Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-08-29
FALSE ANDAUDACIOUs.

The municipal government was once within
the hands of the Democrats, and their shameful
disregard OF public interests IS known OF All meh
-CommeFeidt.
What all audacious fAlsehood! The CONNER
c,ol ought to have more deceney than 10 u,te
such an assertion. The most valuable improve
ments we have originated while the Democrats
were in the majority in the City Council.
The City Water works, the most complete and
economical works OF the kind in their time were
erected and perfected by the Democrats. And
the city was nearly always in the control OF the
Democrats for many years, until whig Legisla-
ture altered the chatter, and divided the city
lato five wards IN order to give that party the as
tendency In the City Council. Then 1t was that
tae foundation of our present city debt com
menced aud it continued to increase npidly.-
The Democrats appealed to tbs Legislature
which mad become Democratic, to pass an neI
limiting the deOt Of the city; aud we have no
doubt, our city would have been in debt million
and half of dollars had 1t not been for this
saving clause In the charter.
Nearly the entire debt of the city has been in.
Cured by tile Republican party.
During the seven months the Democrats were
in power in 1871, they saved the city an immense
snm of money. 1t was known to every intelllgenI
citizen at the time that the Republicans IN the
Council had repeatedly refused to have work done
on tine contract systen. They persisted in dong
things by the day; or paying their partIzans juSt
what they pleased to charge. The hauling ana
street cleaning was done by the day or load, and
the Democrats urged in vain 70 have the work
done by contract by tho lowest bidder And as
aha tha in, eho
effected The saving was at once made manifest
in the contract for laying the Eleventh and Jefer-
sen streets water maine. In the bids for this work
there was q difference Of about forty thousand
dollars ii We remember right. Also on Mr.. Gala
gher's bid, the lowest and best except that of MIR
Dnlon's who took the contract on a bid between
$4,000 and $4,000 below Mr.. Gallagher's; end
We think abont S40,0 900 below Mr.. Richardson's
Whatever has since been saved through the work.
ing Of the contract system Is due to the seven
months control of the Democrats, for the Repub.
licans have not dared 10 go back 10 the old system
of tiObbery, except in instances where it was done
regardless OF law aud the of oath Of efice.
But aside from this the city owes its cheap ant
excellent Fire Department to the seven month
rule of the democrats in 1871.
1he hepuohcAns had pdsSed an oIatHdhce deS
troying this Fire Department, and it would hav,
been carried into effect ha1 the Democrats not got
ten the power aud by strenuous efforts repeAleC
the ordinance.
This ordinance provided for reducing the FhI
Department to three steam engines and abOu
thirty men, which would have cost the city abou
forty thousand dollars for engines and houses, ant
about yGffy thousand dollars gear thereafter.
The defeat of this measure is due to the Demo
Gratis in Council in 1871. And to them we owl
the fact that our city has been 90 well proVide'
against fire, and ready to meet aud check tho de
vouring element that has committed such sat
havoc all over the country during the present year
The Commercial does the Democrats great injus
tice in its reckless assersons, which deserve to
termed as they are, Willful and deliberate perver
sions of the truth