Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-24
nIecFiI-tNrour RHCORn
polltlon and paflolta.

Politics and Deficits.
The introduction, at Thursday nights
meeting Of City Council, of an ordinance
authorizing temporary loan Of $4,000
for the purpose Of meeting current ex-
penses. brings into public view the old
and familiar story Of deficits In tho city
treasury and illegally-contracted loans
BY City Council for the purpose Of cover
ing them.
Il should be understood, IN the frst
placo, that temporary loans for tho pur-
pose Of meeting current expenses are
absolutely prohibited by the city charter
The aim Of the law is that the municipal
business shall be conducted on q strictly
cash basis. all the obligations Of the fiscal
year to be met out Of the receipts Of the
year then current. Extraordinary emer-
gencies, not contemplated At the time
Of the making Of the annual appropriations
may be met by extraordinary appropria-
iions and temporary loans, but this wise
provision is availod Of as a pretext for
loans for tho purpose Of meeting current
expenses 70 show what miserable
subteriugc this is, 4 may be stated that
when the annual appropriations we're last
made. and the tax rate fixed, IL was known
TO an absolute certainty that a large
deficit would be created before the close
of the current fiscal year. Now, the plea
of an emergency not contemplated at tho
time OF making tho annual appropria-
iions win be resorted to a. pretext for
illegally borrowing money.
Careful estimate places the deficit Of
tho current fiscal year At between $4,000
and Si0OooO But the pending ordin-
ancc, it viii be observed, provides for a
loan of only $4,000. This amount,
therefore, will have 10 be supplemented
by subsequent loans before the full
extent of tho deficit will be met by bor-
rowed money Ordinary business prud-
ence would suggest the propriety Of
making careful estimate Of the entire
amount needed and borrowing Il in
lump sum, but Council will not do this.
lt will make several "bites at the cherry, i"
and here is where the issue of partisan
politics comes in.
Partisanly speaking, the City Council
is a Republican body and the Republican
party is presumed 20 be responsible for
its doings. Therefore, the Democntio
members, il is understood, with a view
10 impressing the community with the
enormity of the financial offending Of the
Republican majority in City Council,
have decided to prolong the process of
Illegally borrowing money for current
expenses, with the purpose Of keeping il
before the public view, and thus unfavor-
ably affecting the Republican party at
future elections Therefore, while they
have expressed their unwillingness to
vote for a single loan sufficient in amount
for all purposes, they will vote for the
small sum ordinances; and a. their votes
are necessary TO the passage of the borrow
ing measures, the Republican members
were compelled to agree to their pro
gamme.
But shallow. indeed, must be the minds
Of the Democratic members Of City Coun-
Gil If they think they can make political
capital by such tactics. For the people
know, and the members know, that the
present City Council, with its Republican
majority, has no responsibility whatever
for the deficit that now confronts the city
That deficit is due entirely to last year.
Democratic City Council failing to Law q
tax rate large enough to raise all the
revenue required during the current fiscar
year None than that, previous Demo
cratic City Councils had gone on creatine
deficits, year after year for more than !
decade, and year after year illegally Dor
rowing money for the purpose Of meetin,
them. Not tho smallest fraction Of tn,
just responsibility Of these Democrati,
City Councils can be evaded, or throw
upon the shoulders Of the present Repub
lican City Council by any tactics that
the present Democratic members Of IN,
present body may resort to.
The test Of the Republican maiorit,
Of this City Council viii come in few
months, when i takes up the duty O
fixing the tax rate for the next fsca
year If it fail to provide for suficien
revenue to meet all the appropriation
for the following fiscal year, It win demon
sirate its incapaoity and prove itself nj
better than its predecessors. But 70
what may attach to this years fnancia
Operations it.cannot be held responsible
That responsibility rests upon the Demo
'ia'ie City Council Of last year.