The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-14

city auditor does not estimate the
amount of such bills at more than $4,000
or $4,000 aud the liquor agency returns
show that S., 900 left in the till by the
last administration has been used by
this. The Republican administration
left very few bills out, and it left more
than enough money to square them up
in the liquor agency fund alone. Incl
dentally, it may be mentioned also thai
the present administration have spent
also this years profits of $1,000 md
when the Republican administration
comes in next March it will find the
liquor agency chest as bare as the city
treasury will be. Also, there is another
point Under our system of municipal
government the incoming administration
gets into power two weeks before the ex-
piration of the financial year. Finding
that the last Republican administration
had considerable of their appropriations
unexpended, the Democratic administra
ton improved those two weeks in ex-
pending that money for supplies that
have been used this year.
1t has contributed So 500 to the new Eye and
Ear Infirmary. 1t has constructed'a new stair
way and entrance to the City Hall and reno
waited and improved the building in all its
parts. 1t has provided the fire department
with chemical engine and equipment. 1t mas
wired the city for its new police telegraph.
We admit that these things have been
done. All city governments do such
things, and never think of growing over
them.
It has put. the school houses in q better
sanitary condition and made them more at
tractive III appearance than has been the case
for years. 1t has laid over l 200 square yards
of granite paving (no worthless asphalt this
Year,
This is entirely misleading. This city
government has paid outfor school houses
and repairs the sum of So, 400, while last
years administration finished the new
Jackson school at an expense of $780, 800,
repaired other school houses at an ex-
pense of 81, 900, and built new sanitary
arrangement at the North school at an
expense of 81, 400.
claimed as the work of this administra-
ton. The same amount was laid last
year, besides $4,000 for asphalt pave
ment, showing that the Republican did
about $40, 1000 more of permanent work in
paving than this administration has done.
Yet the total expenditures in the street
department. last year were but $4,000
more than they have been this year. AS
for the asphalt pavement, the Republi-
can ADMINISTRATION took suitable bonds so
that the city will lose nothing on it.
1t has saved over $500 in interest on its tenn
porary borrowings by brushing away time hon
ored cobwebS OF financiering.
1t is true that the interest expense this
year is $753 less than last. But had the
market rate of interest been the same
this year as last, this government would
have had to spend much more for inter-
est. For last year during the time of
borrowing money the market rates were
from to per cent, while this year they
have been from II to per cent. A fur
Their fact. Last year the money was
hired from one to two per cent, under
market rates, while this year it has been
hired at from one to two per cent. above
market rates. So much for Anticipated
fnanciering.