Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-11-06
COMES WITH POOR GRACE.

Ah0 ieluadl UT Cue c Cy council tC donate $25 to the H. King White memorial fund occasoned no little cIltlclsm yesterday in this city and especially after it gave as it's reas-
 on for refusing to do so thaa it had nc, legal authority, but a few minute latter, without any authority what ever, it appropriated $75 to defray the expenses of City Engineer F. R. Allen for a pleasure trip Io Dallas Texas, where, it was stated, he in- tends to attend an engineers con- vention. The council may have been justified legally in refusing to aid the friends and admirers of the hate General Whie, whose achievements in the interest of this city. county and state in past years, need no review a. OUT hands, but it sh2,uld not have been ;nconsiislem..
 The city council simply 'gave away S76 of the taxpayers money to permit a city employee to enjoy ten day vacation. It also granted him a leave of absence of ten days and during ,l.a1 time Engineer Allen will receive full pay. There is no reason whatever why the city council should defray the eXrgensels of the city en- gineeN when he makes up h's mind tei attend an engineers convention or any other convention. He receives a fine ,salary for his serv ces, more Than several of 'she ely officials who merit better pay, and IS we'll able to defray his own expenses. If he is not there is nothing compulsory about tl.fs city being represented a. ihe Dellas meeling. Some of the members eff the city council are al- ways bowling about the inability of the ci.y to meet it's just debts and preach economy" fn spos S, where things do not exactly suit them. The Graghic filed an objection tol a sim liar appropriat on that was made a year or mere ago, but he couneilmen Veted away the peoples money for Engineer Aliens pleasure trip just the same. There should be a halt 70 sude practice.
 Why should the city government defray tine expenses of a well paid ca 'employe?
 Does his work in recent months show up any better or as well as any U ucI llldIL III luS ' V oCi NN@C, W'-o have not even asked an appror'ria- tion for a pleasure trip?
 Ssrne interested local taxpayer would be doing the right thing if he saw it to enjoin the city from il legally giving away the money tha. belongs to t:a taxpayers and that should be used for street improve mems or some o her work taat is be- ing tlemansied through the ci y.
 The donation that was asked by AL derman Ben Veil f?r lie H. King White memorial fun.l may have been illegal and the councilmen might have been in the right in refusing to g ve it, bus they do nc show theig sincer- ity in reversing themselves ans mak- ing an illegal appropriation fer a useless purpose insofar as he tax payers are concerned, five minutes ,ater
 Enyineer Allen is no mere entitled Ia his expenses in mak ng a conven- ton trip than one of the city stock men would be. If the council gives me department employs a trip sra IS, with salary going on just aae same, why show any favoritism? Why no. appropriate s75 for travelling expens- ss for every employe on the c ty pay aaills and give each of3them a ten day --withsfull rhay-leave of absence. ss
 The council should discon inue pay ng pets.
 The taNyayers shoul5 insist upon {.