The daily gazette., 1879-12-15
MONDAY. DECEMBER Is. 1879.

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Of obtaining office or city "jobs,' or
official favor of some sort, so much
trouble and annoyance as the decided
stand the Democrats have taken in the
last two years in favor Of substantial
economy in the management Of city
business.
One Of the wisest steps was the saving
of about 1000 last year by stopping
the leaks in lighting the city. This was
q saving Of the interest of quite $780,
900. And now contract N entered
into for three years for this purpose on
still better terms than last year. Thus
we have saving over the old Republic
can Council at once of $4,000 to the
taxpayers. Next the Democrats have
rid the city Of the expense OF the City
Hospital, that may be set down at fully |
$4,000 year. This looks like business.
Then we come to the important matter |
Of streets. The lowest contract for
cleaning the streets was $4,000 year
$500 month. The last time bids were
asked for this purpose the lowest esti-
mate was $9,000-$75o month. But
the Republicans we think, on the motion
OF Mr.. Chandler, rejected all bids and
determined to do the work by the day
This was no doubt IN order to influence
the elections. The streets, however,
that year were made to cost near $I5, 900.
Last year the Democrats made some re-
ductions in this matter but they run too
much in the old ruts.
This year, however, the right kind of
economy is being used by the street COM
mittee and the cost of the streets for
the past three months has been greatly
reduced. The last two months have cost
only but about $500. And the last month
about 500. Hence at the last meeting
of Council the Chairman of the street
Committee asked to be permitted to de-
lay making contract for cleaning the
streets until june as the lowest contract
ever made was 5000 month, and the
last bids were from $1,000 to Sll 900, or
$3.50 month, and during the winter and
spring months he could do the work for
very little-some months tor 500 to
$3.50. This is coming down to dots, and
proves that the saving could be as
efiectually made by the Street Commit
~ ha I q 81.
Hospital Committee. Here will result
saving of 200 or 5000 as compared
with the last year of the Republican
rule; making in these three matters a
saving Of some 1921 900 or So, 900 fol-
this year alone.
Seeing that the Democrats desired to
effect the last proposition and asked theil
concurrence in it, the Republicans op
posed it and endeavored to defeat it b,
urging that contract be entered into Al
once TO clean the streets. The object o
course was to embarrass the Democrat,
and to put the city at greater expens,
than necessary, that the Republican poll
ticians might have something to com
plain of. This was small business an,
showed want of brains-had they beer
up to the average honest economist the
would have favored the proposition 0
the Chairman of the Street Committee.
To show how these weak headed peo
pie would "save at the spigot and vast
at the bung," after opposing the propo
sition of the Street Commissioner {
save about $500 mohth, they propose
to have the curbing taken away fror
the contractor who gets nine cents foe
and permit curb to be set by one ethe
party who proposes to set it at cents
foot. This work is paid for by the prc
perty owners, and does not come off tn
tax payers. The setting the curb for
~ feet house at nine cents foot cos
$3.50, and at cents, Sl.20; and the Il
publicans made more talk and clam,
over their effort to save 60 cents tina
the Democratic CounciImen would ha,
done over saving the $500 mont
Had they voted with the Democrats
save the $500 month as the Sire
Commissioner asked them, they mig
have talked about saving 60 cents a pie
on the five OF six house lots that will
cutbed before spring. There i. lit
chance for blatherskites in the prese
Councii-they have taken the measu
OF the depth OF the Republicans, al
the latter had better save their credit
joining In the efforts to save the peopl
money. They could do better than
unite in conspiracy to attempt to
down the price of days work of m
because he is Democrat.
And the Republican ought to have
Interests Of tax payers more at heart IL
join in this work and oppose the red
tion of the tax rate by the Democrats
The present mode of managing
setting of the curbs was introduced
the Republicans when they fastened ~
the city the present extravagant
"asteiui Engineering Department, wi
coses the tax payers about $4,000 a y
Before that system was introduced
city elected three or four City Survey
ana q gentleman could employ eithe
al.oS. nt nv