The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-03-29
THE ISSUE JOINED.

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the finances of the city-the rea
issue in the campaign. The coun
ell of the past two years, composed
of men against whose integrity
.either personal or official, not a Wo {
may be truthfully said, is charged
with an extravaganza. if not reckless
expenditure of public funds. Tha
its members felt that an explana
1tion, at least, if not an apology
was due is evidenced by the fac
that they felt it necessary to call q
public meeting, over the officia
signature "City Council" to zen.
tighten the tax payers upon the
finances of the city. This meeting
has been called because of so many
reports being circulated as to de.
pleted condition of our city treas
ury." So the call is worded. In
response to this circular an audi.
ence of perhaps 200 persons
assembled at the city opera house
on Friday evening and on behalf OF
the council Alderman Ingram m de
a statement somewhat in detail,
reeiting the work done by the coun-
Gil during the two years, giving
some details as to money expended
and making partial financial state
ment. He was frank and open in
all that he said; made no attempt
at concealment, invited questioning
and yet, left unsaid so much that
would have thrown light upon the
actual deplorable condition of the
treasury that he failed to satisfy
those who wanted information. He
told how much the park cost
about Sc, 900; the cost of the pump
house, about $1,000; the cash ex-
pended for grading certain streets,
exclusive of poll-tax, the llneal
measurements of street grades, side
walks, sewers, curbing, gutter
paving, etc., portion paid for by
the city, and most of it by abutting
property, so that the minds of his
hearers became confused. 1t is
next to impossible for anyone to
fix sharp impressions and accurate
information in their minds from
statistical talk.
The conclusion Mr.. Ingram
would have his audience carry
away was that vast amount of
work had been economically done
and that the city treasury is not
"depleted;" that the council had
acted wisely and economically =
and was justly entitled to re-elec-
ton that it might continue in its
policy. He spoke of balance of
five or six hundred dollars in the
city treasury after the discharge of
all its current indebtedness-and
therefore the citizens and tax pay
ers had no just ground for criticism.
atis with his conclusions the HERALD
takes issue. 1t affirms that the
council has been unduly extrava-
giant; that the city has not only no
surplus in its treasury, but a deficit;
that there is not money enough in
sight either in the treasury now or
to come into it during the year to
come to meet expenses even under
the most rigid economy, and it
would therefore be unwise to re-
elect the members of the council
whose terms are about to expire
and all of whom are candidates for
reelection.
What is the financial condition
sof the CITY? What was it when
this council took charge of it's
affairs? What would it be after
two years more of such administra-
ton? 1t is far easier to answer the
first two questions than to guess at
sthe third.
The financial statement for
Official publication was not COM
spletedsup to Wednesday evening,
but ttrerHERALD has sought figures
from reliable sources and is under
obligations to the courtesy OF
Treasurer Rien, Clerk Cooper and
Alderman ingram for assistance
and Information in prosecuting its
search for authentic figures.
Net'balance in the city treasury,
is $4,985, as shown by the books
on Tuesday: including all funds
There are outstanding city orders,
drawing six per cent. interest,
due on or before July 4 at the
option of the council, amounting to
$4,000, and a past due bond for
ST 900 and interest for six months
at seven per cent, amounting to
a,O35 more; total: $685., or nearly
$1,000 more than all the cash on
hand in all the funds. But that is
not all-in this balance of So, o85 is
included $o28 of library money
over which the council has abso-
lutely no control-and is really nc
more to be considered than would
be the firemen's relief society