The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-20
Poor Reasoning.

FOOT SeaEon1nSs
If the Union wishes to defend Mayor
Buffers administration of the 6nances[of
the city, why don't it do it, honestly and
not damn it forever with false reasoning
and misrepresentation. If it has been
the embodiment of all financial wisdom
and official honesty, say so. The ARGUS
has the kiniest regard for the present
administration and will endeavor to hold
the Union up to a proper defence of the
Mwor it 'loves so we'll but not wisely"
Now, all the Mayor can reasonably hope
from the Union is that it will tell the
truth, and this. for his sake, The ARGUS
will try to make it do. We do not believe
the Union designedly misrepresents the
eminent financial operations of the
present administration, but we attrib-
ute their laundering to not being
familiar with such subjects, or to
inability to see clearly in the dazzling light
of their financial operations. whereas these
operations should ''in pure effulgence
shine, and cheer their clouded mind with
light divine.
The mayor some time ago at private
party very kindly excused The ARGUS
from defending the weak spots and short
comings of his administration and hence we
insist that the Union shall do it, and that
too in a manner becoming its ''seven years
experience" and polished editor with the
Umbrella. "
These eminent fnanciers in their paper
this morning say that the current expenses
for three years IRE as follows;
For the year 1S75-6................77 Y, 965
" y 1857. 10, $50
= lS77-S. .70,777
These figures look as PLAUSIBLE as
the statement made, and were it not
for the very disagreeable fact that during
these three years, under the one man ad-
ministrations, the city debt has beer
increased to an amount upwards of $46,-
900, the Union'S assertion that 1t could
have been arrived at by the most careful
and judicious management" would SOUND
pleasanter in the ears Of tax payers.
Now let US see what this careful ana
judlctOuS management has been:
1856, under Davenport, actual, $40, I49. 3!
1867, under Butter, about. -. S,O00.0(
1878, -. 1886. 0(
n,
Total increase. $40, 995. 81
From the statements made by Butler
administrations it has been impossible t
arrive at the actual figures, but the book:
Shoao that the increase of the city deb
has been greater than the amounts give
above.
For the past year the increase Of tn
city debt not shown in the clerks state
ment can be figured as follows:
| Interest on water bonds not
/ shown IN statement. .....S 4,06l 5
Interest on orders .... 1901 5
Expense of>selling bonds. 80. II 1850 0
Total, financial ability. SIS, 423
o! this amount our friends have II
ceived as follows:
Henry Curtis about. ........ $4,000 Q
Naptha Lamp Co. ............ 1852 9
Total. ........-. $50. $3.50
In view of the retirement of this admir-
istration to that obscurity to which a
great men are at times subjected, tt
Cnton should put forth its most briilial
effort upon these fgures,-forget all tho.
: seven years experience and lean thi
we'll groomed umbrella gently yet firmly
the corner, and prove yourselves worthy
the subject and equal to the emergency,
remember the eyes of the great and got
republican party are upon you-an anxiol
: administration await.