The daily gazette., 1883-05-11
g1tl JG5RlR
WILMINGTON, FRIDAY. MAY l.
At the End of the financial String.

Several months ago, when the City Treas
urer was able TO report to the City Council
each week large and comfortable balance
in bank, the Republican journals OF this
city, without the slightest knowledge of our
municipal finances or the remotest idea of
how much money it required to keep the
local government running for year,
were loud in their praises of the
financial wisdom and ability
of the present Council, and boast
ingly declared that for once our public
affairs would be conducted upon strictly
cash basis until tie close OF the fiscal year.
To these bombastic declarations the GA
zETTE merely replied that it would be better
to wait until about the first of the ensuing
May before indulging in such untimely
hoasts.
As the months rolled by and the big bank
balance continued to slowly dwindle until
it became apparent that the money would
not begin to hold out until the end of the
year, the tune of Councils party organs
suddenly changed, and excuses and apollo
gies took tue place Of the previous boastful
declarations. Smaller aud smaller grew
the figures al the Treasurer's weekly
reports Of cash on hand, and
the climax was reached at
a the Council meeting last night, when
balance OF less ;nAn 81 900 reported by the
Treasurer was completely obliterated by the
allowance Ut bills amounting 10 over
$4,000, thus creating a deficiency Of more
than s. 900, at one sweep. Six weeks of
the fiscal year yet remain to be provided for,
aud when accounts are balanced on the 3Oth
day Of Jun deiCicncy OF al least S3O, 900
will be found TO exist
This result, to any one possessing rek-
sonauie know ledge Of city financial affairs,
WIS as clearly apparent six months ago as
it l. to-day, aud Councils party organs have
only made themselves ridiculous by their
ignorance ut the subject, and rendered the
mcOmpetency Of the Council more
glaiug than would have been the
case had their idle boasts never
been made. The truth OF the matter is that
the present "mudei' Council has not man
aged the financial affairs of the city as sue
ccssiully as Ill much derided predecessors,
who created dehcieney oil 81, 800, by using
funds to this amount belonging to the
Board Of Education, Tor the purpose of Ell
fccting pu1hc Improvements earnestly de-
manded By The people. This deficiency
was met during the past year by a
special loan, which did not affect the current
revenues, ard 50 the present Council has
not only seen" it, predecessor in the def
cheney business, but has "gone $40, 900
"better" without the least trouble in the
Wuria.
Ana So, alter years. trial OF "model"
administration, the people lind themselves
even worse oil han they were before. The
Previou, Council, had it not been Tor the ex-
traordnary demand Tor public worE, would
have LETT the financial affairs Of the city in
good shape, atd even as il was, the present
Council, having met the deficiency of last
year BY special loan, ought to have been
in condition to show straight balance
sheet al tile ciose Of the current fiscal year
With this experience it is hard matter
for thc pe"fie to determine what is the
hest plan To pursue, as theil
last effort to effect an improve
uent ha~ proved radical failure and will
result n an increase Of the burden Of taxa
ton. One thiu- is plan, however, and that
i, that "moaei' administrations do not pro-
due thr desired rrsutt, and that common
sens aud practical bustness ability should
tie made tile standard Of qualifications al
the Couuc.imauic election i'll June