Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-04
WHAT OUR NElGHBORS SAY
Marked Reduction in Rut1Hnd's Debt
under Mayor Temple.
(From tho Rutland News.)

(From tho Rutland News)
As is well understood. the past year has
been for Rutland most satisfactory from
the standpoint OF finances. There have
been few administrations of the city
when nave made entirely creditaple snow
ing, but in no instances has the actual
DEBT shown the marked reduction That
was the case In 1908. In the twelve months
ended December 81 last, the debt of the
city was decreased $25.5509O. Under the
administrations Of Mayor w. Y. w. Rip
ley, Mayor p. W. Clement and some
others, the finances Of the city were eX-
ceptionally well managed and the debt
was decreased, but not in the amount
OF last year. 1t Is Of interest to note Just
how this reduction was accomplished. AT
the outset, the Indebtedness OF Rutland,
and the shape it is in, may be noted.
The water system debt is sl4i,cO0 OF this
$1,000 falls due in 1924, $2.Oo0 in 1928 and
$4,000 In 1879. All of these bonds draw
three and onc-half per cent. The general
debt is $175.oo0 all at four per cent. due
$4,000 In 1924. $4,000 In 1y& The school
debt, all at four per cent, Is To,WO. There
is due In November this year slO.O of
this. There Is due 10000 In each 1908, 1914
and 1919. $4,000 in 1875. The sewer debt
Is 500, 900, at four per cent. all due in
1924. The city hall debt Of 10000 at three
and one.half per cent. is due IN 1881.
This makes the total bonded debt $5l7,-
000. But, as the city owes $2)9b.So. United
States deposit money, and has a temper
ary loan warrant outstanding OF $500
tho total gross debt is $i4,4 bS. The
sinking fund at this time amounts to $S3,-
673.1. making the net debt Of the city
December 81. last, t4So. s2.0. which is s25,-
30 less than It was December 81, 1902.
This decrease In the debt was accom-
plished as follows: Interest earned by
cipL for
system appropriations to sinking fund.
1880: and $1,000 which represents the de-
crease In amount Of temporary loan war
rants existing December 81, 1903 as COM
pared with December 81. 1902. The city
treasurer states that there is due $l2.-
1887, principally from taxes, water rents,
sewer and sidewalk assessments unpaid,
1t is reasonable to assume that between
70 and Is per cent, at least, Of this will
be collected.
Thus, while the past year has been
most encouraging ono to those who are
anxious to see retrenchment in city cX-
penses and reduction of debt, it Is seen
that the city owes to-day nearly half
million dollars. IT is sincerely hoped that
the taxpayers will be fully alive to the
situation and realize the necessity of con-
tnuing at the head OF the administration
of affairs, men imbued with q spirit of
greatest possible economy consistent with
good business. Mayor d. W. Temple ard
his associates have every reason to feel
satisfied with the showing they made in
1903. Here is hoping that his and their
successors will duplicate their good
record for a series Of years.
STATE MURDER RECORDS.
(From the Barro Times.)
The people Of the State are inclined to
think that Vermont's murder record per
annum is large enough. but when we look
at the record Of South Carolina the figures
are simply appalling. Last year total Of
222 homicides were reported to the au-
thorties. This is the State in which the
last lieutenant governor shot and killed
prominent editor and went scot free.
There Is little use for South Carolinans to
deny that the administering of justice in
their State is largely responsible for this
enormous record Of this great crime. The
record Is not growing less but 1t is in
Creasng ut AN alarming rate. For the
past sixteen years the slaughter amounts
to 1851 human lives. while during the past
five years the total was $40. There were
something like three murders week.
1t is manifestly up to South Carolina
to take action The people Of the State
recognize the condition but they apparent
ly slide along in a calm Indifference, all
Of them. perhaps running a fair chance
Of being the next victim. 1t is within
the power Of the State to stop the muir
ders to a large extent. but so long as it
maintains the present inactivity South
Carolina will be regarded as the great
crime belt" AS one South Carolina
paper puts it, 'When we get tired of be-
ing killed we can stop it,"
A PRACTICAL QUESTION.
(From the ST. Adams Messenger)
The Barre Telegram persists in its de-
mand that all candidates for public Offices
shall be total abstainers and argues that
1t is wise to have ideals and to try to live
up to them. The Messenger will cheer
fully agree that the idealist Is in his way
as much Of n help to the cause OF up
lifting civilization as the sternly practical
man of affairs who INDUCES in no ina gil
nation or sentiment. But, for all that.
In this world of realities we must deal
with conditions. not theories. We must
take things as we find them and hope
and endeavor to make and leave them
better. And the only way this was ever
done was TO follow the old fashioned
method Of simple evolutionary progress,
content with a little gain here and there,
year by year. as the generations come
and go.
This question OF selecting officers of
the government, for instance. is one Of
immediate Importance. an urgency too
intense to be postponed until ideals OF
personal character are more nearly realiz-
ed. We must have government we must
have officers of the government
and we must take the best
men We can find to be those
officers. Now whatever may be our ideals
of perfect character. however much any
Of US may deplore even the occasional
moderate use OF liquor AZ a beverage. it
Is IA fact that at least 20 per cent of the
men of this land are not total abstainers
Indeed, the number has been estimated as
high as nearly 80 per cent. The man of
the world knows this to DO true. whether
the idealist and theorist has opportuni-
ties for observing it or not. He knows
that, whether for good or for i'll, the
greatest proportion of the men best fitted
for the public service. but all things con-
sidered. are not total abstainers Know
ing this, how shall a man vote?
CITY REPORTS AS LITERATURE.
(From tho Rutland News)
With the city health officer working Off
poetry In his official report for 1909, and
the chief Of police and grand juror putting
In special pleas for the license policy in
their reports. the Official documents in
Rutland this year can certainly be said
to have O distinctive or unique charac-
ter.
HAVE YOU AN ABESrOS CURTAIN?
(From the Worthwhile Messenger)
In view of what 10 going on in other
towns, It Is proper to inquire II the Nor
risviile authorities have satisfied them
selves that the asbestos curtain Of the
local opera house 10 In working order?
Ax@l