New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-13

CORY. and at best Republican by a small majority.
Now 1t gives over 200 Republican majority and has
grown to he of the banner Republican wards.
Mayor Rankin is confident OF his reelection. from
the assurances he has had from scores OF con-
sentative citizens. and he the reported Repub-
lican detection will simmer down to small proper
lions by election day. Conservative men who have
plurality will not be less than 300. and 1t will not
surprise them II 1t should double this figure.
A GUERILLA WARFARE IN CAMDEN.
DEMOCRATS AND so-cALLED REFoRMERs PLOT
TING IN VAIN AGAINST AN HONEST REPUB-
LrcAN ADMINISTRATIONS.
Camden, April - (speciaD-This city has never In
all its history such stormy political battle as
that Just closed. The Republicans. who took up the
rens Of Government about ten years ago. have been
attacked from all Sides but the lighting has smacked
OF the guerilla style Of warfare.
The Democrats had grown weary Of the struggle
to overcome the big Republican majority. which
has kept increasing year after year til there is not
a Democrat left In an Office In an the municipal
government and not one OF that party remains In
the City Council. and none from the city In the
County Board OF Freeholders. With their chances
OF getting in growing weaker and weaker. the
Democrats cast about for means Of overthrowing
the victorious Republicans Last year a group Of
them Joined forces with Republicans in the
organization OF the Committee OF One Hundred.
which fought campaign for Mayor and lost. last
spring. They elected three members OF the City
Council the fusion ticket however. and they felt
encouraged. They took no hand In the fall cam
pagn. but carly this spring the Committee OF One
Hundred was In the field with a selection OF candi-
dates for members OF the Board OF Excise Commits
sioners. City Council and all ward Offices. including
justices OF the peace and constables.
Using the evidence adduced the several ses-
sions OF the Black Beldon Investigation Commits
sion. the reformers have charged that the city Ia
1Iot.. q, lvt. ~ an
holders who paid proper salaries. but who
also secure heavy fees In way and another:
that the city has been grossly misgoverned. with
high tax rates and no public improvements that the
peoples money has been wasted in extravagant
expenditures and that the need OF the hour Is re-
trenchment and reform.
at is the same old cry OF the same old gang
when It is on the outs" says City Solicitor Nor
gan. but the Republican managers have no fear OF
the result Tuesday. They do not believe that
any large percentage OF Intelligent. thinking cit-
Gems are deceived by this cry. which the Demo
Gratis always raise In one guse or another when
they wish TO get their grip upon the offces. When
we took hold OF the city government. ten years
ago. Its credit was run down that Its bonds could
not ind a market. No public Improvements were
being made. the Fire and Police departments were
ridculously Inadequate for city OF our dimensions.
and we were far behind In the march OF progress
The people voted the Democrats out. and they
appear 10 nave Deen SATISFIED 10 Keep III tHeso
years We have brought the city credit up to
high standard: we have more than doubled the Fire
Department more than trebed the Police Depart
ment. built almost fourteen miles OF new sewers and
paved more than twenty-four miles OF streets We
have introduced electric lighting into the streets
and despite the charges OF extravaganza In this
respect we now have the best-lghted city In the
State. and don't believe many taxpayers would
care 10 20 back to the old days OF hickerlng gas
.ont uit Nh
v.ys were formerly lighted. We have built ten
new schools and established high and manual
training school In rented quarters. giving eauca-
tional facilities to 300 more children IMAM were
furnished ten years ago. and Increasing inc annual
cxnenditures for schools from Nli,0o 10 NV''"".
don't believe that there is any considerable NUMBER
n, ,axnay.rs who begrudge the money SCENT IN
a,r.c,,on We have reduced the total city debt.
s,na., and floating from 1897 600 to r2s2'co and
refunded s5 90 OF per cent water bonds Al So per
o.,, saving altogether about $500 a year IN our
interest account ,.u-.
THE worst OF the fire from these oush"hache''
has been directed at me. continued MT -"os"'
but ! could stand II II they wouid on'y S'Vn :"
m. facts and truthful figures instead OF sarblins
and oanpulating In the interest OF their plot Inc
s.I,rv Of the city Counsel In 5000 year ana TINS
IL absolutely all I receive as such oniciai. WAS
amounted Collector OF Delinquent Taxes and every
dollar of fees as such oiea come not Out ,s o.
10
who fan to pay their taxes promptly. II ess ny
property holder in the city paid his taxes on Sme my
is the city is the gamer by many ihousnnds .,
aoa" in this ,b plan a Of esS yeas these delinquent
Collections amounted to grand total OF %,ssiS 70
ana he total cos, to as Tor r iss
haunted 10 ISL i720 Deduct from that the ex-
q aSs na you Sn per-
Add 10 Total amount Of aes2nes whes hs
md a and you Nndt u snus
d Serinne the city city has gained.
Al that could be made II the compensation depended
alone upon a salary? The last LEGISLATURE Iecos-
nzed this when Il Insisted upon ncs. Of Clerk in
chsncery and Supreme Court clerk provison,
mus: kssp 1"s. wcS any
up verify by the books. the sooalled reformers
nerve :s0r a my 70 f ts
nerod preceding the operation OF this plan OF col
iectng delinquent taxes VIII shoW 70 any i AR
M ,he nresent mode From 1873 to 1857 there was
no snecia provision for the collection OF deihquent
her the issue OF this experiment was happy one.
II became a common practice with numerous h.. US
fhsr Is tax bills until they accumulated to figure
that made object for the city Go1mc1 70 fbn
- rsa Claims were adjusted at discount OF from
90 10 IS per cent There were many C.n ns 80. VINO
! ia Tna,lw TO straghten matters out commission
No Amounted under the Martin act 10 coect tnese
ofm This involved II very Ien"y e~pN''S
chinh the commissions allowed are mere basa-
eies and though the result was salutary inasmucn
~ - snuared up all old accounts yet the nnanciaI
as :. 90 The CITY was comparatively trihng. Does
snv one suppose that the taxpayers OF Camden1
desire repetition OF the DISASTROUS experience "
those ten years!
RAILWAYS REPUBLICAN TICKET GOOD
ONE.
Railway. April IL (speciaD.-The annual cnarter
election which takes place Tomorrow, has not oeen