The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-27
1909. cRADDocKs LEVY

General improvement ...--........-. -25
Water --....----..--.-.-........ 20
/ Light .-.-..-.-...-..-..-....... .221z
Interest Improvement bond sinking .....
| Judgment .....
Bond interest ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, .62lz
Total ---.s.-....-.............., 1.50
To the people who are not familiar with
the manner in which taxes are collected
| and levied, it might be well to explain
how this "reformer mayor" carried out
his "gentleman's agreement" and his
election contracts. To avoid an increased
! levy. or rather TO reduce the levy, it was
necessary to have the city make no pro-
| vision for its maturing obligations. and
! certain debts Of the city were not pro-
| vided for, one of which VIII be noticed
| by the above citation of levies was the
! judgment fund. These judgments, by the
| arrangement of Mayor Craddock, were
Permitted to go unpaid. notwithstanding
the fact that they had been long since
due and drawing six per cent per annum
at the time he ordered the levy not made,
and the amount is not so very small, as
will be shown by the records in the city
clerks office. At the time Mayor Grad
dock failed 10 make the levy, the judg-
ments against the city amounted to
sSs S95.22. being distributed as follows:
In the district court Of Wyandotte county
the sum OF S4.6s2.S2; in the court OF COM
mon pleas OF Wyandotte county. the sum
Of S33. 1880
And this is not all: The mayor said:
''The taxes must be cut il two; the levies
agreement must be fulfilled" So, in
1901, no levy was made for maturing in
ternal Improvement bonds which are
drawing per cent per annum. This,
too, is no small amount; for, in August.
1902, S74,S27 viii be due. with accruins in
terest. and in February, 1893, $s9,157 more
VIII be due and no provision made to
pay off the same.
BY failure TO provide for this maturing
Indebtedness of the city, the mayor who
promised to reduce the taxes one-half,
thereby decreased the levy, as shown
above, and by so reducing the levy and
failing to pay the city's Indebtedness it
viii later on be a hard matter for some
financier to tell the good people OF Kan
sas City. Kansas. what amount of levy
will have to be made some day when
Mayor Craddock steps down and out
And this is not all for with this past
Indebtedness. the mayor who was to cut
the taxes in two, at the end Of his first
years administration. increased the city's
Indebtedness in the sum Of So, 00O
When Mayor Craddock took charge OF
the affairs of this city, he found certifi-
Gates outstanding against the city in the
sum of Ss1, 51S2 % which Indebtedness of
the city was created in the general fund
by past administrations being unable to
obtain enough money to run the affairs
Of the city government During Mayor
Craddock's canvass for mayor, he, as
well as party leaders, created the hue
and cry that the Republicans of Kansas
city, Kansas, were extravagant, and
that if he was chosen mayor, notwith-
standing his vast interests were located
in Kansas e;t5x. Mo, he would still look
after tho citt's welfare in a business way
and wipe, OFT the outstanding certificates
in a very short time By practicing eco
nomy in all departments of the city's |
government. The people had confidence !
in this Missouri business man, and hav- |
ing given him one years trial, find that !
-ltN ~'ltoSpuil iuci was IllStdhtnf lOf mere /
is the result:
Outstanding certificates when the
mayor took charge ...............S91 SIS. % |
Outstanding certificates at the end
OF one year of Craddock's ad-
mnistration ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 113, ,937.2S /
1t viii be noticed by the above figures I
that Craddock keeps his promises to the
people by increasing the Indebtedness Of /
this city just s22 S549S more than it was
when he took charge of the reins of the
city government and has spent over
$50 900 more money in one year than any
other administration of that city. and. in
addition 10 these expenditures. has per-
mitted two funds; one the judgment in
debtedness in the sum Of Sss 600, and the
Internal Improvement bonds in the sum
of $4,000. to draw interest at the rate Of
per cent per annum, and no provision
made 10 pay the same.
As an illustration Of the amount Of
money raised during the Craddock ad-
and the year just prior to
his administration, we submit the follow
ng total receipts for two years, ending
April, 1901 and 1902:
7ae5