Evening journal., 1897-06-05
SATURDAY. JUNE s. 1897.
REVIEW OF REPUBLICAN JUG
CLING.

Every Wilmington voter who to-day
casts his vote for the Republican ticket
is voting away his property, for we
shall have a return of Republican ex-
travagance and increased taxation.
Every man who votes the Democratic
ticket will be- casting his vote for men
who favor an economical and honest
administration of our municipal affairs,
which must necessarily be attended by
a. tax rate that is within the bounds of
reason.
The Democratic party is in favor of
conducting this city government along
the broad lines of political economy,
rather than along the narrow lines of
partisan politics. It is for this grand
principle Of city government that the
Democratic nominees stand to-day.
The tax rate in 1SS9-9O-91 was fixed
under Democratic administration at
S1.4O on the 500. When the Democratic
Council went out of power on June 30,
1891, It left, after paying all accounts,
a balance in bank for the incoming Re-
publican Council OF $19,576.41.
In 1892 the Republicans raised the
tax rase to $1.55. In 1898, the city cleo
ton coming on, they fixed the rate at
S1.5O for political effect, and left it at
that figure in 1894. Again in 1895 they
reduced the rate to $1.4O, hoping there
by to secure votes, as another election
was at hand. They made the boast
through the Republican papers of the
city that they were reducing the rate
from s1.55 to s1.4O, and appealed to the
people to keep them in power.
But the plain, unvarnished truth was
that, when coming into power in 1891,
they, at the first opportunity, raised the
tax rate from $1.4O, as it was under
Democratic administration. to $1.55
and It took three years to get back tc
the Democratic rate.
They went out of power July 1, 1895
after working under tax rate
OF $3.50, receiving from the Re
publican Water Commission $50,0OI
ia March, 1895, which was no
payable until January /, 1896, as sur
plus; but this was done in order to hell
the incompetent and extravagant Re
publican Council out of financial hole
With all this in their favor, the.
went out Of power July 1, 1895. purport
ing to have balance Of $40, ,2S3.0S, bu
in reality, they left comparativel
nothing, for the incoming Democrat
Council had 10 assume bills Of the oil
Council to the amount of $4,000 in tn
aggregate, and which came from thei
appropriations as fixed by the outgoin
Republican Council at the S1.40 rate
The Democrats, thus handicappe,
managed the affairs of the city durin
that fiscal year, from July l, 1895,
July /, 1896, paid all claims and had
balance on hand, July 1, 1896, of "a
aS693; they kept it at that for the fisci
year, 1896 and 81, and fixed the ra
for 1897 and '9S at the same figure.
Not only this, but, in addition, Il
Democrats have given the Fire Depar
ment increased appropriations for 4
coming year and made provision for {
increase in the police force of two sc
geants and seven men after July 1.
These are plain facts which the vot
should remember when he goes to
posit his ballot to-day. That under
Democratic Council the rate was $1.4
it was increased to $1.55 by the Repu
llcans at the first opportunity. and ]
duced only after three years of
competency. and then for political
feet. But by the wise management
the Democrats it has been kept the
where it was when they retired in Is
with S19,576.41 to their credit.