Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-10-15
lanrdster fntelliae1lrer.
SATURDAY EVENING. OCT. is, 1881
The Municipal Administration.

SATURDAY EVENING. OCT. 10, 1881.
The Municipal Administration.
The theory of a model city govern
ment would contemplate the selection of
persons to administer its affairs on the
same principles which make successful
the management of ordinary business
enterprises. Men to whom citizens would
not entrust their individual interests
should not he voted into places of mu-
nicipal trust and responsibility ; and,
even more particularly than in the con-
troll Of state and national affairs is it
meet and salutary that in local trusts
those appointed to administer them
should be honest and capable rather than
faithful adherents of this or that politi-
cal dogma. We have not yet been af-
forded anywhere in this country the
spectacle of an entirely bipartisan and
exclusively business-like management of
any municipality. In the present tenn
per of American politics we are not
likely to see this experiment tested. But
in the degree that any political party or
its elect candidates approach to such an
administration are they entitled to popu-
lar approval and renewed confidence.
The Democratic party of Lancaster
city can afford to submit itself to that
measurement; Mayor MacGonigle's ad-
ministration is justified by such test.
1t will have been four years next Mon
day since he took his oath Of office, de-
livered his inaugural address and en-
tered upon the discharge of his duties.
Fair promises and well-sounding inau-
gurals at the outset of an Official term
are no novelties felicitOus is the func-
tionary who can with cheerful confidence
invite those whose servant he is to gauge
his performances by his promises and de-
termine how he has kept his faith by
making his dc eds accord with his words.
Let us see how the matter stands with
the chief magistrate of our city in these
four years.
1t is to be recalled that in his inaugu-
raj he sounded the key note of his ad-
ministration, and the essential principle
of good municipal management 9 No
expenditures in excess of the appropria-
tiOns, and no permanent debts for tenn
porary improvements" a strict account
ability of all the departments and re-
duction of the rate OF interest on the
bonded city debt. The ruinous results
of a continued disregard of these princi-
pies, for several years before, were vivid
ly pointed out in special cOmmunica-
tiou to councils, and speedy provision
was demanded for a deficiency of $50 900
caused by the criminal negligence of the
previous administration. The result has
been that, while that deficiency was pro-
vided for in the only practicable manner,
the mayor, by persistent hammering, has
succeeded in impressing upon the city
government Il better system of financial
management, and has prevented the re-
currence of such deficiencies in excess of
the regular appropriations. The rate of
interest has been reduced = per cent. on
s2OO,OOO of the city debt, lower by one
per cent. than it could have been fixed
five years ago: Mayor MacGonigle has
been persistent in his opposition to pro-
ceeding with public work after appropri-
atiOns for the same were exhausted, and
against every irregularity in making
public contracts. Protests to council
having failed to be effective, when fla
grant disregard of the law in this respect
was attempted under the speciOus label
Improvement he rightly appealed,
with good effect, to the restraining power
of the court to curb the recklessness of a
coordinate branch of the city govern
ment. For the first time since 1869 there
has been an actual reduction Of the city
debt under the present administration of
Sl1 900 in 1880, and $4,000 in 1851 and
should there arise no extraordinary oc-
casion, the reduction for the fiscal year
ending May 81, 1881, will not be less
than $4,000.
More attention has been given to our
highways, and better work has been
done upon our streets, than heretofore.
The system of general repairs has been
far more effective and economical new
work has been completed under i'm
proved supervision while some perma
nent advances made on main thorough
fares-the Helgian block paving on
North Queen and East King street and
in the Square-have been effected in ac-
cordance with Mayor Mace Gonigle's re-
Communications and submitted csti-
mates.
AS eX-officio chairman of the water
committee, Mayor MacGonigle has given
careful attention and intelligent direc-
tion to this most troublesome depart
ment of the city government. lie has
been assiduous in the discharge of his
duties for the comfort and safety of the
public. The new WOrthington pump
has been put in under his administration,
and the eastern reservoir has undergone
thorough and it is believed permanent re-
pairs. The project of new six-million
gallon pump, new 2O-inch main and new
boilers was first brought forward in De-
cember, 1880 these recommendations
were laid Oh the table in select council
by the votes of two members who had
signed them. The mayor has steadily
insisted upon the necessity for these i'm
prOvementS and the erection of the |