Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-06-19

flourish Of trumpets that this year 1t
vas going to be economical. 1t con-
demned in round terms the extrava-
Qance OF the Republican Council, that
ended year before and blamed 1t as
the cause Of the financial difficulties OF
the Democratic Council Of the succeed.
ing year. The people were laboring
and groaning - they said under Q
heavy load Of municipal taxes and 1t
ought to be nghtened. The dear peo-
pie too shall see that they were the
party that would relieve them, and
when they met to levy the taxes for
the present year and settle upon tax
rate they made that rate Ave cents on
the hundred dollars lower than 1t was
last year. What . cunning dodge
this was to catch votes. With . high.
or tax rate the year before, they had to
borrow $40, 900, and were still at least
t2O, 900 short This year, though, was
to be year Of economy. No debts
were to be piled up, no extravaganza
encouraged. The Democratic papers,
under this inspiration, called upon the
people to got along without bothering
cept those absolutely necessary. II q
street was not in good condition 1t
was to remain so. II number Of
gentlemen wanted to build houses In q
certain desirable locality in the city
where the street was not graded, they
were expected TO forego their purposes
and build In some quarter not 80 de-
sirable, but where no expense to the
city would be incurred in grading
vrestlers with ash barrels necessary to
preserve . proper sanitary condition o.
the city were to be beat down TO the
lowest price for labor The man whit
worked upon the streets for one dollal
and twenty-five cents . day, and hat
to keep himself, wife and seven o
eight children ont Of that, were Il
trudge and starve along, for Council
was to be economical this year, an,
everything WAS to be conducted upol
business principles.
We'll, the present Democratic Counc
has commenced 1t. They commence
1t last night. The salary of the Stret
Commissioner up to last night had bee
$500. Since last night 1t is to be 81, 2Ot
At the very outset Of the year unde
golden promises Of economy under
reduction Of the tax rate, and an apes
to the people to hold off with desire
improvements, the City Council h;
commenced the year by raising Il
salary Of one Of it's employees $500
one sweep.
We have not one word to say again
the efficiency Of Colonel McCloskey, t
present able and competent incumbe
of the office. Personally we wish
was in q position where he could recei
twice the salary he is now getting. n
Hawkins hit the nail square on t
head when he said there were more tn
hundred OF the best men in the Den
cratic party who were competent, a
who would be glad to fill the Off ice
Street Commissioner and perform
duties faithfully for 5000. Mr.. Bayna
was equally emphatic and point
when he referred to the general depr
sion of business, and said it was b
year to raise salaries. Mr.. Farrell &
preciated the force of Mr.. Baynart
remarks, but plead for higher sals
for the Street Copmissioner, because
was competent gentleman and
salary was not what 1t should be wi
compared with the salaries paid ot
Off Mr.. Farrell, too, In sen
was correct, but it seems never to hi
occurred to our Dem cratic friends t
1t is very good to equalize salaries
city officials at time when all
business Arms in the country were c
ting down wages, by 'the leveling do
instead Of the leveling up process.
However, the City Council has mi
. start. If this start is to BIZ indicat
of the years work ahead, there CAM
fail to be large deficiency at the
of the year. With cutting down
tax rate and clapping $500 on sin
salary, the start for economy is not "
propitious.