South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-03

q OMEONE in apparent authority about the city
hall, provider of information to the common
council for the purpose of inducing it to
make large transfers of funds from the track ele-
walton fund, for other city uses has either proven
himself an ignoramus, dishonest, or a carpenter at
humbuggery. Either this the administration
organ through inexcusable ignorance or rank dis
honesty, and the juggling of figures, has proven
itself cobbler at chicane.
The council acting upon this information APP
pears to have made the transfer, not Is wanted,
but to the extent of $56, O00-$50,000 for the
general fund and $4,000 for the water fund; to
the latter fund 81 9 900 less than the amount ask
ed for.
The transfer, furthermore appears to have
been made upon advice, placed on the desk of
each councilman, and previously elucidated upon
by the g. o. D.. administration organ, presuming
to show that the Keller administration had left the
city quite banlxrupt-with only $50, 1921 In the
treasury balance, while at the same time, In pre-
vious years, it had fallen below $137,
370.60, while the Goetz administration retired
with $1S5, O5114 to the good.
In order that the story may be had exactly as
told and as the administration organ presented
it, take it in its words enclosed in the box
surrounded by this comment. Followed therein
by the whole truth of the matter-the figures
they actually are,-the deception employed, is not
hard to find.
That it was deliberate deception is self-evident,
In the face of the returns, and the purpose of it,
quite perceptIble.
When the Keller administration laid down the
gavel OF its authority, it left to its successor the
largest treasury balance IN the history OF the
municipality by $74, 142.17; it left that much in
excess of what it received.
Mayor Fred w. Keller blessed Mayor Franklin
r. Carson with $74, 1927 In excess of what
Mayor Charles L. Goetz blessed Mayor Keller
with but for the Carsonites would
have believe that it was $124, 7.93 less.
s.
w HY all this effort to discredt the Keller ad-
w ministration at this time; to malign it from
the very moment on, that its financial policy be-
gan to make hgh-water marks in the city's hnan-
cial history?
The reason is obvious. Six out of the 10 mem
bers of the common council are democrats and
their help was needed TO effect the transferable
borrowing-of track separation funds to tide the
general fund, the water works fund, etc, along
until water rent paying, and the spring tax-payng
season.
These democrats the Carson administra alton
seems to have assumed, would be willing, anxious,
and ready to jump at any kind of bait that looked
like bouquet for ex-Mayor Goetz, who
democrat and a lemon for ex-Mayor Keller who
not
In consequence Goetz was eulogized for bring
ing his treasury balance up to 1S5,051.14 in
1914, bequeathing it to Keller-it wonder
ful-but from the moment, Jan. ], 1917, that
the Keller treasury balance jumped to $685.
150.75-$9S, 09961 In excess of the Goetz high
balance,-prevarication and misrepresentation be-
gan, and $155,772.15 In various funds included
in the treasury balances of all previous years,
were summarily dropped.
The amount of money In the Goetz general
fund.- when he left office, instead of being $685.
O51.14, was only $36, 612.25 (net), the remain
der of the larger sum-$14S ASS. S9-belonging
to the numerous other funds referred to In the
'box"
And, of course, the process had to be repeated
as to Jan. l, 1918, as of the date that Mayor Car
son took office Ii would never do to let the
truth appear that Mayor Keller had left to his sue
cessor a larger treasury balance, general
fund, than Keller had inherited,-yet that excess
favorable to Mayor Carson $74, 1927 as to
the former and $24, 1906 as to the latter
T HIS is no criticism of the Goetz administration
In that it did not leave to the Keller admin
istraticn the larger treasury balances that the ke
Ter administration left to Mayor Carson. Neither
is brief for Mayor Keller in that his administra
ton left to his larger balances than he
received from his predecessor.
Both did their work well considering the f.
nances at their command. Even the Carson ad-
ministration admits it as to Mayor Goetz, through
its method of lobbying, and we never found May
or Keller hypercritical of his predecessor, the
subject of finance, or of his business admInistra-
ton.
The exception taken is to the misrepresenta-
ton, and the untruths, INDUCED In by the Carson
Lobbyists" quite plainly calculated to mislead
the common council and along with it, the public,
in the administrators quest of transfer of funds
to tide the city government over anticipated
temporary shortage.
We would not even pronounce that Quest of
transfer of funds" if they needed, as any
particular crime. The method of inducing 1t IS
the present issue; employing falsLhed figures. and
seeking to Justify an asserted predicament by
throwing the responsibility back on another adj