Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-04-05
0be Eai,faster 1ntelligeufer.
LANCASTER. APRIL s, 1855
The New CITY Administration.

Mayor Morton, in his inaugural address
before the new councils and to all the
people Of the city, talks like man who
knows what he is about and who means
what he says. Associated with honesty,
which no one denies him, Intelligence and
nrmness are most needed by the chief
magistrate Of municipality and our new
mayor certainly starts well.
He assumes no superior knowledge of
city affairs beyond that of any well-in-
formed and public-spirited citizen, but he
strikes the key note of sound policy
when he says city government is busi-
ness matter, to be conducted on
business principles. If councils shall fall
Into accord with him upon this we may
expect progressive, economical, honest
and efficient administration and if coun-
cils separate from him on that issue they
may expect the voters of the city to vote
them out and to sustain the mayor. We
have come to that point where reform is
necessary.
What the mayor says about limiting ex.
penses to appropriations and contracting
permanent debts for permanent improve.
ments only, is sound; and when he declares
that he will exercise all the lawful
powers of his Office to restrain the con.
tracing Of illegal debts and the payment
OF invalid obligations, he gives friendly
warning to councils and committees that
II come of the practices Of the past two
years are continued the legality of them
will be tested in the courts With this de.
claration the taxpayers and citizens gener.
ally will be found in sympathy. Contracts
made without warrant of law, and con.
tractors who expect to get off short of theil
stipulated obligations, may be expected to
feel the pull Of the check rein.
The preliminary surveys upon water
storage facilities and new means of sewer.
age, recommended by Mr.. Morton, are GER
tainly the only practicable means of set.
ting afoot The necessary inquiry into these
important subjects, and at slight expense
much valuable data can be thus secured
without this most popular discussion of
the subject is aimless.
We are most gratified at the tone of the
mayors address upon the powers and du-
ties of the police force /; and he will have
the cordial support of this journal in the
enforcement of his policy, regardless of
political considerations. Men who seek
or take employment on the force under
stand what to expect if they fall from
grace deliberately they merit no con-
sideration.., and those who are too weak
to govern themselves ought not to be
tolerated at the expense of the city, of dis
cipline and of public order. The quality
Of the new force is yet to be tested but,
with due forbearance for the rawness of
material and the incipiency of the organi-
cation, we have every hope it will prove
an advance on the past, and we entertain
no doubt that the new mayor will enforce
his rules to the letter without fear, favor
or affection.
The call upon the street authorities to
look little more closely into the manner in
which their contracts are executed is time
ly; several very bad jobs of turnpiking are
now exposed to view on our public streets,
and 1t does seem about time that little
more pavement of permanent character
be laid.
The day after the election of the gentle
man who now assumes the chief magis-
tracy of Lancaster, the INTELLIGENCER
said:
Although Democrat of Democrats.
nominated regularly by his party and elected
chiefly with It's votes and because of its solid
support, Mr.: Morton will go into the mayor
atty pledged to administer the Office for the
Dest interests OF the city, and all of its citi-
zens.' More than this the voters who sup
ported him have no right TO ask and less tn an
this the people OF the city will not be willing
10 take They who know his fairness, his in
teiligence, his acquaintance with the city's
needs, his progressive spirit and his liberality
OF mind have no fears that he will disappoint
expectation or violate his obligation"
With regard to appointments and to pol-
Icy, no individuals in the party have been
less ready TO volunteer recommen ations or
20 ask favors than the editors of this journal
NO man who has been appointed to places
within the reach OF the Democracy of Lam
caster owes 1t to the INTELLIGENcER. its
proprietors or its influence and no man who
has failed OF reaching what he wants has AM
right to hold grudge at this Office"
BY these declarations we stand. By
them we will Judge the new administration
and all of its appointees and their discharge
o. oticial duties. Wehaye confidence they
VIII vindicate the wisdom of their selection;
put II they fail, the INTELLIGENCER will
mol withhold just criticism of their short
comings.