Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-10-12

not Democratic fight. 1t will finally
resolve itself into fight between
Judge Anderson and Gen. Dick. This
bond issue will simply allow Judge
Anderson to get his machine in good
shape for next year. when he hopes
to defeat Gen. Dick for Congress,
counting on the withdrawal of con-
troll of federal patronage by the change
of national administration to weaken
Dick in other counties of the District,
and the Judges strong machine to
overthrow him in Summit county.
And some of the loyal friends of Gen.
Dick, who now are clamoring for q
bond issue, unwilling Of the fact that
it is desired solely to strengthen pri-
vate political machine at the expense
Of the taxpayers of Akron, may not
have to wait long should the bond
issue go through for evidence of how
they have placed the power in the
hands of Judge Anderson to challenge
the supremacy of Gen Dick.
Every citizen of Akron desires to
have an efficient police force. In this
regard it has been contended by the
Democratic voters that men should
be appointed on account of ability, not
OH account of the number of votes
they can bring into caucus. We be-
lieve in an efficient fire department.
and we don't believe that the best
fire departments are the houses which
can furnish Judge Anderson with the
greatest number of votes. But while
we believe in all these things, we
don't believe in living beyond our
means. We don't believe In spend
ing 100000 when we have but $50
O0O That Is the reason that the
credit of the city Of Akron is being
weakened. That Is the reason that
the last snle of city bonds brought
such small premium, and let me re-
mark right here, that when bond
buyers are about to invest in the
clty's securities 'they don't take the
opinion Of newspapers and politicians
as to the legality of the bond issues.
Among other things they ascertain
whether or not the. city is living with
in its income, and II not they do the
same that bank does to an individual
when they find him spending more
than his salary.-7cut off his credit.
Another reason why this issue Of
bonds is not legal The ordinance au-
thorizing the issue cites certain items
of expense which these bonds are to
take up. Many of those items have
been paid, in fact about $4,000, so
there Is no need of selling $16S,O0O.
The law requires that all persons deal
ing with the city must ascertain be-
fore they do so the condition of the
city's funds, and while this indebted
ness should not be repudiated, it is
nevertheless Illegal and nobody is
holding for the same, save the CITY
commissioners and their bondsmen.
Furthermore, the indebtedness as it
now exists does not draw a cent of
interest. Now it is foolish to put out
interest bearing obligations for obli-
cations that bear no interest, yet it
is on par with the financiering us,l-
ally INDUCED in by Judge Anderson
and his proxies.
Now in conclusion, l would say that
all independent Democrats and all in,
dependent citizens want to see the
city's honest debts paid. We want
to see all the debts paid. although
we know that the bulk of these were
contracted illegally and without au.
thority. But in order to pay them we
do not believe in borrowing an i'm
mense amount of money at high rate
OF interest, and placing 1t in the hands
or four men to be used that one Re.
puplican may succeed another Repub
lican In Congress- or to strength,
en- some ambitious politicians
machine, We don't want the
taxpayers of the city of Akron to be
continually paying political debts
one thing further. 1t is claimed that
the city of Akron's debt per capita is
smaller than in most cities Of the same
size, Now most cities of Akron's size
nave water works plant, an electric
light plant, gas plant, a city hall
and Il city Jail, We have nothing
IL Akron owned its own water works
plant It's bonded debt would be twice
what 1t Is today, The city of Akron
has nothing to show for its bonded
Indebtedness, except parks that were
given to the city, and fire department
houses that can't be used.
In conclusion, l notice that Mr.
Dobson. In working un sentlme IA