Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-07

sing rooms"
10 the Republican Voters of Worcester.
In view of the peculiar interest manifested in
the coming municipal election and the real
issues before orr citizens, the republican city
committee deem it advisable to issue. the follow
ing address and invite the earnest attention of
republicans TO the following considerations:
The republican party of this city is clearly
| responsible for the administration Of our public
affairs. Il has very large majority at the polls,
| and has always maintained as a fundamental
proposition the superiority of its general policy
Of administering public matters. Now, what
ever excuse we as republicans may offer for
mistakes made, we cannot ignore the response
bility which inevitably rests upon US. For,
having the power in our own hands, we must
use it with our best Judgment to secure the vel
| fare of all the interests of the community
If we divide and throw the government into
the hands of another party, having distinctive
ideas of public policy, we render the republican
party powerless to do good, and at the same
| time place the power of doing evilin the hands
| of our political enemies. Every neighboring
municipality will cast the blame of mistakes
and blunders directly upon the republican party
of the city. Therefore it is the duty OF repub-
licans to take the administration of affairs into
| their own hands.
| The republican candidate for mayor is man
who has grown up in the city. He has been an
eye witness Of all the great works of public in
terest, and in immediate contact with city Off
cias for the past fifteen years, He cast in his lot
with our citizens in early manhood, and from
the workshop 10 the judicial bench has exhibit
ed good Abilities an incorruptible integrity, nm
questionable honor, and sound judgment in pri-
yate and public affairs. He has been familiar
with and interested in public affairs, and has, in
common with all industrious citizens, grown
with the growth Of the city. His private and
official career have ever borne testimony to his
personal worth and to his intent interest in the
moral, intellectual, and pecuniary growth his
| prosperous community Associated with him
as candidates for the other offices are gentlemen
Of worth, experience, and disposition to dis
| charge public duties with earnestnes3 and idel-
| ity.
| 1t is the belief of the present government that
the police force of the city "as now constituted
VIII GOtl pdlG ldNt ltlpi1 III luttilNuNC 2hN
| cheney with other similar ORGANIZATIONS" But
what are some of the methods OF managing
that department. It must be remembered by
| every one who reads, that at a meeting OF the
city government one of the RETAINED" men,
who had been accused of one OF the groSsest
offences, and had been summarily suspended,
was granted an honorable discharge from the
| force, in company with anotheri of the ''re-
tanned" men, against whom not a breath of
| suspicion had been directed Then again, by
the figures to be found in official documents it
appears that the cost of the police department
| for the present year is about thrty-seven per
cent more than for the preceding year. From
whatever cause this increase has arisen, the citi-
zens may justly demand certain large increase
| of intelligent and efficient care and protection
of life and property, which cannot be assumed
as true.
Mayor Very takes credit to his admnistra-
ton for the present excellent system Of accounts
| at the city hail. Nearly two years ago the city
government became aware that the city had
| 0utgrown the methods in use, and during nearly
| the whole of the year 1871 tue subiectwas under
| careful consideration, which resulted in the in-
| ception, elaboration and perfection Of the pres
| ent system. 1t is the work OF the republican
| government OF 1871, and all the present govern
| ment has had TO do is to follow the plain prOvi-
| sons OF the ordinance IN putting the system
into operation, just the same as they are required
| TO carry out and enforce sill the ordinances en-
| acted by previous administrations.
| Mir. Very boasts that his government has re-
| duced the city debt about 500 900, instead Of
increasing it at the rate of 5000 600 per year, as
| has been the case for three years past, but has
| not the candOr to state that this increase in the
| 6nlht mainly lop which imppIg-
| lively demanded by all classes of citizens, and
| which being once constructed are done for all
| time; and the expenditure for which was an I'M
| usual burden which, while it was necessarily
| borne at the time, cannot honestly be contraSted
| with the lighter burdens OF year, When no
| such expenditure was demanded.
But to make n favorable financial exhibition
| the present government is forced to still more
| questionable arguments. 1t claims a cash bal
| anee in the treasury Of some S315 900, but does
| not tell us that OF this sum about $50, 0O0
| has been received from sewer assessments. Its
use in this connection leads TO the error that
| the expenditures Of the year have been light,
| which is not the case in view of the little that
| has been accomplished. Leaving this out the
| balance will be found to be not so creditable.
Again, it charges TO the government of 1871
| the sum OF about S240 900 expended this year
| on contracts previously existing. This is I'M
| fair, because the corresponding item of future
| expenses inst@ated by the present government
| is conceded. One feature of these is the sum
| Of about 100000 on account Of the high service
| water pipe, but there are others more question
able.
In Mr. Verry's address he tells US, as a reason
| why his administration should be kept in pow.
or if for anything, that there are several en-
| terprises under consideration, and upon which
much labor has been expended, n \ of great
| practical Importance TO the city, Among these
| he mentions the connections of the northern
railroads at the union depot, which were under
| consideration and arrangement long before nc
| came into power and which have received 40
especial impetus under his administration.
| Other features gwen are the boulevard at the
lake, aud the Newton hill park PROJECT. He
| should have added the removal of the Old South
| church and the erection Of a costly city hall,
which is the real objective point Of the moment
| and from his introduction oil them we infer that
they are 10 be part OF has legacy TO the city If
| he is continued in power. A moderate estimate
| Of their expense reaches million dollars They
may all be necessary, but it is unfair to charge
| against former administrations the expenses en-
tailed upon this one, unless at the same time this
| one is charged with the expenses IL proposes to
| entail on the future He thinks the next year
can be got through with without the increase
| OF the debt a single dollar. How can it be done
| if the high service is to be completed and all
these pet projects brought 40 satisfactory is
| sue? He also takes credit for assets in the
treasury amounting to s325,OO0, drawing inter
| est at seven per cent. When we reflect that
of this sum S135,OOO is in sewer assessments
awaiting the slow and uncertain decision of the
courts, the wisdom Of entering them at their
full amount in his trial balance is manifest to
ALL
Mr. NeTys administration stands condemned
| by the stupendOus bunder of his scheme for the
| assessment Of the sewer tax. This, it is well
| understood, was a scheme of his own deyising
| We all remember well IFS first publication, for
| we always remember whatever gives us a sud.
den shock. 1t came upon us like the springing
OF trap like clap from clear sky. There
| was no dellberatOn, no consultation. snap
| judgment was entered up, and it was a matter
| OF Indifference whom it hit and whom ii missed
| The citizens were first condemned and then
were reluctantly allowed to be heard. But the
hearing was only upon the question Of petty
Attachments. Upon the general policy of the
| assessment, upon its wisdom and equity,
| there was no bearing. The mayor
had consulted with himself and his clerk
in the privacy Of his office, and then promulgat.
ed his finished work 10 his astounded fellow clti.
| zcns. And the result was what might be ex-
| pected from such rash, precipitate, and unen-
| lightened method OF procedure. The grosscst
| inequality was found to vitiate the whole tax
| In some cases persons Of limited means were
most grieyously taxed, while in Others men OF
| Astounding wealth were let oil almost scot free
We charge this not upon Mr.. Yerry's intent, but
| upon his scheme. The Injustice. however was
suffered none The less. And, as it proved, it was
| an injustice past remedy; for when the crowds