The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-12-01

According to the quarterly report
Of the Auditor and Police Judge the
total Indebtedness Of the city Of AS.
toria Is approximately $4,000 In
order TO bring It within the limim.
tions Of the charter, certain resources
are claimed, such as city hall build
ing, and other property owned BY the
city, mostly Of fictitious value, also
a large amount OF money due on
street improvements, which the city
has bid in on account of the eSces'
siveness OF the assessment, and
which will never be redeemd, and 70
which property, the city, under the
law, can never acquire a title, makes
these quarterly reports appear reg.
ular, especially 10 the advocates Of
the citizens party, but to any man,
well versed in finances, compels him
10 withdraw investments and even
leans on city property. While the ex-
cessive burdens Of taxation Is keenly
felt BY not only the large property
owners, but the owners Of small
homes, Il Is nothing TO the virtual
eonfscation Of property engendered
BY street improvements far in excess
Of what the actual cost should be
"Many enterprising citizens won
der why il is, that capital is not al.
tached to Astoria for investment II
Is a well established fact, that very
little, II any, outside capital has been
invested in Astoria during the past
ten years, Capital win not invest Ia
any city where there is lax admin.
istration Of municipal affairs, and
where a large majority OF home cap
ital Is unwilling to take any risks,
| They will not invest in a city which
requires the entire 10 mill levy for
current expenses and seven mill
levy for deficiencies, The ire depart.
ment is an illustration worthy ol
careful consideration II has cost the
taxpayers during the past year, ap,
proximately $4,000, while the appro.
priation was $4,000. This deficiency
must be made up by special levy
Il shows very clearly, not only in
the fire department, but in every 9th.
er department, a carelessness in the
management Of the finances Of the
city. Not only has the cost Of main
iaining every department Of the city
exceeded the appropriation, but the
indebtedness OF the city has been in.
creased by nearly 100000 during the
past year, This is all due to the ad.
ninistration OF the citizens party.
According to the registration
books, about 1000 voters have regis.
tered OF this number li0O are
Republicans. II voter registers his
politics, all things being even, he i,
supposed to vote his party ticket
Personal animosities and political
differences should not be taken into
consideration. No man can serve
two masters. II he is a Republican
why not vote his party ticket, es.
pecially when this is the FIRST year
Tor more than 10 years, that the Re,
publican party has had straight tick
Ct in the field The ticket is composed
Of good, representative business men
many Of whom were induced to rur
on the assurance that the Republi
cans would stand united, in order tc
secure a business administration ol
city affairs II the Republicans ar;
defeated at the city election thi.
year, it will be impossible to secure
representative business men TO rur
two years from now They not only
lose faith in human nature, but in
the honesty and integrity Of Repub,
lican voters.
This is the first time Republicans
will have an opportunity to vote
their condemnation Of a reckless
citizens administration, and a return
to business principles as guaranteed
by the Republican candidates What
Astoria needs, and what it must
have, if it is to forge ahead, is a city
administration in the control OF
business men in whom the public
have confidence, eliminating political
chicanery and political pets, TO the
end, that confidence will be restored,
which is not and cannot be expected
under the citizens regime. These
are a few facts to be considered by
the voters of Astoria with the hope
that they will vote as they register,
eliminating all factional differences.
TAXPAYER"