St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-29


To the Democratic City Committee,
a Globe Building, st. Paul, MINI.
Srs: The undersigned, who were re-
quested by your committee to investi-
gate the question: What, if any, re-
duction i'll the municipal Indebtedness
of st. Paul has occurred since June 6.
1892, as thu, result of economy practiced
by the present Republican administra-
ton in the conduct of the city's affairs?
beg leave TO. submit the following re-
port: 49,, ...
The Republican newspapers of this
city for the past ten days have teemed
with statements to the effect that since
the present municipal administration
came into power that administration has
reduced the city debt in the sum of
more than 1884, 600. This statement. &C
companied by heyfurther statement or
inference that whatever reduction in
the city's debt has occurred is attribut-
able to Republican economy ill the con-
duct of public affairs, has been persist
emily repeated by Republican speakers
with such effrontery that the less i'll
formed among our citizens might we'll
believe them sincere and assume the
statements made to be true. The
statement with reference to the re-
duction in city Indebtedness is based
upon a statement made by Mr..
McCardy, the present Republican city
comptroller, to the chamber of COM
merce and published in the st. Paul
Dispatch OF April Is. This communica-
ton does not purport to contain state
ment of any reduction that has occurred
in the debt. MIR. McCardy knew that a
statement that any reduction amount
ing to the sum mentioned had occurred
would be grossly untrue. Yet his state
ment, as published, was so artfully
worded as to mislead the average reader
into the belief that the payments men-
toned in the statement had resulted in
a corresponding reduction of debt, and,
as we have said. Republican papers
and speakers have persistenty SO stated,
dttrlbutng this result to the econom-
icaI administration of the city's affairs
by the present, sO-called, reform adj
ministratlOn.
What are the facts?
l. To begin with. since June 6, 1892,
the day upon which the city government
was turned over to the present Repub-
lican administration, net reduction in
the city's debt has occurred to the ex.
tent of S153, 690.30 only. Here are the
figures:
June 6, 1892, the aggregate
city debt Gncluding judg-
mentS) Was. ..-..........Sl ST., 20l ,S9I %
April 10, 1894. it was Qike-
wise including Judg-
mentS). ............. I'll, 04S, POI 2;
These figures, like all those we shall
give upon this subject, nave been taker
from the records of the city comptroIl
er'S office.
So the Republicans are lying in re
spect of this matter to the extent of jus
S7lO,647. ga good round lie aud worth,
of its parentage.
What the Republican administration
has done is in substance this: 1t ha
taken money already in the treasur
(whence it was derived we shall shoy
later om and with it has paid maturin
bonds and certificates of Indebtedness
and then, tosupply the money necessar
tomeet the ordinary charges upon tn
city treasury, including current inter
est, has issued tax levy certificates ii
effect short time notes of the CITY
thereby running the city into deb
again. In sore instances tax lev
certificates Ghese amount i
the aggregate to S272,O0O) hav
been issued for the express purpose G
obtaining money to. take up maturin
certificates of Indebtedness. Indeed