Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-02-16
CITY FINANCES A THIRD TIME.
The Republican Still Continues to
MiSlead the Voters of DecOrah
By Carefully WOrded and In
consistent Statements.

MIN laSt week, anu OeVoteS TWO COL
umns in endeavoring by willy and par
tial statements to answer the facts
placed before him in Mayor Daubney's
letter regarding city finances. We re-
gret that we, like him, have not as
much space to devote to such an ar
ticle, as matters Of news generally fill
our columns; however, we feel that we
owe it to the mayor, city council, and
the voters of Decorah to present the
facts as they really are.
Mr.. Bailey starts out by admitting
that he compiled a private report with
out consultation with the proper Off
cials. He says he has done it "when-
ever special circumstances made it
necessary" that is to say, whenever
there was man in office or a candi-
knee to him; whenever he found a
man in a place of public trust in De-
corah who could not be saddled,
bridled and ridden by himself. Every
one who knows Mayor Daubney knows
that he has always been staunch re-
publican, dictated to by no person or
class of persons. Had he agreed two
years ago to enter with uncovered head
into the presence of We king, (the Re
publican,) and meekly harken to his
instructions and promise to follow them
70 m ha
lauded to the skies through the col
umns of that paper; but no, he chose to
fight his battle alone, and if he won to
perform his duties as his best Judge
ment told him, not to be dictated to by
anyone. And he has done so, as we
shall point out later on.
At this juncture we would impress
upon our readers the fact that Mr..
Bailey is after the scalp of Mayor
Daubney all through both his articles,
wnen he knows as well as anyone that
the mayor has not the responsibility of
managing the city finances. He has
no vote on the disposition of city money,
nor is he even member of the finance
committee; but Mr.. b. would lead the
people to believe that Mr.. Daubney had
placed the city in a bankrupt condition,
when the facts are that the city is not
so nearly insolvent as he would infer.
When the present administration
came into power it was a question
whether they should pursue the do
nothing policy of the former council or
adopt progressive policy. The result
shows that the latter was agreed upon,
and every voter is aware that the city
is i'm much better condition than when
they assumed control. True, they
have expended money, but for every
dollar spent we have received value,
and we must give them credit for what
they have accomplished. Then again,
the expenditure ola greater part of the
money was forced upon them by the
former council. Mr.. Bailey himself,
| after he was defeated for alderman,
with characteristic vindictiveness call
ed up the waterworks extension meas
ure at the last meeting of the former
council and worked hard to secure its
passage, Notwithstanding the fact that
he worked against it before his defeat)
thus forcing debt of $4,000 upon the
present council, without leaving any
assets in the treasury with which to
/ 4 h;e oil 4 tod
monument to themselves at an eX-
pense of $1,000 to the city by erecting a
pumping station i'm 1894 which was
practically useless in six months, and
forced the expense of building the new
station, over $4,000, upon the present
council.
The city money has been judiciously
Expended in necessary improvements.
Why, Mr.. Bailey might with equal
Justice attack our present efficient school
board for running the school district in
debt S25 900 for the erection of model
school building and for using their very
best Judgement in the expenditure OF
the money placed at their disposal, but
he has no political grudge against them,
and their wisdom is without question,
as that of this council is to every fair
minded person.
Ever since Mr.. Bailey's defeat for
alderman two years ago his spleen has
been boiling over in unjustiattacks up
on our present council. Ifhe would be
so "exact" in his statements, let him
publish the whole truth, and their will
be no controversy whatever, but we
protest against citizens being furnished
'..fg,res ,0hich they may rely upon,"
when they are so cunningly compiled
as to hide the exact status of things.
Give every man his due and be fair
and honest in all things.