Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1896-02-01


proposed bond issue for public improve
ment, is not surprising, but its state
ments are in many respects amazing.
Its imagination has run away with its
good sense, if it's personal interests
have not subjugated it's conscientious
scruples Its discussion of the subject
in Friday evenings issue was bewil-
dering maze of misunderstanding and
consequent misstatement. Paragraph
by paragraph it does what it can to
mislead its readers.
Primarily it assumes and gives its
readers to understand that Mr.. S. j.
Hathaway, President pro tenn of the
City Council, was the author of the
"facts and figures" bearing on the
question, which appeared in the Leader
of Friday morning. In doing this it ig-
norantly or wantonly traduces a man
who is not guilty. The Registers de-
lusion is simply one more evidence
that it is not only befogged in its tigur-
es, but is pervegting its facts.
The tableof figures and editorial com
ment accredited'to Mr.. Hathaway were
compiled and written in the Leader Of
fee by the men who are there for that
purposeS-the editors. There is more
of the same stuff where it came from.
Mr.. Hathaway has, for an unknown
reason, been given much notoriety in
the last few days and SO, setting our
befuddled brother straight on this mat
ter, we will pass to the real question in
hand For the information of our
readers solely, we carefully computed
and published the cost of the city lights
last year, proving beyond doubt that
municipal ownership of street lights is
much cheaper than private ownership,
according to bids made. The Register
says it's editor went over these same
figures last spring, but it never saw fit
to publish them for the simple reason
that they would have defeated its pur-
pose, which has been, we feel reason
ably certain, to secure the sale OF the
lights to a company. 1t says:
I'm this showing Mr.. Hancock's sal
arv is charged in part S400 In fact it
should be doubled or nearly So"
CITY Clerk Louis Mueller made oath
that Mr.. Hancock was paid but S4OO
for his services as electrician. Did
Mueller know?
The Register tells its readers that the
statement that the city is paying out
$4,000 per year on its Indebtedness is
untrue to the extent of S11, 600, and yet
Louis Mueller, City Clerk, made oath
that he paid last year in principal and
interest on our debts s21, Os3 IS. The
exact amount that will be paid this
year is $50, 954.O4, all fully provided for
by the levy.
The figures in Fridays Leader were
correct, as far as it is possible to get
them correct, and nothing but juggling
can make them appear otherwise.
Every statement we have made is
born of an honest intention to benefit
the city of Marietta, regardless of pri-
vate interests. We never fought pub
lie improvement that was needed and
we never will do so knowingly. This
is not the first time we have been call
ed upon to defend the city street lights
against sale and if the bond proposition
is voted down next Monday, it will not
be the last time.
1t occurs to us that a large element
in the fight may be simply a case of Al
derman VS.. Hathaway. We are led
to think so by the abuse heaped upon
Mr.. II. for something he did not do. If
such is the issue at stake next Monday
we can call the turn on the result.