Evening journal., 1911-05-27
SATURDAY, MAY 27. 1911
THE RECORD.

60 MUCH has been said about the conduct of
- the affairs of the city under the former Re-
publican administration that it may be well to
call attention TO some of the things actually done.
Mr.. William p White was the chairman of the
Finance Committee Of City Council at that time.
Several weeks ago Mr.. White made an address in
which he reviewed his stewardship as q Council
man and Chairman of the Finance Committee, and
the points he brought out should not be forgotten
during the present campaign.
Mr. White recalled that the Republican admin
istration under Mayor Wilson paid off an accumu-
lated deficit of $4,000 or more, met forty-eght
months pay rolls and every bill contracted for
current expenses bringing TO close what he char
acterized as "one of the most successful partisan
administrations the city of Wilmington ever had"
The following are some of the things TO the
credit of that administration:
l. Meeting a popular demand for increased salaries
for our school teachers. $4,000.
2 Providing better policing by the addition Of ten
$1,000. o. ''"' 40 'S'''''1 0'' ''0'
g. Provided the additional interest required in SELL
ing bonds for Water Department Street and Sewer De-
partment and Park Commissioners thereby giving
purer better park extensions OF value
within the city limits, Fairgrounds bathhouses etc,
$4,000.
Increased Ire protection TO meet the needs Of q
growing community. 21600
s. Increased appropriation TO the Street and Sewer
Department for current Of that Department
from 100000 10 S1s5.00O. which was reduced by the
present administration to S1S0,000.
s. Installing Of twentieth century accounting meth
DDS. thereby enabling TO show TO the very dollar
among other things the surplus and deficits of this and
other administrations
All Of the above has been provided for our citizens
without increasing the rate So much the credit
OF the alleged incompetent Republican administration.
In answer TO the charge that all these things
were accomplished by the use Of funds snatched
from the Water Department, Mr. White replied
that after paying interest on the Water Depart
ment bonds and giving the department $4,000
for yearly maintenance which amount was ample
for the needs of the department. il was deemed
only fair that the surplus should 60 into the COM
mon fund for the needs OF the city. The present
Democratic administration, as Mr. White pointed
out, worked under the same law and BY reason OF
increased revenue had the advantage of a larger
Aater Department surplus The act regarding
the surplus passed in 1907 had the unanimous in
dorsement Of the Water Board
In reply TO the charge frequently made by Demo-
Gratis that the Republican administration had de-
faulted in interest payments, Mr.. White declares
that the charge is false. The payments referred
10 were merely deferred for one week pending the
settlement Of question whether Council or the
Water Department should assume the interest
coming due at the time
Mr.. White says that after a conference between
Councilmen and the Water Commissioners. Coun-
cil, on the following Thursday evening after the
conference, drew the order for the payment
There could be no default unless payment had
been demanded and refused in which case civil
proceedings would have been in order No such
Proceedings we're ever brought
The foregoing refutes many Of the charges
brought against the former Republican CITY Coun-
and administration 1t is clear and unequvooal.
me facts contained therein should be carried in
mind by the voters during the remainder Of the
campaign and on election day They should, in a
large measure, determine the question of whether
it would be better to continue the present Demo
cratic administration in power or to turn the city
over TO the Republicans
To any reasonable voter the latter course should
be the right course.