El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-04


Editor FL Paso Herald
The affairs Of the public are Of as
much Importance to each citizen as
his personal business, yet how few Of
US realize it and take the interest that
we should in public matters. Right
now we have before US one Of the most
important matters that have come up
for years. and that is the proposed
bond issue that the city has called an
election for August s.
There is nothing new IN bond cleo
lions. We have had plenty in the past
and have always voted for issuance
OF bonds. but this is entirely different
from any bond issue heretofore pro-
posed and there IS a principle involved
which has not come up before in the
city's affairs; that is the proposed issue
Of nearly $4,000 "refundfng" bonds.
which simply means that the city wants
to issue bonds to pay its floating debt.
which has been incurred by spending
more money than they have been re-
ceiTing; or. in other words. the cfts
has been living beyond its income and
wants to borrow money to pay the de-
nciency in its running expenses such
as salaries of officers. etc.
l hold that such an issue would be
unjust, both from a moral and business
standpoint. first. because of the injus-
tice OF asking our children to pay our
debts because we have been living be-
you'd our income, and second, because
when a city Cor a business ffrnl) IS
living beyond its income the proper
way TO meet such condition is to
pursue rigid policy Of retreRchment,
TO cut down all unnecessary expenses.
reduce salaries that sre not earned
abolish sinecures and to do what any
prudent man would do in his own bust
ness under similar circumstances. for
the affairs OF a city are after all the
same as those Of any large corporation
Every business concern needs OccaS-
ionaI1y a house cleaning. to get out OF
the old ruts. get rid of the men who are
nothing but a drag to the service and
whose salaries sre not the only loss
through their service Tt does seem to
me that the city of FL Paso. with its
large income q believe that about
$500, 900 is collected annually by direct
tax. and as far as I can learn it IS
larger than any collected by other cit
les of the state Of the same class as
Ell Paso) ought TO be able to live with
in its means and liquidate a part of the
floating debt Of the city each year be-
sides.
About IS years ago FL Paso county
was in bad shape financially. its war
rants peddled around at so cents on the
dollar. so they tried the refunding
scheme the same as the city wants TO
try row. the bonds were voted and
the floating debts paid up and the
county placed On cash basis and then
in less than three years time the
county was again as badly in debt as
ever. and never did pull out until Judge
Harper and Mr.. COurchesne entered the
commissioners court and by strict
economy and good business manage
ment in a few years they had the
county on a cash basis. without issuing
a bond; and that's what we want the
city to try. and not resort to the bond
issue scheme. because in few years il
viii mean the same old thing over
again
I hope that every man who has a
vote viii cast il at this election accord
ing to the dictates Of his conscience.
Unless the citizens of FL Paso wake
up and take more interest in their pub
lie affairs. they may have cause some
day 20 regret their neglect when it IS
too late. s. J. Prudential