The Indianapolis journal., 1883-09-04

was 1909, 1887. The disbursements that year
were S6l7,99O85, being less than one-half OF
the amount under Democratic rule. For the
year ending May, 1879, the third year of Re-
publican rule, the revenues amounted to 81, ,093,-
328 IL, of which balance OF $39l ,613,9e was
left in the treasury.
+ or the fourth year of Republican rule, ending
May, $780, the revenues were 1854, 80, of
which a balance of $780, 67OO9 was left in the
treasury at the end of the year. For the fifth
year OF Republican rule, ending May, 1881, the
revenues Were 1886, ,3s1 .03, of which balance
OF sos, 700. SO was left in the treasury at the
end of the year. For the sixth year of Republi-
can rule, ending May, 1882, the receipts were
81, ,069, S27 50. Balance lett in the treasury,
SZoS,7l4 4.S6. The seventh year of Repuolican
rule, ending May, 1888, receipts, ST. 0O1 ,653.36.
Balance left In the treasury at the end of the year
was 1920, ,339.67. From these figures very in
sUructlve deductions and computations may be
made by ciuzens generally and by taxpayers in
particular. Let us now look at the expenses in
some of the particular departments of the city
government and see how the comparison
stands. l take the Democratic years of 1879
ana 1876 and the Republican years OF 1877 and
1873 as illustrative:
Years ending May, 1875, and May, 1876, Fire
Years ending May, 1871 and May 1873, Fire
Police Department Democratic l42 $780, IS
Police Department (Republican ... l2s5766
ing (Democraticj. 26O9 "a
Years ending May 1875 and May. 1875, Street
Department (Democratic). 49, 7sO.Ol
Years ending May, 1877, and May, 1873, Street
Department (Repubcan) g6776.sl
might bring the expenses of these depart
ments down 20 date, under Republican control,
but that would weary you, perhaps. Suffice it to
say that they continue to make like favorable
showing for the Republicans.
THE RATE OF TAXATION.
Twill, however, ask your attention further to
some figures on the rate of taxation, for in a
local contest like this these figures taken as
they are from the records, ought to
speak more impressively and moro
persuasively to the voters OF the city than
any words OF mine. When the Republicans
turned over the city government to the Demoo-
raoy in S74 the rate of taxation for general
and school purposes was 81 10 on the 800, but
in 1875 the Democracy increased the rate to
ST. so on the S10O being the full limit then
allowed by law. The aggregate tax duplicate
then amounted to $50, ,456.2O0. From this the
computation may be made as to the direct taxes
levied by them, aside from the special taxes for
various licences, and dog and vehicle taxes and
other items which cannot now stop to enum-
crate. When the Republicans regained control
the treasury was not only empty, but over
drawn in the way already stated. and it was i'm
possible to bring the rate back to what 1t
formerly was at once, yet they did reduce it to
81. 40 on the 300 the first year, and the aggre-
gate duplicate was also reduced to 55,367, ,245,
more than five millions of dollars of
reduction, and at the end of the year, instead OF
a deficiency, there was the sum of S278,248.30
in the treasury. This made it possible to still
year ending May, 1878, it was reduced to 81 .12
on the $780, and the aggregate duplicate was
also reduced to S50,029,9 ,975, being five millions
and over three hundred thousand dollars of a re-
duction over the preceding year. In 1878 the rate
was $1.08 on the 800, ana the duplicate was
$4S, ,099 $40. In 1879 the rate was % cents
on the 800, and the duplicate was S5O,O3O 271.
You will see that the Republicans in 1873 and
1879, when our people were feeling their finan-
clal burdens most keenly, appreciated the situa-
JiOn, placing the rate as low as possible. The
school tax for each OF those years was 1S cents
on the 500, so that when it is deducted we
ma that for the year 1878 the general
purpose tax was 5000 on the S10C, while for
the year 1879 it reached the unprecedentedly
low figure of SO rs on the 800. Since that
time new industries have come into the city,
and there has been slight increase in volume,
so that last year the tax duplicate in the aggre-
gate amounted to $52,612, ,595. There has been
also an increase in the price of labor materials
and cost of schools, thus adding somewhat to
the expenses of the city, so that it seemed pru-
dent TO place the rate at SLIP ON the $780, and
1t was so fixed. OF this, however SO % on the
800 go to support the city schools and public
library, and S0.03 on the 300 are set aside by
city ordinance for The creation of a sinking fund
to meet bonded Indebtedness. etc. So you see
the general-purpose tax amounted to but SO 81
on the 500 for last year.
The Legislature of 1877 repealed the law
requiring cities to provide a sinking fund for
the payment of their bonded indebtedness, leav
ing it In the power of city councils to use such
funds for general purposes. Notwithstanding
this our City Council has made the provision of
which speak, and think it was wise meas
given, and the amount of tax duplicates for sew
eral years, a computation be made giving
an idea OF The difference in the way OF direct
taxes levied by the two parties. The amount
will be found to range from three hundred to
nearly four hundred thousand less under Repub-
lican control. doubt if another city can be
found 1D the whole country equal in size to ours
the expenses of which have been kept at as low
figure as they have been in the city of Indi-
seems to me that all are in
terested in having city affairs economically
administered, and certainly none are more
vitally interested in this than labOring men. To
them the location of shops, mills, factories and
other industrial enterprises here means employ
ment, and that party which, by its manageInent
of the city's affairs, brings about condition of
things inviting such location here is their truesU
and best friend, and that party in the city of In
dianapolls is the Republican party.
THE DUTIES OF OFFICE.
Let me speak briefly of the duties of the Office
for which am candidate, and I am done. In
presiding over the city court the duties of mayor
are OF judicial character, and under his offcie!
obligation he must take the law as his guido in
discharglng them. He cannot honestly do other
wise. He is not there to represent any partiou-
lar clique, faction or party. In matters calling
for the exercise of his judicial functions he
should administer the law faithfully and Impair
TALLY, but he should never allow himself TO act
maliciOusly, or TO become prosecutor. Every
upright Judge will endeavor to consider one
mans legal rights jnsC fairly as anOther's,
and so long as this is the case no fair-nindeG
man ought 70 complain. So far as the admins
trative or general duties of the Office are con-
cerned, If am elected. my greatest ambition
Will be TO use my influence in
the direction of securing good
and successful business administration.
of the affairs of the city, such a as will gain
the appreciation OF ali faIr-minded men, what
ever their party, condition, or business engage
ments. IL is the duty of all officers, as it is the
interest of all citizens ana Taxpayers whatever
their party af1llatlons or business engagements,
a M
ernmeDt shall be administered with prudence and
economy, and as trust to be performed with
the utmost fidelity. While l am the nominee of
party. fully and heartily recognize that,
should be elected, my duty is to the whole
body of the people.
Brief speeches were also made by Hon. s. j.
Peelle, Hon. Charles L. Holstein, Mr.. r. R.
Shiel and Mr.. Rollins. The meeting was quite