Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-02
TIE MURDERBUND Is A
PLUNDERBUND

II Il INEsNIOlIeED ltiNutI SOOlhodS tl ipl
prophet to predict the ponderousness
Of the burden that will rest on the tax
payers of Philadelphia if the community
OF associated politicians now in control
of municipal affairs continues to mis-
manage and dissipate the city's funds.
The frantic efforts of the murderbund to
keep independent councilmanic candi-
dates off the Town Meeting ticket is
emphatic evidence of the importance at
.tached by the coalition of wreckers to
control of Councils. They can survive
the loss of a few major offices, provided
they are left in control of the money
appropriating body. Not for nothing did
they bring gunmen to Philadelphia to
batter the Fifth Ward into line, and not
for nothing are they invoking the tech
nicalities of the law and resorting to
every trick in the gang repertoire to
prevent the public from regaining con-
troll of Councils. They needed Deutsch
and went the limit to put him into
office. So they are going the limit to
avoid the most dreaded of all calamities
from their viewpoint-the loss of even a
majority in Councils.
Let no citizen of Philadelphia who
Intends to vote for decent government
think that he has done his duty when
he votes for the major candidates. The
election of Independent Councilmen is
even more important. It is money the
murderbund is after, first last and all the
{ time, and Councils is the immediate
source whence it comes.
Mr.. Gaffney, chairman of the Finance
Committee of Councils and a man whose
Intentions are appreciably superior to
those of most of the gentlemen with
whom he hunts politically, does not think
much of Controller Walton's report re-
vealing the dangerous condition of the
city's finances. He wishes to tell the
people that neither politics nor political
parties will cure their financial ills" We
are confident political contractors won't.
When man gets desperate he begins to
pyramid his notes.
Here is the city of great wealth on
the verge of bankruptcy because political
30, nd n 10
OF municipal expenditures each year as a
private profit for themselves. Let the
system continue-the treasury's so sick
It can't be cured, anyhow" seems to be
Mr.. Gaffneys argument. Who has pulled
the wool over his eyes we do not know,
but we more than suspect that the in.
PRODUCTION of an ordinance fixing the tax
rate for next year at S1.25 is camouhage,
pure and simple 1t might just as
logically be fixed at fifty cents, for the
Mayor and his advisors have got the mu-
nicipality into such a hole that the SLIPS
rate would be equivalent to paying divi-
dends out of capital-a kind of 1O-per-cent.
a-week proposition. 1t can't be done
and nobody knows it better than Mr.
Carney does. We doubt If he would even
undertake to defend s125 rate. 1t is
Just another trick of the gang to fool
the people.
At least there would be a chance OF
Keeping taxes down under a decent ad
mlnistration, and they'd rise as fast under
gang administration next year as they did
last year. and faster. 1t is true we have
been driven into the mire. but we do MOI
intend TO be dashed from there into thu
quiclxsands.
The murderbund was going to reveal 4
sigantic "frame-up" in the Fifth War,
ease. The revelation has not arrived
Instead. propaganda of lies, campaigl
Of further intimidation. attempted pros
titution Of the courts and wholesale do
ceptlon have been resorted to in a de.
psfats snort TO stay the tide publ
indisnation. And now the murderbund
shown to be also a plunderbund diss
1atins revenues. riotousiy extravagar
ana engaged In the process Of rapid
hepkrupting the public fisc. This at
i|me when every household in the land
f.sl|ns the pressure Of war taxes an
I1& increased cost or living
ether the people arc what the ma
s. 110 .LI'e'|t IhrY are ll|ols and fool
&A| y 1's ''epsh ssn