The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-30
A BRAZEN PROPOSITION.

Mr.. Mcguire is asking the people of In
%dianapolis to elect him mayor because he
represents and will continue the Taggart
policy of the last six years. and Mr.. Tag
CART is electioneering for him on the same
ground. The candidate does not pretend TO
have any policy of his own or any ideas of
municipal government. except, as far as
possible, to continue the Taggart policy.
He does not attempt to inform the people
what that policy is, but Mr.. Taggart does.
He claims that Mr.. Mcguire should be
elected as an Endorsement Of the three Tag
CART administrations; first. because. during
that period, the city has prospered and in
creased in population and has made marked
prOgress in the way of public improve
ments. and second. because. by instituting
the practice of raising money by tempo
rary loans, instead of by taxation, he has
enforced economy on the Council. These
are the only grounds on which either Mr..
Mcguire or Mr.. Taggart claims that the
latter should be elected. Let US examine
them.
1t is true that the city has grown, pros
pered and increased in population during
Mr.. Taggart's three administration and
has made much progress in the way of pub
lie improvements, but he had nothing to do
with causing the growth and prosperity of
the city. and the people have paid dearly
for the improvements. while much Of the
money that has come out of their pockets
has been unwisely expended, distributed
ap,lrr ~ fax~orifog 90 GfvrarfGH 70 M
liticaI purposes, until an empty treasury
compelled a resort to temporary loans Mr..
Taggart's claim that the growth and pros
perity Of the city during the last six years
were due to his administrator is a piece Of
brazen impudence. New York city has
grown and prOspered during all the years
OF Tammany rule. in spite of its corruption
and innumerable evils. The growth and
prosperity Of indianapolis in recent years
have been due TO causes with which Mr..
Taggart had no connection whatever. The
public improvements were a natural result
OF the city charter, which he has ignored
and violated in som essential respects.
The improvements which. in man. cities,
are paid for out of the general fund. have
been paid for here by individual assess
ments, and yet Mr.. Taggart boasts that he
has made the improvements without an ex-
cessive tax levy. He tries TO create the i'm
preston that, owing to his wise policy and
good management, the improvements have
been made without burdening the people.
They know better. He deserves no more
credit for the improvements than he does
for the growth and prosperity of the city.
But Messrs. Mcguire and Taggart seem
to lay more stress on the latter's financial
policy of temporary loans than they do
even on his wonderful services in creating
prosperity. They point to it with pride.
They really seem TO regard it as a discOv-
cry in finance. 1t used to be thought that
a wise and honest rule in municipal af-
fairs was to raise the necessary revenues
by taxation and then pay as you go" The
Taggart and 'Me-too" Mcguire policy is
to nave an insufficient revenue and an
empty treasury. and borrow money at in
terest to pay current expenses. They claim
that this makes the Council economical.
Mr.. Taggart said, in his last message to the
Council, that he believed this sis the busi-
ness-like way to manage the affairs of the
city" He has been able to put this novel
idea in force to such an extent that since
July 80, 1900, temporary loans have been
made to the aggregate amount of $455, 634,
and the city controller asked for authority
to borrow $92, 900 more. Mr.. Taggart thinks
this is 1.-THE business-like way in which TO
manage the financial affairs of the city,
and because Mr.. Mcguire agrees with him
they ask that he be elected mayor in order
that he may continue the policy of replen-
ishing al empty treasury by temporary
loans. II is a brazen proposition.