The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-28


Withstanding there was a stated balance of
about 81 600 to the credit of the city in the
treasurers hands. there was outstanding
unpaid $4,000 in temporary loans and
bonds, while $4,000 had been advanced by
the treasurer against the taxes TO be paid
thereafter. In addition to this the rent for
the city offices. amounting to 81, 500, was due
ana unpaid, as we'll as 81, 500 due the county
auditor for assessments on city property
DEBTS PAID BY REPUBLICANS.
Coming into power with such a democrat
lied condition of the city affairs one would
hardly expect even the Republican admin
istration to have weathered the storm in
so short time as was doAe successfully
by the last Republican administration The
records of the city government show that
the Republican administration of 1898 to
1895 paid the oyerdrafts, rent, temporary
bonds outstanding at the time they came
into power, without increasing the bonded
Indebtedness of the city, and actually made
such improvements and Announcements in
the affairs of the city government as rarely
marked a period of improvement and adj
vancement by any city administration in
the history of Indianapolis. That Repub-
lican administration having recovered the
ground lost by it's predecessor. having Iiqui-
dated all of the unpaid current expenses,
refunded the bonded Indebtedness of the
city so as TO reduce the interest from Sic
no instance withheld proper expenditures
Of money where needed, nor took one single
backward step in the advancement which
should always mark the growth of this city.
The present administration, upon entering
into power twenty-three months ago. found
all the current expenses paid, found no over
drafts, found no increased bonded indebt-
edneSS, but entered upon the administration
of its term with clean balance sheet and
a credit OF which any city might be proud.
Coming into power under such favorable
conditions, the present administration
should have proved successful in every
particular, and should be able at this hour,
when it is asking by your votes an APP
prevail of It's course, to show that it has
not abused its opportunities, but has con-
ne Wb inS I IPfn
had laid down. 1t is for you now to de-
termine how far this administration has
succeeded in the management of the city
affairs l venture the statement that this
administration, when its history shall be
made up, will be subject to the same crit
iciSm that we are compelled to give to the
other two Democratic administrations TO
which ! have referred, and will prove no
exception to the rule, and that it Will be
found to have increased the bonded in
debtednesS of the city and to have eX-
pended the taxes without regard to the bust
ness methods that should be pursued, and
in all respects followed the line of business
principles practiced by the former Demo-
cratic administrations. 1t has always been
a marvel to me why Democrats, who, in
their individual affairs, are economical ana
thrifty and able to succeed, when they
come to take charge of the government,
citv state or national should ALWAYS fail
The personnel of the three Democratic adj
ministrations referred to was above the
average of business men, and in each In
stance the head of these three Democratic
administrations showed by his success in
individual business affairs his ability to
manage and make money and lay aside an
amount sufficient to mark him as gOOd
business man. In each instance you would
have supposed that having taken charge OF
the affairs of the city the same business
business of these persons would have char-
acterized the city business. but not so
There is something that has never YET
been explained to me which enters INTO
the makeup of Democratic officials which
differs materially from the principles winch
prompt them in their lndlVldual business
affairs We are compelled to say by an eX-
animation of the reports thus FAR publShed
of the present administration as compared
with the history of the last Republican au-
mnistration, that the city affairs have not
been conducted upon true business prln-
ciples, but have been conducted IN an eX-
travagant and unbusinessltke maEper.
THE EXPENDITURES COMPARED.
The last published report of the present
CITY controller contains table showing the
expenditures of the year 1885, which was
the last year of the last Republican admin
istration 1t also shows the expenditures
of the year 1885, the first year of the present
Democratic administration l therefore in
vite attention to this report, as it is wholly
composed of evidence furnished by the
financial officer of the present administra-
ton. A comparison of the expenditures of
these two years, one Immediately following
the other shows clearly that this admins
tration has not conducted the affairs of
the city in a purely business-like manner.
The total expenditures, as shown by ms
report for the year 1Ss Ss t mere Sle 81
997.76. There were, however, certain eA-
penditures in the year 1885, and which L
take entirely from this Democratic control
lers report, which were unusual expendi-
lures not occurring in the ordinary course
of the affairs of the city, and when Tor
purposes of true comparison should be
eliminated. The same is also true OF the
year 1896. 1t must also be remembered that
in 1895 we were paying 3-lO per cent. IN
tereSt on the bonded Indebtedness or the
city which that administration reduced to
per cent, which amount only was psild IN
1856 Consequently the interest account ult-
fering in rate should be eliminated Tor the
purpose of a proper comparison. In the
year 1895 we paid over $4,000 for the ex-
penses of the city election, which is not
properly considered current expenses. We
also paid in that year $1,000 for the compia-
ton of the city ordinances, a work Whch
does not occur except at long intervals and
consequently should not be regarded as q
current expense, and should be eliminated
from the expenditures of the year 1888 IN
order to make proper basis OF comparison
In both of these years the law department
of the city government paid out thousands
of dollars in discharge of judgments and
costs against the city, and which one year
with another will vary according to the
suits which may be brought against the
city for liability incurred IN this way In
1895 on account of the thrift and energy of
the law officials of the Republican admin
istration a large number of cases which
had gone over unsettled, and a large num-
Der of judgments which mad been unpaid,
were cleared from the city membranes,
and over $4,000 was thus expended by that
department while little over $1,000 was
paid for the same cause in 1896. Taking
out therefore, these items from both years,
as we'll as the bonds which were redeemed,
and which, of course, are not properly
current expenses, we would have q showing
which would reduce the expenses for the
two years to a basis of comparison upon
the current and running expenses of the
city government. This would be as follows:
1886
Total expenditures 49,. $1,O72, 952.62
Bonds redeemed ..... .$276 COCO
Interest account ........ 62973.52
Election expenses 49,. 10243,43
Compilation of ordi-
nanceS... ........... 3OUO.W
Law department ex-
penSeS s.......... 14,oV0.oo
Total 49,. ............ S66. 722. SO
Current expenditures =. sos 23O.29
1885,
Total expenditures $50. $1426ss7.7s
Bonds redeemed ...... .$545, 10000
Interest account ....... 57,764SS
Law department ex-
expenses ........... 9IlI.tS
Total :. ........... sl1.s76.s1
Current expenditures :. $Sl5.121.15
BORROWED FOR THE EXPENSES.