Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-02-14
laueaster .gntelligenrcr.
THURSDAY EVENING. FEB. IA, 1884
Which SyAfem :!

Wnlcn SysV"s
The two candidates for mayor now
before the people of this city are the
nominees of their respective parties. IL Is
true that In municipal elections party ties
rest most loosely, and the practical con-
alterations OF good government and now
can best be secured an honest, efficient,
economical and business administration
OF the municipality, will determine the
choice Of many citizens between McMul-
Ian and Rosemiller. In this view OF the
case a contrast of the policies Of the two
parties which they represent is pertinent
and profitable. From 1874 to 1878, the
Republicans were in control OF the city
government. Mayor Stauffer was its
executive head the councils were in
sympathy with him for most OF the
time Select Councilman Evans was the
head of the finance committee. Let us
see what record they made J:
When Mayor Stauffer came into office
the total funded debt of the city was
s4s2, 1886 and the sinking fund
. amounted to SSs, los. .06, leaving the net
funded debt at S393, ,995.90. In 1878, when
Mayor Stauffer was succeeded by Mayor
MacGonigle, the total funded debt had
run up to s682, 5l2o2, and the sinking
fund had been only increased to $685.
25s.O6; making the net funded deb,
S5sS, 253. .96--an increase in four years
OF S169, 25S.06. But in addition to this
as soon as Mayor MacGonigle entered
upon his duties, he found that although
scarcely third Of the fiscal year had
expired, many of the appropriations for
the whole twelve months were already
nearly, If not altogether, exhausted, a
loose and reckless system Of book keep
ing aud accounting prevailed, and
as he pointed out promptly in 1
special message to councils,
deficiency Of $4,000 existed, for whicl
a new loan had to be created, making a
actual increase of the city's indebted
ness under Stauffer of $500, 900 in roun
figures. And what had the city to sho'
for four years of Republican administr;
tion aud an increase of city debt amount
real estate in the city? y
During the six and a'half years c
Democratic administration, with Mayo
Mace onigle as executive, the only loan
made besides the $50 900 required to pa
off the deficiencies accruing under h
predecessor were 100000 for the lie
Worlhington pump and So 900 for set {
new boilers while, on the other hand Il
sinking fund under his direction has bee
increased $ll0, 400; showing an actual d
crease of the city debt by the new methot
OF about 500, 900, and even charging I'll
deficiency loan to the MacGonigle nd
ministration-wh was not respons
BILE for it-there is clear reduction {
the city's Indebtedness of over 500, OOC
Barren as the Republican administr'
tion was of results to justify its emo
NOUS increase Of the debt, the Dem(
cratic admins ration, besides the show
ing it makes of decided debt reduction
is TO be credited with number {
permanent improvements, forcibly pre-
sented in Mayor MacGonigle's retirin
letter and universally recognized Dy OF
citizens.
Many of the evils of loose and carele
government which were experienc
under Republican administration we
due to the political concurrence Of t
councils and the mayor; they were
party accord and were no check upC
each other. The city is 50 gerryma
dered that the Republicans claim I'M
jority in seven out of nine wards, al
the Democrats are not given one.half
their just representation in council
Every consideration demands the ele
tion of a mayor of different politics fro
the majority of councils, so that he cf
interpose his veto aud influence again'
the lawlessness and recklessness wi
which partisan majorities abuse powt