Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-08-16
city improvements ANA city
Finances.

The importance Of rigid economy in
our city finances, and Of a wise conserya-
tism in our city Improvements, may be
drawn from the example Of Washington
City, which, after loose and "enter-
prising" system Of public expenditures,
now finds itself in condition Of actual
Insolvency, so far as meeting the claims
OF its employees are concerned. The
nomination Of candidates for the City
Council of this city will take place in "a
few days. Let each party rut up their
best men, who viii think for themselves,
and who will not be drawn oil into
schemes of private or political arg au-
dizement. We clip the following from the
Philadelphia Ledgsr in reference to the
subject;
Washington city. we regret 10 see. il
having the usual experience Of American
cities, that municipal impr0t cments aud
municipal expenditures that are not sysfeul-
aucHlly directed and ear, fully guarded anu
controlled may coat more than they come
To- and inurc more 10 the benefit of sseutrr.
pricing individuals au 10 that Of the tax.
payers who have 20 foot the bills. After
borrowing. quite recently, several millions
upon ma bonds and having been voted more
than million by Congress, the corporation
Is reduced "a the necessity OF paying its en-.
plOYra iu dcpreciated, and in some respectH
unavailable funds. Sometime ago the air OF
the Capital was fun of the operations of tho
Board OF works, tud of the "euterurise 60
energy and ability Of the "leAiing men 90
who composed it. Ia addition 10 these the
" GOveruOrN and the Legislature we've
mighty powers TO whom homage was paid
with sort OF itultliuua worship. II wAl
the fashion 20 speak Of some ui them Az
WashiuBtonian rivals OF the great Baron
Haussmnn of Paris At all Nc iunketings
and ''tlc. MICS and "olub house " cut
tainmeuts which these enterprising gentle
men knew 40 well how 10 use for the our.
pose NJ making public opinion" the Ian.
dations OF the " Board OF Works and thee
oompcers were sung 10 high key. nouhters
Ain cfltca ana objections, who dlN not lie
The lonsc way OF doing things. aud HE
Hquaudcriug and waste ut public money that
was naniiesiiy going on, were thus over
whelmod and Hiltnued. Now the iuetiti,.
bic result has go ne-the in0l ry ia all gone
many Ot The " improvements 81 are mn ia the
Air-ihere are low mutteringH and loud cen.
sures-and the members Of the Board nj
Works are being called 90 account iu rather
significant tones rs some of their late IDOL
htnrs. One would have supposed that the
experience Of New \ ork. and Ihiladeluhia.
and Cincinnati, and Chicago and san Fran
cisco, might have warned the Washington
ians against 90 Boards " " Commissiuns" and
Kings, and other modern american in.
vehiiuns tor mon0pulizing municipal iuue.
tons, aud for pruilisatc waste ID not down
rtght plundrr Of city trcasuriCa. But the
sore experience Of the taN-paycrs OF their
sister cities WAS lost upon them Nov they
are waking from their deiuslou. The ex-
hilsratiOu Of the champagne has ctlervesecd
and the season Of hci dhcho has come Some
OF the voters there have no strong claim on
public sympathy, Tor they knew hctter-but
some others arc the victims of a combine
ron They u ed their utmost 10 defeat and
these VIII b We tie sympathy Of Philadei.
phla taA-iayel3 who suffer ~ the same way.