The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1888-03-07

ltQtI0T flegtSteIs-=-I mere is no more
important election held by the peo-
Pile, than that of the officers of the
town, and yet no election goes at
random to such an extent; especially
| in this town. Such should not be
the case. DEBTs accumulate against
a town too rapidly to permit OF
countenance neglect of its affairs in
any way. Debts accumulate and
increase against town much more
rapidly than against individuals.
Just now the subject of municipal
indebtedness, taxation and financial
management, is attracting more at
tention and causing more alarm,
than the great debt of the Nation.
Why is this the case? The answer
is found in the fact that the ''finan-
ees" of the Nation have been SO
managed as to reduce the Nations
debt of s2,ss1, 100000 in 1865, to
less than 81, 900, 100000 in 1888, and
to reduce per capita interest in
1865 of s4.29 to 20 cents now, while
the municipal indebtedness has
grown steadily larger The follow
ing figures are taken from the last
census reports and are authentic.
1870. .............. $500, 900, 0O0, 600
1880 SOC, 000, 000, 600
Tncraaae 81 OOO ono tDflf)
1t is now eight years since this
last census estimate was made. But
recent statistics place the present
outstanding obligations of our towns
and cities at 81, 400, 900, 900. Are
not these figures startling? Should
they not arouse the thought, energy
and care of men who will call a
halt in the useless AND extravagant
expenditures of public money? Docs
not the inquiry naturally arise when
and how these debts are to be paid?
It will not do to try and console our
selves with the paradox, that 'a
public debt is a public blessing"
That idea is transplanted here by
sour kindred beyond the sea, whore
it is necessary to bolster up and
maintain titled royalty. There is
only one instance in which munic-
ipality can afford to incur and carry
a debt, of any magnitude. We find
the reason for that in the purposes
for which towns are established, or
rather result from the dispositions
and necessities of mankind. 1t is
when the town owns something as
the equivalent of it's debentures-
something to show for the expendi-
ture of it's money, such as public
buildings, wharves, paved streets
and drives, parks. monuments, water
marks, lights, and the like.
A sinking fund is provided, or1n-
tended to be, to meet the interest
and maturing bonds that were is
sued to make these improvements.
That often falls short and the debt
increased; but the town has some
thing to compensate it for the out
lay. 1t is said this town owes about
$4,000. What has it to show for
such debt? What public buildings
or improvements mark Il single step
taken by the town? Our streets,
unless tho Thermometer is at zero,
are knee deep in mud, our pave
mcuts are laid with soft brick and
are mud-holes when it rains, our
wharf is almost a disgrace to the
town, and what is it, that concerns
the town, that is not loose and ship
shod2
1t does not injure the town to
write up the true state of its affairs.
There is no other way to arouse and
awaken a public interest in our mu-
| nicipal doings. Rochester, New
York, is one of the loveliest and
most prosperous cities in this coun-
try. Recently one of her talented
sons was elected President of the
Chamber of Commerce. At ban
quet given by him in honor of his
election, which numbered among
the guests such men as Gov. Hill,
Conkling, Evarts and Depew, the
President used the following in
structive and sensible language:
''Look where we may, we find it
as an unfortunate defect in most
cities that municipal affairs are left
to drift indifferently. The result is
to be found in the loose political
methods that characterize municipal
administrations throughout the
country. In the first place, they
increase our taxes without giving a
fair compensation for the increase.
People who recognize the difference
between spending money waste
fully and investing it, will not criti-
else the Investment that brings back
returns. To spend without proper
returns is absolute waste. Hence
tie business men of our country