Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-03-15
The o. Eleelim

7 The CIsy Eleet8em.
ln the Joisrnalof yesterday We spoke
al some length Of the seeessisy cf select
ing the hest nen .af.oar e4y 10 ssrss as
copaeiImeh. We propose, this mosa-
ing, TO gianee as another department Of
Municipal affairs
II iaafortanate circumstances thisgssf'
that the old bone Of contenfiou--a
change Of charter-vhich has diyideds
parties Ia other years, and added bitter
usss.to our city elections. has bsen re-
moved The amandmenl 70 our present
City Charter, passed BY the late Lsgisls-
ture, accomplistses all that the warmesl
advocates for -Bew charter have ever
desired without IN the least sacrificing
any Of tho benefits Of the old charter
Ont schools mas temain- ia. oil thsir
pride and nsefulness, and yet our city
authorities be permitted to bring into the
corporation properts which has hitherto,
to a greater or less extent. enjoyed the
benefits Of city withoat inentring any
bf lhe burdeuss The dilemma ia all Of
our.pfeyious municipal coatssta has been
that the sebools bad to be given Sp, or
property chat ought to be in the eorpo-
ration could not be hrougfit within the
pale Of city taxation, and be compelled
q ahSaldeF It's portion Of the pubic bar.
dens. Our eharter, as amendsd, obvi-
ates all slhis difficulty Both hosns OF
the dilemma are broken on The old
charter men can retain the schools, aud
lhe new charter men can add to the city,
property to their hsaris content
This cause OF past controversy having
been removed, the only question this
year is, who are the best men for -ahe
different ofilees2 Aa we stated ysster-
day, the peculiar position occupied hy
our eityrai the present time ssmarlds
great care and discrimination ia ths
selection df~vn6se Who are 10 administer
oar municipal affairs. We think we la.
repeat the opinion Of niae-tenths Of the
people when wo state that during the
past six years tho financial management
Of cur city government has been most
excellent, amid the most diseouraging
circumstances. When Mr. Baker waa
tirst chosen Mayor Of the city its affairs
were in tho most hoPele. tangle. No
one seemed to kaow how much the city
was in debt, or was able 10 account for
the money collected on the yearly du-
/ plicateA The wharf debt Was large,
aud bearing heavy interest The sewers
had stopped almost at their beginning.
Several important law suits against the
city we're pending, with every prospect
that they would be decided against IT,
City orders we're deprecated, notwith-
standing the taxes were heavy. Intelh
gent business men we're beginning to
despair OF q glorious future lor our city
Bat The new Mayor quickly brought
order out Of confusion He took hold
of the helm with a irm hand, aud soon
righted the little tempess.sossed munici.
pahty, Without greatly increasing tbs
taxes be has greatly reduced the liabili
ties of the city and greatly added TO he
= permanent improvements. The entire
. wharf debt has been extingaished an'
its h eavy iateres, stopped squares up
on squares Of hne sewers have bes
constructed; the accumulated inieres
on the Straight Line Railroad bona
has been paid; portion Of the principe
on the + & C. Bonds has been paid, an
over forty thousand dollars has beer
appropriated for bounties to prevent on
mechanics aud artisans from being
drafted, and the city deprived Of thei
7 skill aud labor We repeat, all this ha
: been accomplished without inereasin,
= our debt, or materially increasing OF
taxes. We challenge comparison vii
(, any city in the State, for judicious al
ia successful management OF its municipi
IL affairs, Many Of the cities Of this Sta
d have accumulated large liabilities
"a order to avoid the draft Our bounti
.. &C. have been paid out of last years dup
e, :, cate, leaving this year duplicate TO
appropriated in improving aud beautii
ing the city.
- The question now is, who can we {
!. to fiji the position Of the presest ineu
bent with tie success that has attend
his administration Of the city govel
rye ment2 We de net think, taking
:, things into consideration, that it is p
4s' sible to secure the services Of any Of {
citizens who will 6ll the Mayoral
-' with the success that has eharaeteriI
N.Y. Mayor Bakers admins tration.
son, city cannot spare him from his p
pioa. We are glad to know, therefore, that
King petition is in circulation, signed by u
Of al political opinions, requesting b
to serve another term. 1t viii be
,oss. ssSs. erowniug term. During that time