The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-01-23
Mr.. Warden. Collections.

Mr.. Warden's Collections. 80
1t is strange with what persistency,
some people, and especially some editors,
while they do not absolutely falsify facts,
yet so struggle uoih the truth as generally
to get the best Of it. Such an example
we have in an article Of the Inteiigencer
published some few days ago, comparing
the manner in which the city govern
ment was carried on under the Denocra-
tic administration of 1863, and the pres
ont Republican administration, and of
course by its igaltble method Of compu-
tation producing result greatly in favor
Of the present city government. AT the
time this article was published we hardly
deemed it worth refuting, from the fact
that almost any ono acquainted with the
affairs of ths city know that it is impos-
sible to make any fair comparison be-
tween officers engaged in the collection
of money for the city, by giving the
amount collected either at the first OF
January, or at any particular date before
settlement But we find that a great
many, as was no doubt intended, have
been deceived into the belief that the
amouns of money paid to the city by the
Democratic collectors of 1868 was entirely
out of proportion to the assessment made
One of the collectors alluded to i'll the
IntelIigsncer 8 tatement-Mr.W Warden, Col
lector of Water Rates-was absent from
the city at the time the article was pub
lished, and, havingreturned, desires US to
explain this matter, and at least as far as
no is concerned to put the thing in a pro-
per light before the public He is per
fectly willing that his collections should
DO compared with those ofany Of his pre-
decessors, and he will be also willing,
when Mr.. Reed shall have made q settle
msnt with tho city for the year 1864, to
compare that statement with his settle
ment for the year 1863 To this end he
desires us to give the following facts {:
On the 3lst day of December, 1861, when
Mr. Reed WAS collector, ho had paid to
the Treasurer 5000 90; on the 3lst day
of December, 1862. he had paid TO the
Treasurer for that year $4,000 %, while
in the year 1863. the Democratic collec-
tor had paid in OF tho 31st day of De-
cember the sum of 5000 95, showing n
y
| gain over the preceding year of 1920 95.
Now what do these figures tend to prove!
Not, certainly, that Dir. Reed was more
sfficient and capable In 1852 than in 1861,
or that the Democratic collector 50 far eX
celled his predecessor in efficiency and
ability in the year 1868. Nor does it prove
that during theyear 1864, thepresont Col
lector has not only .0utstripped the Dem
ooratic Collector. but has far surpassed
himself In honesty. efficiency and capa-
bility. Such conclusions as these would
DO both foolish aud ridiculous. Tho only
rational and logical conclusion from
these figures is this, that. as the assess
ments for each succeeding year have
been larger, so tho collections have been
proportionately larger So much for the
Tntclligencer's statement.
Aud now to SGT at rest all such bosh as
that contained i'll tho correspondence Of
IT, " In the IatelIigencer of Friday who owl
dontly isiguorant of the affair altogether,
in which it is stated THAT tho present
Collector collected nearly fifty per cent
more than the Democratic Collector
Of 1868" Mr.. WARDEN desires us TO give
the following statement from his settle
ment with the city: From an assessment
OF $40, Us, and u supplement- list of
3743 81, he collected the sum of S27,-
S61 y, or about aiHety. three pr cont of
the assessment. This statement no is
| willing to compare with that of any of
his predecessors, or with fine present in
cumbent. anassessment Of so, 4S6 90,
Mr.. REED has collected, thusfar, $23,00O00,
or about serenity per cent. of tho assess
ment 1t still remains extremely doubt.
ful, whether at the end Of his term he
can exhibit az close collection as that
made by Mt WARDEN, his Democratic
predecessor. 1t may thus be seen that,
when manipulated by such practiced
hands as those of the IatelEgeacm, oven
figures may DO made TO lie.
We have not had an opportunity of sx-
amining the other statements in the COM
parison between the accounts of the
present city officers and those of their
predecessors, but we have no doubt that
they are equally unfair and deceptive
~ a..-s. See tOl &.