The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1894-10-27
MUNICIPAL REFORM.

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Pursuant to promulgation made
by Mayor pieri week or two ago,
City Attorney E. j. Bowers address
ed the Taxpayers and residents of
Bay st. Louis last Monday night to
explain the present financial embar-
rasment of the city and to offer q
solution by which the city could best
shuttle off the heavycoil of debt.
Long before the appointed hour of
z. Hancook's temple Of justice was
comfortably seated and amorg this
vast audience were some Of the larg-
est Taxpayers and most intelligent
residents of the place. The speaker
of the evening was introduced by
Mayor Pieri, and soon the debt puz-
zle was being explained 10 the inter-
ested audience. The speaker favor
ed an amendment to the existing
charter by which bonds could be is
sued and the debt Of five thousand
dollars be paid. Not to issue bonds,
continued the speaker, and allow the
debt to live simply means a larger
amount Of interest and by all means
q law suit In which much trouble
would he enyolved and the tax-pay-
ers would be summoned to bear the
burden. A MIR. Baker, TO whom
the city is indebted, expects payment
around January lst, and as the city
Is not prepared TO meet the occasion,
will enter law suit by which to re-
cover the money without further de-
lay. Mr.. Bowers favored contin-
uance Of improvements which were
absolutely necessary, and favored
the water work system for the city
and its people.
The speaker made o favorable i'm
preston, and was followed by oul
distinguished ex-State Representa-.
tive and citizen, Hon. ID. B. Seal
who strenuously opposed to the is,
suance OF any bonds at all for he
said the revenue of the city created
an amount annually sufficient to pa,
the debt. The city tax yearly IL
SIX thousand and four dollars and
the pending debt five thousand dol
lars. Mr.. seal wanted the city L
stop further improvement only where
1t be not absolutely necessary, and
above all, that the extravaganza o.
the city be checked, ard in tha
way sufficient money would accumu
late TO wipe the debt which seems Sc
puzzling to many.
Relative TO the issuance Of bonds
The Echo concurs with Mr.. Bowers
AZ there is no alternative left Us bu
TO cancel the debt or stand Law
suit, and between the two We thinl,
the former is preferable as the latte
would entail greater outlay Of mon
ey without mentioning the trouble
which would necessarily follow
While we favor bonds as the only
remedy in the present crisis we d'
not think there should be issued ont
cent more than is absolutely necc ess
ary to liquidate the outstanding
debt. Our city's revenue, as wa
asserted by some prominent people
at the meeting Monday night, is am
ply sufficient to run its governmen
providing same be conducted OF
proper principles. BY giving on
the ciiy's work by contract, award
ing it TO the lowest bidder as done il
other cities, and advocated Monda,
night by Col. ID. Il. Seal, would b.
saving within itself of some few
hundred dollars annually. Som
very interesting disclosures wcr
made Monday night regarding tt
management, or rather mismanage
ment of certain of our officers il
whom we have entrusted the affair
of our city, and II the charges
which are very grave ones, are true
then the taxpayers of this commu
nifty should arise ia, righteous indlg
nation and call haiti
While We favor public improve
ments, believe in the opening O
new streets we are of the opinion
that it would be advisable to hav
more consideration given those tina
were recently opened and are almos
impossible for lack of attention
Doubtless, the new streets which ar
being contemplated will eventual,
become popular thoroughfares, ye
it remains an indisputable fact tha
those we now have should claim ant
have first attention. In our last is
sue we advanced plea for water
| " nrka which we are nlad 70 CAV ha.