The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1871-09-28
A QUERY FROM rax-PAYERS.

Ere a paper broadside a, the devoted head o
the Mayor in the shape of a long, round-a
bout defamation in regard to his unsuccess
full attempt to establish Financial policy
which "policy" has already been vigorously
exposed in the Commercial as an attempt tC
nay our debts with what We owe, and which
exposure was followed by the backing down
of the Chairman of the WAYS and Mean
Committee in the discussion with us through
the paper he manages.-Commereia.
We individually feel so confident that the
people of Leavenworth fully understand tn,
question of the management of the finances o.
the city that We have no desire to prolons
the discussion. We accep; the challenge
however, and will discuss the question tC
your hearts content.
1t is the general impression that the edi,
torials in the Commercial on city finances are
written at the dictation of II. L. Newman
of the banking firm o: Newman & Hayens
1t il also generally understood throughout
the city that Mr.. Newman is one Of the par.
ties who furnished the funds and the
credit to buy out Mr.. Hume,
interest in the Commercial, and that
the relations existing between Mr.. Newman
and the Commercial are such as would natur.
ally exist under this state OF facts
Ii is proper for US TO say that in the dis.
custom between US and the Commercial, il
was fully shown that We accepted the posi-.
ton of Chairman of the Committee of Ways
and Means with the express understanding
that the Mayor, Attorney, Treasurer and
Council we're satisfied with our financial
policy, and would sustain that policy.
We think it was plainly proven that the
Mayor and Treasurer did not stand by theiI
agreement, and without their aid the Com
mittee had no power
We think it was understood that that pol
icy was the best policy for the city to adopt.
We also think it was clearly proven that
the Mayor and City Treasurer, when left tc
their own judgment, fully endorsed that pol
icy, but when they came TO consult with the
parties to whom they are under obligations
they were compelled to abandon the interest
Of the city and take such course as was man.
ifsskly in the interests of individuals.
It i also plain that the committee have
had no opportunity to try their policy, and
that We have no practical experience as to
whether that policy would have been benef.
cial or not.
1t 10 evident to the most casual observer
that the no policy, or drifting course taken
by the Mayor, during the last eighteen
months, has fully demonstrated that the city
is becoming daily more and more embar
rassed. At the commencement of the pres
snt Mayors administration the city scrip
debt was SOC, 10000.
On the Sd of March, 1871, the City Clerk
reports the amount increased to S47, 170.5i
The scrip debt to-day is $4,000 and over.
The Treasurer has the right, or assumes
the right, to pay just such scrip as he chooses,
and he has exercised this right, and has made
. practice daily of paying preferred scrip cred
ifors of the city.
To illustrate: A, and B, each have piece
of city scrip in the sum of 500 each. A,
demands payment of the City Treasurer, and
be ID refused. B, demands payment of the
City Treasurer and the City Treasurer pays
over to Mr. B, one hundred dollars in green
backs for scrip that will sell for only serenity
dslia's on the streets.
Mr.. A, needing the money on his scrip, is
compelled to sell it TO Mr.. B, for sew
enty dollars. Mr.. B, then takes the same
scrip to the City Treasurer and receives his
one hundred dollars. Making cool thirty
dollars BY the trade.
Accept, for argument sake, that one hun
dred thousand dollars of scrip is sold at
thirty per cent. discount and paid in full by
the City Treasurer. Who has the opportu-
ity to make the money? And who does
make the money. tits not generally the
poor hborers and the poorer class of men,
Who are compelled to part with their scrip at
q discount to certain banking houses and
money shavers. What class of men are they,
who make the money, wrung from the hard
earnings of the laboring classes?
The poor man loses his thirty per cent in
Tie 6rut place. Th1rity loses it in the last
place, because she has to pay this thirty per
ssnt. more for all the labor she obtains, and
then has to pay the money broker par for all
ths scrip thus issued. 1t was to break up
this needless, careless, drifting, criminal
practice, that the Committee proposed
policy. 1t was proposed to borrow money
Il six per cent per annum, interest, and
pay all scrip hereafter issued, in cash.
II was proposed to borrow money in this
NY, appoint financial agent and buy up
The old scrip At the discount, saving that
diacount to the city, instead of paving it into
the pockets OF the sharks.
This is the way proposed to break up |
nice Little arrangement of the select few who |
sas daily sucking the life blood out of de.
pasAsd Treasury.
The committee made arrangements TO bor.
NV The money on the terms named, and
~ made arrangements with parties owning
large amounts Of scrip to buy the same at the
1iacount.
L Il not plain that the failure to establish
Ais policy rests wholly with the Mayor
ID Ttsasurer? Without their active aid
NJ cooperation it could not even be tried.
= IN not plain then that the failure TO try
h policy rssas wholly upon them,
We believe to-day that this is the only
re policy for the city. |,
~ 70 the "attempt to pay our debts with
1T We Owe" We say rs We said before. that
~ Mt the policy of the committee to ,
~ scrip - circulating medium. The
Mayor proposed il and earnestly advised i,s
l1sFlioa. In obedience to his wish and
~ dsire to have ahsolute harmony with ,
Y ~ snndhs of he City Government Il ,
IOasQ1sl y lie Oonnittse. |,
nshs slfnal efths Treasurer % tz,,,- ,
1u6 49, ~ Mayu, Cau Asaa.a,l ,
n ~ ~ aesissa g. - sao6is