The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-02

NOTICEs-Assgnses forwarding notices OF
their appointment for publication will oblige Us by
stating in which Court the case Is filed.
HOW THE MONEY Is sauANDERED

committed by the City Council are having
a powerful influence. The fact that the
city debt was increased $6s2.129 So, and
that there is now deficiency of $780,.
799 20, nearly half million, additional
taxation to be raised this year, was Ger.
tainly enough to arouse the attention oi
the most careless and indifferent citizen
We expected that ths disclosures already
brought to light would shock the honest
aud too careless Taxpayers, who, virtuous
themselves, never suspected that such sci
of precious scoundrels and spendthrifts
had obtained control of our municipal
affairs; from such men we expected an
early and unmistakable response. We did
not, however, anticipate that Conservative
journals like the Whig and Dispatch would
turn and become the accusers of the very
men whom they had helped to put into
office. The former in its issue of to-day
boldly points public scorn and condemna-
| ton to the acts of these false public SER
wants, and tells the people plainly what
the result of continuing them in Office will
be, and says:
The administration of the past year has
been far from satisfactory and If the "Ring'
| 6xes itself permanently upon US, oppressive
taxes and prodigal expenditure will certainly
be our portion.
This is all well, and shows that after
ell there is some honesty in journalism.
We would suggest, however, that "RING''
is rather moderate and hardly comes up
to proper description of the deeds that
have been done, and the sobberies that
have been committed.
But the strangest Of all is the fact that
we have been able, not only to fix public
attention upon these merceraries, but have
actually pierced their own thick hides,
and compelled them for once to feel restive
and uneasy under the storm of scorn and
contempt that has been poured upon them.
They did, in fact, at thar meeting last
night, by solemn resolution, direct that
report should be made OF all their ex-
penditures from the date Of their inaugu-
ration to the first Of May, 1871.
Thisis is we'll enough but would be much
better if it was honestly intended. No.
body, however, believes it is The public
judgment and popular expectation is that
no honest statement will be made F.; that the
resolution itself was designed to divert
public attention and to stop the inquisi-
ton which justice is now making, TO
silence, il it be only temporary, the univer-
sal condemnation and threats of punish-
ment everywhere uttered by citizens of all
classes against these wretched architects of
the city's ruin.
Will the Council that adopted that res-
olhtion, that bought the mules, that sold
the city bonds for six-tenths OF their value.
that squandered twenty thousand dollars
last year at the alms-house, forty thou
sand dollars at least in the gas works, that
stopped great manufactory, turning hun
dreds of needy mechanics out of employ
ment, that bought en- gines and other me-
chanical works in foreign cities, that has
riotously squandsred and wasted 10 stupid
missions, lavish expenditures, the city
funds, made places for its partizan favor
ties and menials in the gas works, at the
alms-house, upon the police force, and
everywhere, turning out honest men and
faithful servants without any regard for
decency or honesty such Council,
we ask, make an honest report of its own
Infamous abuses Of the public confidence?
Will such Council point out the friends
or emissares to whom this immense sum
ofmoney, SO squandered by them, has been
paid, and finally will they pay back any
portion of the money Of which the city has
been robbed? We have no expectation that
they will perform either of these honest
actions, for men never grow altogether coed
or utterly bad at once. They do, however,
sometimes, 60 down like a plummit, as
this Council has done, into fatho mless
abyss of degradation but they never come
up with the same rapidity with which
they descend. II is said that even murder,
not only occurs regularly at fixed periods
and under what appears to be an establish
ed law as to its frequency, but is as much
growth as the fairest flower, the state
liest tree, or the ripened grain.
To covet another's goods, to cheat, pill
fer, steal, rob, murder, is the very gamut
and scale of crime to repent, confess and
make restitution is the method Of ascent
from vice to virtue-so when this diabolical
Council has begun to pay back some of its
ill-gotten gains and to restore, even the
smallest proportion of the immense sums
which their pilfering, waste and extrava-
gance has cost the city treasury, we shall
begin to have some faith in their repen-
tance but we tell you beforehand that
your Repentance without works" is filthy
rags.
These "bold, bad men" may be sorry as
they doubtless are, that they have been
found out in their vices they do doubtless