would all be on tima. You elect men for Aldermen that you would not trust to expend a thousand dollars for you but you are willing that they should expend over twentyfive thousand dollars for the city annually. Even the Oouncil that you elect this spring may be the very one that will expend onè hundred thousand dollars.