The Paducah sun., 1906-02-01

dSitcV u nave tut tothhttttt ihtte
and the books gone over. The COM
mittee met. but the mayor didn't
show up, neither did the city clerk
or auditor. who had the books locked
up A former city official who was
to assist the light committee in get
ting the desired figures from the
books, also failed to put in his APP
pearance. and the committee had to
disperse.
The clerk explained the next day
that he could not come and that he
preferred some one else to go over
the books with him, other than the
former official selected, so the COM
mittee informed the mayor that II
would meet again that night with
Prof. John ID. Smith to assist in get
ting the figures they desired. This
was agreed to but the committee and
Prof. Smith found no one at the city
hall that night to assist them. The
books were locked up in the vaults
and neither the mayor nor the clerk
showed up. Thus the committee is
forced to the conclusion that for
some reason there is not very en-
thusiastic desire on part of the may
or and others in his coterie to have
the light committee get the facts and
figures necessary in its work from
the city books.
This is only one of the many in
stances of how certain officials are
trying to prevent a reduction of city
expenses by questionable methods.
The reason is plain. First, II ex-
penses are reduced and the public
perceives no disadvantage in it, II
will not look well for rast admins
.trations, and will be a feather in the
cap of the new boards. Second,
there is profit to some people in hav-
ing a heavy municipal expense.
Third. the city is taking care of quite
a number of broken down politicians
and other friends of past administra7
tions. and any effort to lop on the
graft is not thankfully receiveds
Hence II is clear that some of the
present city officials do not seek any
reduction in expenses and conse-
quently must want to continue to
gouge the taxpayers.
The Sun has called attention to
municipal extravaganza from time to
time in past years, and feels that the
present attitude of many people on
questions before the municipal
boards, shows that the Sun has been
right and is right now. and also DEM
onstrates who are the real friends OF
the people.
The city now needs retrenchment
more than ever, as the decision OF
the court of appeals yesterday in the
bank tax cases will deprive the city
of considerable revenue that had
been counted on this year. 1t also
IledUS Nudt III lht iutuit NhN NiNs W"
get practically nothing from the
banks if the latter desire to invest
their capital and surplus in govern
ment securities, which they are sure
to do in some cases.. and which would
mean further curtailment of expenses
to meet annual expenses.
The Sun regrets that some officials
and people, no doubt through preju-
dice and partisanship, take the stand
they do against reform and retrench-
ment, and try to checkmate our To-
cal legislative boards in every good.
conscientious move they make. The
public is not going to be fooled long,
however. 1t finally got on to some
of the crowd, andsis sure to get on
to them all sooner or later. An
earnest effort to improve local eondi-
tions is worthy of everyone's COM
mendation and cooperation, regard
less of politics or anything else, and
those who are trying to hamper and
harrass the officials in their work are
not friends to the people, and are
standing in their own light.