Evening journal., 1915-05-27
Continued from First Pace.

which the affairs of the city are man
aged. depends entirely upon the men
who are in the office.
THE next paragraph is a promise,
and states:
IF entrusted with the govern
ment of the city at the coming
election, we pledge ourselves to
exert every effort within our
power to put the government on
a business footing, and TO restore
such economy in the financial af-
fairs of the city as is consistent
with efficient service"
81 will ask one question of the
Democratic candidate for Mayor. who
was Mayor of the city of Wilmington
from 1909 until 1911. want to ask
him why he did not put the city of
Wilmington on a business basis dur
ing the time that he was Mayor?
THE last year i'm which he was
Mayor they wound up the year by
borrowing fifty thousand , dollars,
which was a deficit, which the in
coming Republican Council had to
pay back; and in addition to that,
saddled on us bills aggregating in
the neighborhood of forty-hve thous-
and dollars.
Democrats Poor Financiers.
AT the close of his administration.
Mr. Kurtz, who was the Democratic
Auditor. exposed the poor financial
straits in which the party was at that
time, and in return for his honesty
and in advising the taxpayers of the
nfaI
cratic administration during that
period, they, practically, fired him out
Of office.
THE next paragraph is as follows
I'VE charge that the Republi-
can administration just drawing
to a close has been entirely dis
regardful of the will of the citi-
zens. Two years ago the people
OF the city on referendum vote
declared emphatically that steps
should be taken by the incoming
government TO make a waterfront
for the city of Wilmington
reality. but Notwithstanding the
clear voice of the people in this
behalf, absolutely nothing has
been done. We deny that any
obstacle has been in the way of
obeying the peoples command ex-
cept the hardened disposition of
the administration, or an unseen
power behind the administration
TO ignore the people altogether.
The excuse has been offered that
the law offered no way by which
to proceed"
That is true; that is, there ha
not been, until a few weeks ago. an.
provision in the law which would en-
able the City Council to procure an,
funds by which to acquire any water
front, and without any funds avail
able. II would be absolutely useles
TO endeavor to secure a waterfront.
TO do that, the Democratic candi
dates, who have signed their name
to the manifesto-or whatever
might be called-which has gon
forth, do not seem to realize tn
amount of money which would b
necessary to thoroughly equip
waterfront for the city of Wilmington
or for any other city. To put I
suitable docks, and suitable wharve
would cost in the neighborhood {
from two hundred and fifty thOusan
dollars 10 a million or two millio
dollars.
"As theory, it is a fine thing I
think of. AS a practical proposition
he city OF Wilmington is not nov
and has not been, in any position
take it up and put it through.
Another paragraph is as follows
1--WE further charge that the
present administration has been
obviously and shamefully un-
mindful Of the real interest of the
citizens and taxpayers. Large
sums of money have,been expend-
ed for an investigation of the
Police Department, and so far as
We can see, without definite re-
suits or benefit to the city"
Money Well Spent.
1T is true that the City Counc
has spent twenty-five hundred dollar
and employed an expert to come int
the city of Wilmington and tell |
what, if anything. should be dor
in order to put our 'Police Depar
ment on a basis equal to that of 9th,
large cities.
THE report was made, and a gre
many of the suggestions which wei
made by Mr.. Taylor, in his repol
have already been adopted: and an
man who disclaims that the Polii
Department of the city of WilmingtC
today is not better than il was tv
years ago, either does not have n
senses with him, or has not observe
the conditions as they exist today
You take the appearance of Il
men on the street; you take Il
bearing of the men; take the depaI
ment as whole, and | contend tn
II is better than it has ever beel
and while | do not contend that
entirely due, possibly. to the twent
five hundred dollars which we
spent for that report. / do feel al
do contend that that report has hi
something to do with the betterme
70 the Police Department of the ci
OF Wilmington today.
THE next paragraph Is as follow
Resides, other large amounts
OF the taxpayers money have been
expended in connection with a
new assessment work which,
however desirable, il seems to us,
might well have been done by
men OF our own city who knew
conditions first hand, and at
much reduced cost. The fore
. going are but examples of the
high-handed manner in which the
financial affairs of the city have
been managed. The result has
been that taxes have increased
until they have become a positive
burden to owners of property.
and of necessity extending in
their oppression to the renter
who not infrequently is required
to pay higher rent than hereto