Year: 1878




To the Editor of the Press: i's'' .'-i' i-.'


The vast importance of an intelligent and
economical administration of our city affairs at
the present time is felt by every one. The city is
weighted with one Of the heaviest burdens Of
debts ever borne by a municipality In this
country. This load must be carried for many
years, even after prosperous times succeed the
present period of depression. Our future PROS
perity and growth can only be insured by
saving every dollar and reducing the expenses
10 every department possible. Such man
agemsbt of our city affairs can be- obtained
alone from officials who feel the necessity of
retrenchment and who have thorough know1-
edge and experience of city affairs. No man
who has not been in municipal office knows
the difficulty of carrying out measures of
economy and reduction. The. writer believes
that there never was time in the history of
Portland when a fearless and able Mayor was
Of so much consequence. The great success of
Mayor Buffers administration Of the finances
of the city demands his continuance another
year. Every one acquainted with the difficult
ties which surrounded the financial situation Of
the city experienced the. highest feeling of
relief at the success with which those. diff
culties have been met and surmounted. II we
can have another year of the same manage
ment and secure an adherence to the present
system, the welfare of the city may be secured
for the future. Although large reductions
were made last year in our expenses the differ-
eut departments have been as well manageo as
if larger sums had been expended. In the face
of une expected demands upon the city like the
eleven thousand dollars spent in rebuilding the
Fore street retaining wall, and with diminished
mo NhnN L.-.x
been put into the sinking fund for the reduc-
tion of the city debt. Oar gross debt has been
reduced by $500 900. These things have been
accomplished, more than Sl50,00g railroad in-
terest has been paid without borrowing, our
taxes Kept at the same rate as before, aud all
this at the worst period of hard times the
country has ever known. 1t is justice to say
that this fortunate administration of our city
is due mainly to the wisdom, the hrmness aud
the devoted labor of Mayor Butler. There is
no individual who can briHg such knowledge
and experience Of the affairs eff the city TO the
office of Mayor. His attention 70 city affairs
did not begin with bis term OF ONCE II began
six months earlier as chsirman OF the Railroad
Commission. The lsbors of that commission
have Dever been fully known to our people.
The eminent citizens who composed it gave
for six months constant time, thought aud
hard work 60 their duties. Occupied as they
were with large and important private affairs,
they never permitted their own interests, health
or the severest weather to prevent an uuin-
terrupted devotion to the duties of the COM
mission. For all this they received no com-
pensation Whatever Their services were given
freely to the city from q sole desire to serve it,
aud they would listen to proposition for
compensation. 1t is no ipjustice to the other
mem oers of the commission to say that by far
the greatest and most lsborious part OF the
work was done by Mayor Butler. Tue long
and able report was prepared and written BY
him. The investigation of the colditon of
the railroads and their relations with the city,