The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-01-14

Vague and general assertions. unsup-
ported by facts, prove nothing to the
mind of the intelligent citizen who is
searching after truth. Abusive epithets
applied to public servants convince no
ono that they are unworthy. Against
all these things tho people are apt to
place official records which tell OF ser
vices well performed The esteemed
REGISTER. which hates anything Repub-
llcan with an intense and bitter hatred,
and is so blindly prejudiced that It can
aee nothing good in anything a Repubi-
can administration may do, whether 1t
be national, state or municipal. has
started in upon its usual city camplgn of
misrepresentation. distortion of facts
and hypocriucal pretenses
Yesterday, with the annual statement
Of The financial condition of the city be-
fore tia statement showing a reduc-
tion OF the public debt and a handsome
excess OF receipts over expenditures az
The end of year OF extraordinary bust
ness depression and other adverse cir
cumstances, our mertdaclous nelghbor
INDUCED In It's regular daily tlrade about
rings" and the alleged "incompetency'
and "extravagance" of Republican ad-
nlintstratlon. The opportunity present.
ed to It to make n comparison Of the
allowing mde by the present city govern
nent with that of the one made by the
last Democratic administration, was
totally ignored. Facts and figures are
what the taxpayers are after, and not un-
supported and vindictlve assertions.
Comparisons are easily made, The
statement Issued at the close of the last
year of the Democratic administration
showed receipts in excess OF the expen-
ditures OF only 1896 90, and the net debt
S794,27f IS; the statement just made by
the present administration shows an ex-
cess Of 81. 19S 50. aad the net debt $644,-
sol 81. According to the Registers
charge of extravaganza on the part of
the Republican administration these
figures should be reversed.
The facts behind the figures are more
significant. The present administration
mas been enabled to make this excellent
showing after having provided for and
lIquIdated overdue obligations which
were left unpaid by by the last admins
tratIon. This Indebtedness should have
been provided for by the body that Gre
aied It, but It was not, and the succeed
ing council was Obliged ito meet the mat
ter. Had the bills all been paid by the
Democratic administration, not only
would the statement for the year ending
December 81, 1894. not have shown the
small balance OF $4,000. but there would
nave been shown a deficiency of some
thing like four times that amount.
That the present administration found
a way out Of the embarrassing state OF
nffalrs which confronted It on assuming
control, and has been able In two years
to reduce the city debt more than $4,000,
and close the year Just ended with a bal
ance Of receipts over expenditures OF
$4,000, Is, we presume, in the Registers
mind. an exhibition of gross mlsman-
agemcnt" and rank lncompetency."
our friend. the Register, was fair
enough to say a week ago, in Its news
columns, that the present management
Of the gas works has been most credlta-
bic and Is worthy OF unstinted COM
uendation. This was brought out by
the statement OF the gas board, which
showed the very gratifying condition Of
AFFAIRS which have. been evolved from the
very unsatisfactory condition existing
when the Republicans took control OF the
city.
Even shouid The Register deny the Jus
lice and the credit due to the ndmInls,ra-
don in general. and see nj to continue
lis billlngsgatc abuse of men whose only
crime Is to be In Offices which some Dem
ocrats want very much to I'LL, It must
confess that It told the truth when It
conmsndcd at least one department for
w. splendid showing under Republican