The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-10-13
To REFLECT OVER.

1ne rlSntS anu interests OF pe0-
pie are never properly cared for and
protected unless those to whom they
are entrusted are held to a strict
performance of their duties by
vigilant supervision of their acts,
and an unsparing exposure of their
shortcomings and mistakes, no mat
ter to what cause attributable. In
view of the general condition of
the affairs of our city, for which its
city government is responsible, it
cannot fail to strike the most care
less observer that there is much in
the management and affairs of our
city far from satisfactory, and which
calls for an immediate and thorough
corrective, and the Inauguration of
something safer and better. In the
hands of the people alone lies the
power to do what is needed to be
done, and the present moment is
always the time to apply the rem
edy, no matter from what cause it
may arise-whether negligence, in
competence or corruption. n glance
at our condition, financial and
otherwise, cannot fail to convince
any one that change of policy and
action on the part of our corporate
authorities is greatly needed, and
that the exigencies of the hour sug-
gest that we cannot resort to some
remedy too soon.
Our financial condition, which we
will refer to directly, is far from be-
ing satisfactory. Expenditures have
not only been wasteful
and extravagant, but unprOfita-
bly, and injudiciously applied and
represented, where represented at
all, by works unadapted to our wants,
and far from being an equivalent of
the money expended in securing
them. From the best sources of in
formation, it appears that the debt
of the city of Austin is, in the ag-
gregate about $4,000, constituted
of something upwards of 100000
bonded and drawing interest, and
$4,000 floating liabilities. What
to- day represents this $120,O00?
Every one knows that the income
from taxes and licenses, fines, ETC.,
is far more than sufficient to pay
the expenses of the city government.
We have, it is true, water works,
but the city did not build them. We
have gas factory, street railroad,
but to these the city did not con-
tribute a dollar, and not a dime to
the building of the bridge across
the river, work so important to
the trade, business and convenience
of the city and its ighboring coun-
try. To answer for this $120,000, we
have but beggarly response We
will give our former rulers the
benefit of our silence.
The charter of the city does
not permit it to incur a debt beyond
100000, but this provision seems
to have been disregarded; for, as
we have already seen, its debt now
exceeds 100000.
In order to sustain the credit of
our city, the interest upon the
bonded debt must be promptly
paid; in honor and decency our
warrants and floating debts should
be provided for, and the city gov
ernment supported. To do these
things, our only resource is taxation
as limited by law.
The interest upon our debt of ev-
cry character is estimated at or
about $4,000 per annum; the ex-
penses of the city government about
1000, our bonds $91 900, warrants
and floating debts $4,000; both
the last named sums drawing inter-
est, making the total Indebtedness
of the city $121, 900.
1t is hardly possible for the city to
carry on its government, pay the in
terest on the bonded debt and the
floating debt and interest at a time
short of two years; but we believe
by judicious management that the
city can be relieved of this floating
debt i'll that period, with an ade-
quate amount left for necessary re-
pairs and improvements. By some
such plan as this only can we see
our way out of present embarrass-
ments, or escape from still more Sc
rious ones in the future.
If such management as we have
had is to go on, the time will come,
and at no distant day, when our
good faith will be discredited and
our obligations, of whatever name
or kind, will not be worth their
weight in wind.
How and by whom our existing
debt has been contracted, and for
what purpose, and how applied, is
not now the question. We can not
recall the past or remedy its mis-
takes, but it is to the present and fu-
ture we must address our attention.
How to provide for these debts and |
preserve our credit without oppres-
sive taxation, is the problem to be
solved, and the chief concern of the |
hour.
The sum of $35,OOO, above stated,
as the expense of our city admins
tration, it appears to us, is very |
large sum to pay for the amount and |
quality of the service rendered. We
have too many offices, and in many |
cases, their salaries are too high. |
Our mayor receives a salary double |
that of the governor of several states |
of the Union, and several other Off |
GERS salaries considerably greater,
some of them too, offices which
might adTantageously be dispensed |
with. The city might, ,withoutincon-
forego the luxury of a city
clerk, at the cost of $500. The
might nerform this dutv. and |