Daily Republican., 1884-06-03
Wny Mako aChnDge :?

people an economical and wise govern
ment. That the current expens
account has been overdrawn SOM
$1,000 is no evidence of extravaganza o
Misrepresentation it is simply running
ahead of the collections that much. =
That it is wise to run ahead OF the ctirren
collections we will not say for we believe
it is always best to keep within per
sons income. But in this case II
stands to the credit of Republican
Council that the oyerdraft is not mOrt
than So, 900 up to the present time ou
of an expenditure of over A5O,OcO. 1
is a commendable feature OF the rule o.
the present City Council that there i.
no accumulation Of unpaid bills KEEP
back for future Council to pay. 1t
motto has been "pay as you 60.
Creditors have not had to wait Ion
ger for their money than it took to au
theuticate their claims, and no promises
to pay are hawked about in the money
spectators hands to be paid by the
next City Council. The school fund,
which should always be looked upon as
a sacredly reserved fund, has been left
intact No sacrligious hand has been
reached out to take a dollar to divert it
from its original purpose. This fact
stands ont in bold relief to the credit OF
the present City Council when compared
with two years ago, when Council
wound up its Democratic rule with
S2l 200 missing from the school fund.
We will do our Democratic friends
the credit to say that they did not
use the money for their own personal
benefit. We say this because it might
be inferred that it was taken and put
into their own pockets in Philadelphia
Phipps almshouse style. Instead of
intimating such thing We are ready
to defend them from such charge if
there are any who are sufficiently reck-
less to make it, 1t was simply misap-
propriated TO meet the current expenses
OF the city, a thing it was never intend
ed should be done. The Democrats
were hard pressed for money. The ap-
preparations We're virtually exhausted
with the exception of the appropriation
for the public schools. In it were
some $4,000 or more not Immediately
needed.
The temptation TO Use il temporarily
was too great TO resist. and the attack
like snowhakes before the mornings
sun. OF course il was intended to re-
place it again when the new Council
would be elected, and of course that
Council would be Democratic, for had
not Mr.. Mclntire and Mr.. Lee laid out
six Democratic wards sure, TO five Re
publican wards? There must at least
be Democratic majority of over one,
and then it would be an easy matter to
make up the deficiency from the next
appropriations, and the public need
know nothing about the missing
school fund. Cur readers remember
the result.
Contrary 70 all expectations, the R.
publicana carried tw0Drmocrlt:C wards
and secured majority in the City
Council. II was then that the school
appropriation deficiency was discover
ed. 1t was then that Al Overdratt OF
over $50, 600 was discovered 1t was
then that establishment WAS expressed
at the largr number IF hill, that had
been kept back without b"iug paid. 1t
was then that II wa> found that larg-
number Of contracts wrr" found to have
been awarded, some Cf them under way
which would exhaust thr most OF the
appropriations for the nrXt year with
out the ordering Of any new work.
This is why the Republicans have
not been able t. open any streets dur
ing the past two years. 1t took all their
preparations 10 meet old contracts
which had been ordered by Democrat
ic Council 1t i, not forgotten how an
appeal had To he made to the Legisla
ture TO uthorize the Republican Coun-
Gil to borrow money to replace the
school fund and to carry on other need
ei Improvements. II has taken two
years of Republican economy, Repub-
iican wise management and kepublican
push 10 put 'Ae city in proper
condition for an onward march in I'M
provelne It's.
The Republican parry without an
increase Of the taxrate is now prepared
to do good year Of paving streets
and repairing in ii G city. Fourth street
from Market t. Walnut, and from Mad
/ On to Adams streets; also Eleventh
Street from French to Spruce, and the
approach to the east side Of the new
bridge have been contracted for and the
money to pay for the work has been
provided for, besides other streets held
under advi>ement and for which the
money has been provided
Gong from he street to the Water
Department We find the latter in
eIually as good condition as the stree,
department. Water has been supplied
IN copious rttu~iou without the aid Of a
Water Commission. The city has no,
had 70 pay their Water Commissioner.
$500 each and 81, 900 for the Water
1t used in Its public offices
its public fountains and for extin
gushing fires. This has all been savet
to the city by the Republican City
Council which st.henpd up in the bach
bone and rebellt,I against the Wate
Commission.
Now, the question before the peopl,
IS, shall the Republican party, which
has brought abou' this era Of econom,
and prosperity, b" continued in otfic
or not" What argument can be pro
duced in favor Ola change? If tn
Democrats succeed the Water Commis
sion will 60 into operation. This will
entail an expense to the city of $50, ,00C
for which no provision has been made
With such management the next tisca
year will wind up with the appropria
tons overdrawn, and large foatin
debt contracted. What have til
voters Of Wilmington got to say abou
it, Why should change be made
hat have the voters of the Thir
Ward got 10 say about the issue, for
that ward the contest will he the no