Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-04-08

sometimes repeat itself Under fhe provisions of the statutes of this state. the Mayor cannot legally sell supplies to the city ont of his own store, either by contract or without it.
 The Mayor, in his reply in his of ticial organ. also states:
 Again. Mir. Adams claims that nn- def my administration it cost the Iclty Sfl ~ per head forfeeding horses. and only SS per head under for. mer administration, hnf the ,.daar editor" failed to tell the peonle tbat the city is now feeding eight head of horses, while under Mir. Bell the city fed but five.
 II the Mayor had read the Sunday GRAPHIC as carefully as he should, he would have found this lanpuape. During that time IRell,s aslsuit,is- tratlanl city script was worth from a0 to 60 cents. At that time. also. there were FIVE horses in the employ ol lhe hfe sienaftsnent. An ifivesti- | gatian eff the records and arennnts of the city for the last six mnnfbs ns Mayor Bells administration shows h. plies for the fire department vas $2a0.21 or an average for the six months of Sll.7 per month. The average cost per head for feeding the horses of the fire department would bc less, therefore, than SS. al- lowing something for incl lental ex | penses, such us soap. salt. hrooms etc, used in connection with the fire department.
 And also this.
 During the ten months of Gold smiths administration fhere bava been < horses in usehy the city. The average cost of feed Tor each horse when l.. F.. Goldsmith X Co. sell inc feed. Is, therefore. about $ll.o0 per head, whereas, under Bells ad- ministration the cost per head was about $S. In that connection if must also be remembered that dur- ing t5eii's administration city scrip was worth from 90 to 50 cents. whereas. under the present admin istcation, according to the Mayors own statement. city scrip Is worth now from 90 to 95 cents.
 In that connection it must also he remembered that during Bells ad- ministration feedstuffs were ut least 25 per cent higher than at present. n fact that can be deInonstrated by appealing to records and quotations
 The Mayor also adduces a sworn affidavit from his bookkeeper to the effect that "there does not anpear upon the books of l.. E. Goldsmith X Co. or any bill rendered by said firm against the city. the amount of $l 30 for two brooma.
 The item published in the GRApHn was copied from the bill filed against the city for the month of February. and if it is not plainly written ''brooms" on the bill, we are unable to read the chirography of the May or's accountant. The Mayor wisely refrains, however, from telling us what the item is. which hecould have easily done by reference to bis hooks.
 The Mayor also nses this language. ''The record shows that it has been the custom in buying supplies for the city to purchase them from the ,lif. ferent city officials, etc. This is n very startling confession, and the one about which we now comnlain. Why should city officials, the Mayor at the head of them, be the sole fa- yorites in furnishing supplies for the city? If this then, be true, all of the city officials are taking advantage of their positions for private profit. and 1t Is additional evidence that there should be n general change In the city government. Under the laws, city officials have no right to sell goods to the city and then sit in judgment and allow their own ac- counts. This is a startling and un- precedented s'irregularity. and one that should be rebuked at the polls. According to this statement there Is a general division among Iile ..citv officials" of the spells of office. and it is high time this policy was being rehuked and changed.
 In conclusion we desire to say that every statement presented to the voters of Pine Bluff in the Snn- day GRAPRIc was taken from the official records of the city. and they disclose sufficient Irregularities h, i the administration of city affairs to warrant all charges we have made.
 Instead of heaping abuse upon the head of theeditor Of the GRAPHIC, who is discharging a public service In he- half of the people of Pine Bluff, the Mayor would do we'll to defend and explain his official record and his violations of the laws of the Statr. which he has sworn tn support. The Mayor has made a record during his brief term nf office, and hy that record he must be judged.