The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-09-25
GIeeklp dimes
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER p, 1879
CITY AEFAIisS.

The one great question with the people OF /
Lsayerworth is, how to put our enormous
public debt into such shape that it can be !
borne Everybody recognizes the fact that |
this q the one vital issue Of the present |
time, and that all other quettions are sec
ondary to this. The present Mayor of tie |
city has devoted himself industriousIy to |
this work ever since he came into Office, |
and his efforts thus far have been rewarded
with very fattering SUCCESS. But, as we
have SAID several times before, it will be
very dItlcult for the Mayor to accomplish
The reforms needed in our financial condi. |
ton, as well rs in The general management
OF cur public sfairs, if be cannot have the
Corporation Of the other members Of the
city government. Ard that he does not
nave this is a notorious fact. Instead Of
eidins him in the important work he has
In hand several members of the civ gov
eminent, OF whom the people have reason
TO expect better things, lose no opportunity
10 throw obstacles in his way. A report
Oh part OF the proceedings mad at
me lat meeting OF the council. pIb.
ii'hed elsewhere, will chow to what
extent these gentlemen are wiling 70 90
IN attempting to tie the hand. of the
mayor, AID to what questionable means
they are willing to resort. The report Of
such conduct on the part of these gentlemen
VIII no doubt surprise many of our read
ers, but the whole matter becomes a. plsiu
az day when the animus of their conduct is
known. 1t all grows out of the fact tina,
the scheme for syndicate 10 manipulate
The compromising Of the public debt has
oeen defeated by Mayor Fortescue, who has
shown that The work can be far more salts
iactoriiy done by the city direct than
through the working Of syndicate, and
that whatever discount is Obtained from
cur bondholders can be turned into the
puoilc treasury instead Of into the rockets
oil select ring of spectators. This il the
secret oil the war on F0r!escue in the city
council.
When the idea of a syndicate was first
oroached at public meeting Of c;.-
izens' under the administration OF
the late Mayor, il was most en-
phaticaliy condemned, in the meeting
and on the street,, and was voted dowu
unanimously. But it was organized, new
ertheless, and the next thing the people
heard about it was that the machine was
In fuil operation, and that every dollar in
bonds Tor compromise had to come through
that channel, and pay a commission to
the parties who composed the little ring
or syndicate; and the records show that 81
The bonds compromised under the late ed.
hinlstration came in through this ring
Ihis Is what defeated Mayor Ummethun
lie had been popular officer, and up to
The time 1t was shown that he was working
In the iaterests of this clique, no man in
The city could have beaten him. Eut III.
people made up their mind that the syn.
dictate must go, and Mr.. ummethun had tc
go with It, With these facts before him
Mr. Fortescue came into Office and went 70
WORK IN earnest TO compromise the debt
according 10 the wishes Of the people, AZ
expressed at public meetings, through the
press and at the polls. He deals directly
with the bondholders themselves. He an
plies to them personally. He is taking in
more OF the old bonds than were ever taken
In before. He is compromising them al
better rates than we're ever obtained before
and every dollar he caves from the bond.
holder goes into the public treasury, and
not into the pockets OF syndicate and
right here is wsere the shoe pinches. 1t i.
the syndicate that is hurt, and it is through
The influence OF the syndicate that war il
made upon him, and that every possible
obstruction Is thrown in his way. 1t is moi
because he lent doing the best he can fol
the Interests Of the city, but because the
policy he is pursuing has defeated tn.
schemes OF those who thought to feather theil
own nests at the expense OF the public
Hence, II his work of compromising To,
debt through direct dealings with or cred
itors can be defeated, or if he can be dis
credited in his efforts by such disreputabl,
measures as that Of Wednesday evening
there may yet be chance for the syndi
cate 10 come in and collect lis commission
These are unpleasant facts to be brought
before the public, but il is right that tn,
people should know them. And thos,
gentlemen, in the council or out OF it, who
are throwing obstacles in the way CT th.
work that Mr.. Fortescue has undertaken
ought 10 know that they are pursuing 8
course which will inevitably result TO theil
own ruin.
With all the bitter experience that til,
people OF Leavenworth have had with the
onerous burden of an enormous public
debt, they are in no mood 10 look with in,
difference upon the efforts of mzn who
would defeat the compromising of thai
debt upon favorable and practicable
basis, for the purpose of turning the bust
nefs into the hands of clique Of brokers,
and thus defest the public interests for the
purpose of promoting their own petty