The Indianapolis journal., 1883-09-04
OPENING THE CAMPAIGN.
Hon. John l.. NIcMaster Addresses the
Young Mems Republican Club.
Contrasting the Condition of the City, Finan-
cially and Otherwise, Under Republican
and Democratic Control.

The regular monthly meeting of the Young
Mems Republican club was held last evening in
the hall in the Bates block. Hon. John L. Nc
Master, Republican candidate for mayor, was
the principal speaker. Mr.. McMaster was en-
Enthusiastically received, and spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the Young Mems Republican
Club-It is with pleasure that L appear before
you tonight in response to your invitation to
address you. If my purpose were simply to de-
liver political address on this occasion, might
point with pride to a record made by the ReDuh-
lcan party, which, with all its faults, is still
luminous with grand achievements; but 1t is not
for the purpose of making such an address in
the common acceptatlon OF that term that
speak tonight.
We are just entering upon a municipal con-
test which s to determine who shall administer
our city government for the next two years.
The election, which will occur the 9th day of
October, is of more direct consequence to the
people OF the city than State or national cleo
ton.
The city government touches the personal in
terest of every voter. II deals with our home
life and everyday business affairs much more in
tmately and directly than does the State or ma
tiOnal government. IL is Of over-shadowing i'm
p0rtance, then, to every citizen that the city gov
ernmen6 in all of its departments, shall be ad-
ministered with the utmost prudence, economy
and fidelity; that the taxes imposed for the pur-
pose of carrying on its operations should be kent
at the lowest possible figure consistent with the
continued growth and prosperity of the city.
The capitalist who owns his business block, or
carries on large industrial enterprises; the man
of more moderate means who, by thrift and
frugality, has saved enough from his earnings in
the shop or factory TO own his little home, and
the man in still more limited circumstances,
who simply owns his household goods, all
Interested IN this. When merchant, manu-
facturer or other business man thinks OF locat-
ing in any city, one of the first questions he
asks Is: What Is the rate of taxation2 II the
taxes are burdensome beyond what is fairly
reasonable and necessary for the purposes of
carrying on prudently managed government,
he will seek some other location for his ousi-
7hnpn fhn ia hinh In
exception of the years from May, 1874 TO May,
1876, the Republican party has been lntrusted
OF it's affairs for more than twenty years. Dur
ing that time the city has increased from a town
of but little consequence, except as the seat of
the State government until now it numbers ~
population of nearly 100, 900 people. Its strag-
Cling streets have become the busy marts of
trade. Many of its merchants have their deal
1ngs, and their commercial standing Is known,
not only i'll all of the great commercial centers of
this country, but also in many of the great COM
mercial ceuters of Europe as well. Its manufac-
tories, giving employment to thousands OF
sturdy men, have sprung up on every hand and
the hum and whir of machinery, as 1t goes on its
busy way, singing the anthems OF the city's in
dustries, are hearo in every quarter. But few
days since read an extract from letter from
Dr. ]. c. Fletcher, which stated that in the city
of Genoa, the city of Christopher Columbus, he
| talked through Bell telephone, manufactured
by the Gilliland Company, right here in the city
| of indianapolis.
Railroads have multiplied until they
now stretch out in very direction.
affordng almost uurivaed facilities for travel
and the carrying to and fro OF merchandise and
all OF the varied products of field or factory
which administer to the wants, comforts or
pleasures of man.
am well aware that much of this growth
and prosperity NAV be set down the result
of the natural advantages of our location for
| the purpose OF merchandising, manufacturing g
and distributing, but am sure thai all must
| agree that this growth and prosperity could not
have been SO marked and so rapid, if, in the
| main, we had not had fair city government.
Let us see, then, whether there are good and
substantial reasons why the Republican party
should still retain control of the city's affairs
| am not here to speak unkindly of Democrats,
| for many OF my best friends aud neighbOrs be-
long to the Democratic party. Neither
am l here to claim that the Republican party
has always done right, That it has committed
errors and has not at all times been keenly alive
TO the best interests OF the people, no intelligent
man will probably questions; but with all its
faults, think good and sufficient reasons exist
why IL should still be entrusted with the man
agement of the city's affairs
These reasons are mostly business reasons,
and propose to discuss them, not from politi-
| cal, out from business standpoint. We judge
| of parties, in the main, judge of men,
| mostly by comparison, and I desire for a short
time to refer to the record of the two parties in
connection with our city government AS you
are well aware, we formerly held our city cleo
| tions in May, holding one each year.
The city is now divided into twenty five wards,
each of which is represented by one councilman,
and the election occurs bi-ennially; but formerly
the city divided into thirteen wards, repre-
| sented by two cOuncmen from each ward, one
of whom was elected each alternate year,
At the election in May, 1873 the Democratic
candidate for mayor was elected, but the rest of
our city ticket was elected, and the council still
remained Republican until the election in May,
| 1874, at which time the Democratic party
elected sufficient number of cOuucilmen TO
| give them majority They held the ascend
ancy and controlled the various departments of
| the city government from that time until May
1876. True, the Republicans elected their
mayor and the remainder of their city ticket in
| May, 1873, but the Democracy having ma
tOrity in the council, they were able to dictate
and control the financial and business
| policy of the city during the period l have
named. When the Republicans turned over the
city government to the Democracy IN May, 1874,
the balance in the city treasury was $259-
| 670.7S. The Democracy went into power under
the strongest pledges that they would wisely
and economically administer the affairs of the
city, In addition to this they taInly had the
strongest incentives and induce ments TO so ad-
minister it, for they could not possibly hope to
continue in control without doing so; but how
stands The record2
The financial, or fiscal year, as it is called of
the city, ends in May of each year; that is, the
receipts and disbursements are estimated from
May of one year to May OF the succeeding year,
instead of from January to January, the cslen-
dar year During the first year of Democratic con-
troll, namely, from May, 1874, to May, 1875, the
revenues of the city from taxation and all other
sources amounted to 81 ,706 449 80, of which the
sum OF $3U2,39 was received from the issue OF
bonds, and $367, so by temporary loans. All
of this was disnursed by them during the year,
except the sum of $11 ,6Sl.5S, which was the
balance left in the city treasury at the end of
the year. Deducting the amount Of principal of
bonded Indebtedness paid ny them during the
year, which was 100000 and the balance in
the treasury, and snll the disbursements of the
year, in round numbers, amounted to 81 ,275,-
900.
THE SECOND YEAR OF DEMOCRACY.
During the year ending May. 1876, being the
second year of Democratic control, the revenues
of the city from all sources amounted to $1,213,-
O97.1I, OF which amount $2O4, $50 was received
from the issue of bonds, ana 200 by tenn
porary loan. They disbursed the whole of this
sum during the year, and at the end of it the
treasury was not only empty bnt overdrawn in
the sum of S69,427.91. During the same year
warrants were drawn the city treasury
which, when presented to the treasurer, were
stamped across their face, "Not paid for
tnf