Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-06-02

zancaster fntrlllsenrer.
THURSDAY EVENING. JUNE 2. 1881.
Municipal Matters.
The message Of Mayor MacGonigle to
the city councils will be found to be of
more vital concern and interest to our
taxpayers ard citizens generally than the
annual deliverances of national and state
executives. In our American demo-
cratic system OF local self-government it
is the efficient, honest and intelligent ad-
ministratiOn of public affairs nearest to
home that is of chief importance. This
is the source of the higher authority, and
il kept pure and well regulated there is
less danger of arrangement in the upper
departments of civil administration,
which we are entirely too apt to
invest with undue significance, and,
in our jealous care for which local
matters are apt to be be overlooked. As
q member Of common council, Mr.. Mac
Gonigle showed a discernment and dis
cretion in his treatment of municipal
questions which secured the confidence
of the public, and his election and re-
election to the chief magistracy of the
city. It is unfortunate that councils
have not acted upon some of his recon-
mendations with greater promptness
but he has the gift of continuance and
he does not propose that they shall be
allowed to forget them.
It is gratifying and creditable to the
financial administration Of the city that
its bonded debt has decreased $4,000
during the past year, circumstance
which, with the saving Of the yearly in
terest by the refunding Of the loan at a
reduced rate. offers speedy relief from
the present extraordinary rate of city
tax. That rate, the mayor does well to
point out, is owing to the reckless ex-
travagance of a street committee against
whose Malfeasance he and the INTELLI-
GENCER protested persistently; and
which the mayor finally brought to a
halt by invoking the process Of the law.
The financial arrangement which
arises from the conflicting dates of be-
ginning our fiscal and our municipal
year, and from the lateness of some of
the revenues coming into the treasury,
is a vexatious matter that ought to he
remedied without delay. IL legislation
is necessary to effect this let it he asked
for. Nobody can reasonably object and
every convenience and private and pub
lie interest would be served 10y the
change. The city can save money and
credit by doing its business for cash.
The inequalities in assessments re-
ferred to by the mayor are patent, and
standing SURGE of complaint that should
he abated. The taxation of water rents
likewise produces much dissatisfaction,
and such city legislation should he had
as will prevent the owners of real estate
from being held responsible for water
turned upon their premises or diverted
to eciaLtaxable purposes without their
knowledge or consent. The schedule of
water rents should be 50 revised, too, as
to prevent the double tax which now often
cnSlles under a technical and literal con-
structiOn of it. AS, for instance, when
in such a case rs the INTELLIGENCER
building a special tax is laid, each, upon
the printing office, rs such, for the
boiler, the heating apparatus and the
water clOsets-covering every possible
use of water in this building-and yet
tie owner of the property has to pay the
four-story building'' tax besides.
Other like excessive water taxes and the
general inequalities of the present sys-
tenn call for a reform, the proper direc-
tion of which will likely be indicated by
the experiments now being made by
water meters.
The water question is discussed at
length by the mayor, and the facts on
the subject are marshalled in a manner
that cannot he ignored, and must he met
in different way than by breaking
the quorum" Councils last night took
a step toward the necessary improve
ments Of providing new nest of boil
ers; what is necessary to be done in the
way of additional pumps and mains
ought to have prompt, careful and dis
passionate consideration. Our councils
and citizens should not wait for calam.
ity or privation to impel them to action.
There is nothing more certain or expen-
sive than the rapid waste of machinery
driven to its utmost capacity. Accom-
panying any water works improvement,
however, there must be redistribution
and equalizing of the water tax as above
referred to, and some prevention against
the present reckless waste Of water
which seems to prevail here.
The repairs Oh the eastern reservoir
last year have bravely stood the severe
tests Of an extraordinary winter. The
abatement on the gas bills, secured by
stubborn resistance to payment for SER
vice not rendered, is another fact credit
able to the mayors administration and
to the lamp committees business; also
the mayors enforcement of police
discipline without fear, favor or
affection and in his controversy
with the county commissioners he
seems to have the right of it, for, in
asmuch as the city pays the mayors