The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-27


The City Council.
The Republican nominations for Mayor and
council are before our readers this morning.
From time to time there have been intima-
tions in the Argus that terrible exposures of
Republican maladministration have been
made at the Democratic headquarters in Free
street From time to time anonymous commu-
nications in theArgus have attempted to spetl-
fly some of the hort-comings of the city govern
ment. One writer enquired anxiously about
a sick horse which the city authorities gave
away or sold and which afterwards recovered.
Another complained that colored laborers had
been employed about the city building. An
other inquired if the City Hall and North
School House together had cost $4,000
Why didn't he ask if they had cost million?
" WOULD have been just easy. Editorlally
the Argus has once or twice spoken of the ex-
trayaGance of the city government, but SO far
as we remember has not supported the slur
by single specification. Whatever charges
may be circulated covertly on printed slips, of
which we hear rumors or asserted without
fear of contradiction in the privacy of Dem
ocratc meetings, none OF any account have
been publicly made. To all the insnuatioEs
which have appeared, the list OF Republican
nominations published this morning is an
answer more than sufficient. From the can
didate for Mayor down through the whole list,
the names alone are a sufficient guaranty
Tor the business talent, experience and in
tegrity which we have a right to expect in the
city government for the ensuing year.
But it is not enough to vindicate the Repub-
heans of Portland by calling attention to their
nominations for the ensuing year. II is right
and just also to give due credit to the present
administration. We have not always agreed
with the Guy Council. We thought there
was too much delay in considering the offers
of the Portland Water Company. Some of
the sharpest criticisms of their action upon
the grade of the Eastern Promenade appeared
In these columns. The Argus, though just
now 1t seems to have become convinced of the
necessity of a change of administration, did
rot, SO far as we remember, enter its protest
against the alleged extravaganza of the
City Government until the approaching
election appeared to demand such allegations
and does not now make any specific charges
We have treated the City Government ali
along as committee of citizens for the man
agement Of our municipal affairs and not as a
Republican institution to be defended; we
have not hesitated to criticize the action of the
boards, and we have a tight now to bear
witness to the general wisdom and prudence
of their management
The present city government was entrust-
ed with the work of restoring the public
buildings destroyed by the fire; of reopening
and repairing thedesolated streets; of aiding
those citizens who were prepared to held re-
pulld the city. These were very important
trusts and they have been well discharged
Their course in these respects was already
shaped to their hands by the general wish of
their fellow citizens. They have given us the
City Hall which our citizens hardly knew
how to wait for. They have given us the
North Schoolhouse which every visitor to the
city has commended as an investment which
will pay rich dividends in virtue and intell-
genee They have given us breathing space,
much needed, between Congress street and
Federal street. Perhaps the expenditures for
these purposes may have been greater than if
they had been watched by the keen eye of
private interest. That would not be strange.
But we do not believe man conscientiousIy
opposed to manhood suffrage would therefore
IT,,
and we do not believe that man who favors
manhood suffrage is for that reason either
more or less trustworthy. Integrity is a vir-
tue which belongs to personal and not to par
tsan character
AS to the wafer question, we have to confess
that the delays of the city government have
been abunda ntly justified by the re ult. While
they were waiting the prices of iron and &C.
ment were falling with the price of gold, and
by the time they reached O conclusion Ithe
company was able to abate its demand for as
sistance from the city and proceed unaided
Ihe City Council by taking time to investi-
gate and consider-and the investigation was
thorough and able-saved the CITY $4,000
year for ten years, a sum amounting, as was
shown at the time, to S365OO0 for ten wears
and an annuity of $4,000 for ever afterwards.
This saving covers the Whole expense of tile
City Building and North schoolbouse, accord
ing to the estimate in the Argus, and leaves
the handsome balance of $225,O0O to pay for
the dead horse and the grading of the park.
That the harbor has been unduly neglected
this year and during the last ten years is I'M
doubleday true, but is not the special fault of |
this city government. The necessity of dredg- |
ing the middle ground has not until lately |
been fully appreciated. When permission was
asked recently, however, to interfere with the
harbor by building piers within the harbor
nne' the City Council promptly interfered and
required the favorable report of a scientific
commission to be obtained before the work
should proceed. Striking the balance fairly,
without favor or malice, it will be found that
Cf off, FIa
past year has been on the whole judi cious and
prudent. Not a breath sullies the reputation
of our Mayor, and the vague accusations which
have recently been made against the Council
are found upon examination to be lighter than
air-the stuff that balloons are filed with. A
balloon is an uncertain vehicle; prick it with
a pin, and 10! the machine lies collapsed and
refuses to rise.