Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-06-28
FRIDAY EVENING. JUNE %. 1901.

FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 49,
AMONG THE many agencies which
bulld. or assist 10 building up, city are
its churches, public schools, hospitals
courts, police force, fire department.
and good streets. All but the first
must of necessity be paid from the pub
lie treasury, except 10 special cases
where those who enjoy any direct bene'
fit as to new streets are expected TO
bear an additional tax. Alexandria's
people-and this term means its tax
payers--have shown disposition to be
taxed to any reasonable amount In the
event that their money be not wasted.
For the fiscal year ending May 81, 1899
a balance Of $455 was In the city treas
ury. and last year s7S7.92 and this year
s5.164.S3. 1t is gratifying to know that
the balance is on the right side OF the
books. When public accounts are pre-
sented for public scrutiny and their
perussl and examination disclose q
most encouraging state OF affairs, then
we find the chief agency which "builds
or assists In building city," The
receipts and expenditures of the city
for the past year, and which today are
published 10 a condensed form In the
Gazette, may in some instances suggest
TO our readers an item here and there
where proper efforts might have etfec-
ted some saving. Some years ago the
fearless standard bearer Of American
democracy, Wm. ]. Bryan, 10 addressing
the national association Of democratic
clubs, in referring to public affairs said
"Eyery public official who wants to dc
well is glad to be watched. Any pub
lie officer who objects tc being watched
needs to be watched all the time" These
words pregnant with truth are. we be.
lieye, lived up to by those whom the peo-
ole have selected to serve them 10 public
positions, and the officer whose public
as we'll as his private acts receives the
commentator OF his fellow citizens
finds in it a reward for any sacrifice he
makes for the public good. But it was
not 10 contracted sense that Mr..
Bryan used the words quoted. Their
application was broad enough to take
in the legislator, as we'll as the officer.
An indifference upon the part OF those
who control the purse strings OF mu'
uicipality disoourages the officer who
would check misspplication OF the
neople,s money. With careful Gather
than is frequently the case, careiess)
examination of claims aud bills against
q city by those who approve them; q
fixed determination that the city shall
receive its full value; contractors I'M
messed with the idea that con-
tracts have meaning which must be
lived up to, content of tax payer and
citizen will follow. This year In fiscal al
fairs has closed auspiclously-the new
promises much. The Council which as
sembles on Monday next Is o repre-
sentative one, every member OF which Is
imbued with the intention and determi'
nation to advance the old town and
prevent ell kinds OF jobbery. A sum
greater than for many years set apart
for street work is to be added to largely
In the near future. With the return OF
a City Engineer, whom, in accepting his
resignation year ago, the Mayor dssig'
mated as "a gentleman whose thorough
and intimate acquaintance with our
oity's needs and interests serve to make
him a valuable assistant to municipal
prosperity, as we'll as discreet check
upon municipal extravaganza" to take
charge OF street work and sewers one
would indeed be pessimistic If he failed
to realize that with proper efforts the
city would forge ahead, not In me-
teorlc manor, but at good pace, based
upon the confidence OF community.