Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-02-25
THE CITY DEBT AGAIN-A PROPO-
SITI0N

We yesterday published communiea-
ton from Hon. II. o. Beatty, President OF
the Funded Debt Commission, in which
that gentleman made certain statements
relative to the city debt and the work OF
the Commission in wlping it out. The
letter has excited general comment and
the almost universal exclamation is, II
this can be done, it should be done, but the
Commission promises too much. 1t is I'M
reasonable to suppose it can dispose of the
larger part of the debt us its President de-
clares it can do" 1t may be well re-
sponded by the Commission that this is
begging the question. As the proof of the
pudding is in the eating thereof. it will
the proposition of the Commission is at
least worthy the respect of examination
since it proposes to do what every one
wants done, and at rate below the proba-
bility of compromise. The sincerity of
the venerable President and his associates
will not be questioned, nor will any one
knowing the mon venture to assail their
integrity. 1t follows that to simply ignore
their proposition is more than contemptu-
Gus. 1t will cost nothing to examine their
books and figures, the statements of funds
they have on Land, and the debt scrip they
have secured in the interest OF the city.
1t will compromise the position, opinions
or views of no man regarding the policy
proper to be pursued either regarding liti-
CATION or compromise. 1t certainly cannot
be said to be in the interest of the bond
holders. The President of the Board de-
clares his willingness to make ont
a transcript of the whole matter,
and by mathematical data and ex-
cerpts from the records of the Commission
set forth the business in newspaper col
umns. But this would entail upon him a
great amount of close labor, will occupy
much space, and would probably not be
perused with the care or tested by the ex-
pert analysis it should have And we sug-
gest it might not be advisable to Law bare
TO those whose interests are adverse to the
city ali the details of the plans and finan-
ces of the Funded Debt Commission. In
view of these facts the REcoRD-USIoS
has suggested to the President of the
Board that committee of representative
citizens, familiar with calculations. and
presumably informed regarding the city
debt, be invited to meet him and hear his
oral statements, examine the books and see
if in any respect he has erred in his prop
Osition. To this Judge Beatty has re-
sponded that such procedure would ex-
actly meet his views, and would enable
him to present the matter far more intelli-
gently than he could do in q laborious
newspaper exposition. He adds that he
believes he will not only be able to clearly
convince such a delegation Of citizens that
the Commission can do all it promised in
his recent open letter beyond all possible
doubt, but very much more.
In view of the situation and the imme-
date Importance Of the matter, the
RECoRD-UNIoN assumes the privilege of
taking the initiative in setting on foot the
inquiry suggested, since some one should
do SO, and therefore names and requests
the Mayor and Second and Third Trtls-
tees, Hon. Newton Booth, F. r. Dray, on.
Fred Cox, r. S. Carey, Frank Miller,S "
row Smith, City Auditor Mckee, ex-S. tc
Treasurer We'll and T. X. Alsip, twelve
well-known citizens, who must be pre-
sumed to have the interests of this CITY at
heart and who can listen without prciu-
dice or bias, to meet Judge Beatty and
hear his exposition The Judge having
been communicated with regarding this
action, announces his readiness to forego
his personal convenience and meet these
gentlemen at his Office this evening or to-
morrow evening, or as may be determined,
andsasks that the press be represented to
secure proper publicity. 1t is to be hoped
that the interview between these business
men and the head of the Commission, CON
corning the WORK of which the people need
explicit information, Will be consummatcd
and that the gentlemen famed will com
t,lv with the ah,vp r,A,uast