The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-09-10

years. have somehow managed to shove
up their compensation from $4,000 to
$4,000 a year, or 90 per cent. In order
to accomplish such things there must be
official collision somewhere. The swag is
divided unless the indications are at
fault.
Thus the Globe melodiously comments on gar
bage disposal, informing its readers that it has late
ly discovered in the annual report of Comptroller
Player that the disposal of garbage has cost $25T -199.
96, in 1903, as opposed to $192,900 in 1901. when NIL
nicipal affairs were certainly not well managed. II
the comment Is made in defense of the Globes pet
administration, that entered into oblivion a few
years ago by common desire, the ground covered is
much too small.
Mr.. Players report contains many exceedingly
interesting statistics, which the Globe, if it could or
would, might expand upon to show the contrast be
tween existing good government and preceding mis-
government. However, the Globe has not been. and
almost positively is not, disposed to show zeal in
exploiting the truth, for the general veal. and it is
useless to expect commendation for good work from
one of the arch patrons of misrule.
Therefore, the organ of the Republican machine
is excused from participation in the reform move
ment, unless it rises to the new standard. The Re
public has drawn attention to significant statistics
IN the Comptroner's report and it hopes the Globe
VIII note some of the references, particularly those
pertaining to deficits under the former administra-
ton and balances under the present administration.
If the purpose of the comment is to imply thai
the increase in the cost of getting rid of garbage Is
an evil act of this administration, or that this adj
ministration is directly responsible for the increase,
the details of garbage-history must be brought into
prominence in contradiction. First of all, it should
be emil that the former contract for reduc-
ing offal expired only a short time after the last
administration was retired. Second, it must be re-
r1arnILarod fhaf III r,z& oJ,,s,;,+-,%:o- ia 4.r1- -
precautions in the city's interests. Third, the last
administration not only took no precautionary ac-
ton, but also passed to this administration an actual
deficit in municipal revenue. Fourth, that, as a
prominent Republican city official stated, the former
Municipal Assembly ~purposely avoided considera-
ton of the garbage-reduction question, although by
timely action the city's position could have been
made stronger.
The former Mayor did not transmit any message,
at the close of his term, or in the last year of his
term, advising the Municipal Assembly that the gar
bage-reduction contract would expire within about
a year and that something should be done to pro-
cure competition or to construct a municipal plant
Neither did he advise the Assembly or his success
sr that there was an actual deficit in the City
Treasury. The former administration had several
years in which to prepare for the expiration. But
did it take any precautions in the city's interests?
- ~ Nus SS ~ WIN AAiNAs LhChtNoh tACLu-
Yet the Globe cannot deny that Mayor Wells !
called attention, soon after his Inauguration, to the
early termination of the contract: Nor can the
Globe deny that he has again, only lately, sent a
message on this subject to the Municipal Assembly,
the installation of a complete municipal
garbagedispesal system. Nor can the Globe deny
that the Municipal Assembly has passed a bill, to
which Vice Mayor Hornsby affixed his signature,
contemplating a municipal plant.
The organ of the Republican machine ought to
realize. by this time, that the former administration,
the pet gang of the Globe, cannot be defended. The
reason that the city is paying more now for the
disposal of garbage the Globe can find in Comptrol-
Ter Players report for this year. The reason is that
the last administration ended its term with an &C.
deficit in municipal revenue. Garbage plants
cannot be constructed and operated with financial
deficits. Let the Globe study the Comptroller's re-
and dilate on the emphatic disclosures that it
makes with regard to the ills of the disagreement
Of only a few years ago.
DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF.