Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-02-04

well supported as it is. report like this of Mr..
Wells cannot but have great effect but nations,
in such matters, our own experience proves,
find it very difficult to retrace their steps,.
City Finances.
In the statement of the receipts and dis
bursements of the city during the month
of January, submitted by the Clerk and
Treasurer to the Board of Aldermen at
their last meeting, and published in the
JOURNAL yesterday morning, we have both
the evidence of system inaugurated by
Mayor MARTIN in relation to the manage
ment of the city finances and of honesty
in accounting for them. The receipts for
january shOa1 an increase Deer the acreage
monthly receipts Of last gear of three M0uS-
and Jfce hundred and eighty-ttree dollars ana
nine cents, and SEVEN THOUSAND TWO HUN
DRIED and TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS and THIRTY
FOUR CENTS over the receipts from January
18th to February LIST, 1869. On the other
hand the disbursements for the month
show a decrease of SIX THOUSAND NINE
HUNDRED AND TWENTY NINE DOLLARS and
EIGHT CENTS less than the average monthly
disbursements of last year, and this, too, in
the face Of large expenditure for in
terest.
This short analysis of the receipts and
exp enditures for the first month of Mayo
MARTINS official term speaks much for the
economy and success of his administra-
ton, while it is equally conclusive of the
extravaganza and corruption of the pre-,
lx710 1poin etr Vo
ling to chronicle the merits of our politi-
cal enemies, and It is with much satisfac-
ton that in these days we are able to COM
pliment the honesty and capacity OF our
officials. If Mayor MARTIN had protested
against the reelection of Mr.. Durfee as
Treasurer of the city, resting as he is
under a we'll grounded suspicion of dis
honesty and the certainty of incompetent
cy, he would have added frmness to his
other qualifications, and doubtless re-
lieved himself of some anxiety and labor
in looking over the finances of the city.
This exhibit of the January account of
the city government should be an incen-
tive to the labors of the Committee of In
vestigation appointed by the citizens, some
of whom we believe are faithfully at work,
with what progress we are not advised.
We have raised the issue in these columns
that there has been extravaganza and cor
ruption in the administration of our CITY
| finances during the past year. We have
arraigned exMayor NeH and Treasurer
Durfee by name. as two of the guilty par
ties. We had determined to investigate
these matters, but the citizens have re-
lieved US fsom the undertaking. We pub
lished enough to convict ex-Mayor Neff be-
fore any intelligent and unprecedented jury
in the country, not only of palpable and
wilful violation of law, but of incorrect and
extortionate charges against the city in the
"Lawton Account, We published enough
in our analysis of the Treasurer's account
to place the Committee on the track of in
corrections and frauds, and We have no
doubt they will be brought to light. We
are content to rest our cause in their hands.
In the meantime, in the name Of the tax
payers of Wilmington, We ask the Mayor
and Board Of Aldermen not to accept men
of straw as the sureties on the Treasurer's
have ordered him to file before Monday
next. Such has been the rule heretofore,
but surely with honest men it is O custom
more honored in the breach than the OBJ
servance. This mockery of legal form in
worthless men giving worthless bonds for
the performance of responsible official
trusts, is not the least of the evils which is
undermining the prosperity of North Car
olina and bringing its governments, local
and State. into bankruptcy and dishonor.
We speak not as partisan, and to sub
serve no political ends. Personally we
have nothing against the late Mayor and
the present Treasurer of this city. The
former we know very slightly; the latter
we have no acquaintance with. Political
~ we have nothing against either not COM
mon to all their Radical associates. But
if they have done wrong as officials, if
they are guilty of crime or of criminal er-
rors and extravagances in the performance
of the trust reposed in them by the citi-
zens of Wilmington, then we in common
with every honest taxpayer have been
personally injured and aggrieved; and it
is our duty, as it is the duty of every other
tax payer, to do all We can to further the
investigation into their official conduct.
We hope, therefore, that the committee