Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-03-19
AsCRAP OF HISTORY.
A Card from Mr.. A. W. Rice on Mu-
nicipal Matters,


nieipal Matters.
To the Editor Of THE REFLECTOR.
The News, after rambling around
over all the administrations of the city
for the past ten years, has finally set
tied down to a personal fight upon me.
l suppose that its editor thinks that by
drawing the attention of the voters to
.some remote subject he may shield the
present mayor who is a candidate for
reelection, and cover up the many i'm
perfections and shortcomings of the
present administration. While the
personal attack of the News upon me
in no way affects the public welfare, 1
do not desire that any falsehOods that
may be uttered about the administra-
tion of the city government while 1 was
mayor shall be used by the News or
! anyone else for the purpose of bolster
ing up the weak points in the admins
tration of the present or any other
mayor. Let every tub staLd on its
own bottom. While 1 was mayor of
the city, the editor of the News in
person and through the columns of his
paper endorsed my official administra-
tion, including the financial policy of
the city as pursued by the city council
at that time, and also endorsed and
approved my efforts to enforce the
police laws of the city. 1t Is only
since he is financially interested in the
re- election of the present mayor that
he has discovered that my administra-
tion was so bad. During the last few
months of my term as mayor an incl
dent occurred which very aptly Illus
| trates the aid and assistance which the
News family is willing to render in
enforcing police regulations of the city.
1t is not so difficult to locate the dens
of crime in city as it is to find wit
nesses who can be relied upon to tell
what they know. The city had a very
important case in the district court,
and l had good reason to konw that
one of the News family could furnish
all the evidence needed to convict the
defendant. For some unaccOuntable
reason Sheriff Miller returned that the
witness wanted could not be found
that he had suddenly gone to Kansas
| City and the case had to be continued.
Two days afterward when tue case WAS
again called the News man, although 1
knew him to be in the city, was not
| found by the sheriff. l became
thoroughly disgusted with the efforts
of the sheriff and informed him that if
he did go over to a certain room and
bring the News man into court that L
would find an officer that would bring
him. This had the desired effect and
the News man was finally brought iIro
court aud gave his evidence.
This is only one of many instances
in which those who are now preaching
obedience and economy practiced Obed-
ience and economy during my admins
tration. When 1 was elected l took a
solemn oath that 1 would to the best of
my ability see that the ordinances of
the city were enforced and, the police
records of the city are open to the in
| spectiOn of any one to see whether l
was unfaithful to my trust. l am
perfectly willing that any act OF mine
while mayor of this city shall be
thoroughly Investigated and compared
with the acts of any other mayor
either before or since. L can truth
fully say that while l way mayor L
never tried to stand in with both the
law-abiding and the law-breaking
classes, nor did L ever offer to pay a
whisky mans fine in order to blind the
peoples eyes, and at the same time
keep jointer in line for me to assist
in my reelection.
In regard to the management of the
finances of the city, and the making OF
public improvements during my ad-
ministration have no apology to make.
am one of the largest tax payers of
this city. l had no other interest in
anything that 1 did for the city than to
advance the prosperity of the city.
Not a single public improvement was
made during my administration which
was any personal advantage to. me or
which would enhance any piece of
property which 1 owned, or in which l
had an interest any more than that of
any other citizen in the city. Nor did
L ever receive one dollars worth of
benefit from a single bond that was
voted by the people and issued, other
that which 1 derived from being a
property owner of the city. 1t is true
that number of bonds were issued,
but not a dollar was issued without
the approval of the majority of the
voters as expressed at the polls. Bonds
to the amount of $50, 900 were issued
to railroads. The people of the city
voted them, and the mayor and coun-
Gil only did what they had to do when
they issued the $50, 900 railroad bonds;
s.. 500 were old bonds of ten years
standing; $4,000 were funding bonds,