Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-02-10
MAYOR MAcaoi1oIE's REcohD.
Some Points From His Omcial Career
Rigid Economy AID Strict Accountability
Inaugural Message;


Some Points From Hrs Omcial Career.
Rigid Economy and Strict Accountability.
Inaugural Message.
sin times of such widespread dcpres-
sion in industrial relations, nothing could
better indicate our wisdom than strict
observance of economy in all departments
of city government, to the end that busi-
ness and prosperity may be taxed as
lightly as possible. A rigid accountability
should be required from all persons furnish
ing supplies by the committees Of councils
who have the immediate supervision of the
expenditures in their respective depart
mentS.'
To Each Ward its Due.
Some means should be devised by
which the citizens of each of the
wards of the city should receive as nearly
pro rata share of the city's expenditures
on public improvements as circumstances
would admit"
The Least Possible Tax.
"Those people are generally the happiest
who are taxed the least"
Live Within the Municipal Income.
'Let us keep our expenditures within
our income and our city will continue to be
one of the cheapest, if not the very cheap
est city, in the Union to live in.'
Pause and Reflect.
Veto Message, Jan. 2, 1878.
''The reckless expenditure of the money
Of the taxpayers of our city, over and above
the amount appropriated for the street
purposes, year after year, should make lis
pause and reflect. 1t imposes upon me, at
f1,n tvs
do the interests of the whole people, a calm
consideration whether it is not my duty to
interpose any authority resting in me
against an abuse appalling in its nature
from the very helplessness of the people to
remedy the evil at this time in any other
manner than through the executive"
Open and Above Board.
Second Veto Message, Jan. 2, 1878.
elf there be not money enough at any
time let the required amount be obtained
i'll all honest straightforward manner, and
let us not attempt to accomplish by indi-
rection that which ought to be done, if at
all, fairly and above bOard.'
Stop the Leak.
Special Message, Feb. 6, 1873
"Take look at the mode Of spending
the appropriations with the earnest desire
useless expenditure, l am satisfied that
thousands Of dollars may be saved annl-
ally in this latter way
Another Protest.
Annual Message, June S, 1873.
II respectfully protest against the ex-
penditure of one dollar beyond the apprO-
priation unless in case Of emergency"
Curbing Undue Expenditures.
Special Message, Aug !, 1873,
''After the experience of the past, it
| was hoped that no committee would pledge
the credit of the city for the payment of
bills not provided for beforehand. am
decidedly 0f the opinion that committees
have no right to do so; they have power
only to pledge the city's credit to the ex-
tent of the appropriations of which they
arc constituted the disbursing agents, and
cannot incur debt. The functions of tie
committees are solely executive and lim-
| tied to the extent of the appropriations
The councils assembled in the legislative
capacity is the only authority which can
pledge the city's credit"
Abolishing Useless Offices.
Special Message, Dec. 4, 1873.
Your attention is respectfully called
to the ordinance for the inspection and
sealing of gas metres in the city of Lam
caster. Since the Office has been created
there has not been an inspection under
the ordinance. The consumers of gas have
not applied in a single instance for the
inspection contemplated. The gas compa-
| nies have not such tests made of their
metres before putting them in, as is pro-
vided for by the ordinance. Perhaps one
reason for the neglect of the companies is
II..A IL =, IL
the ordinance for its violation. As the law
now stands it is dead letter, and should
be repealed and the salary of the inspector
saved to the city, or such amendments
made to it as would make it operative
An Economical Administration.
Annual Message, June IA, 1879.
''An economical administration of the
different departments of the city govern
ment for this year will enable US to return
next year to rate of sixty cents on the
practiced of charging the deficiencies of
one year against the receipts of the next
must be abandoned, or, in other words,
there must be no deficiencies allowed"
Police Discipline
cit has been my constant effort to make
the police force as efficient as possible,
knowing that the security of our citizens
in their persons and property is greatly
due to those conservators of the peace.
There have been no derelictions of duty
tolerated when brought properly to my no
tice, and have endeavored by disciplining
members of the force to impress upon all a
wholesome regard for the interest of the
community"
Breakers Ahead.
Special Message. Sept. 3, 1872
eff it be the pleasure of councils to go
OH regardless of the close approximation to
the limit of debt allowed us
less of the known indisposltiOn of
our people to plunge the city further into
debt and thereby increase the taxation,
they will proceed to order work to be done
without taking into account the condition
of the appropriation but the further in
crease of our debt is grave proposition,
involving penalties when carried beyond the
constitutional limit, and should not be de-
termined without serious deliberatiOn.
For myself believe that councils have no
right to spend one cent in any department
beyond the appropriation. If they have
what is the use of making one? Is it not
intended to indicate the limit which they
themselves have fixed by solemn ordinance
and which, believe, they cannot virtual
ly undo by the passage of a mere motion
ordering the committee to have the work
done. p" 1t is on the basis OF these appro-
priations that our city tax is laid, and that
tax is intended to cover all city expenses
for the year but this very proper intcn-
ton is defeated the very moment one dol |
lar is ordered to be spent beyond the ap-
preparation in any department..
Exposing Improper Legislation.