Year: 1879

can more than TO point 10 the fact that the
City Council has managed the city gov
ernment economically. 1t hates eoono-
my As 1t does poison. So do all the stal-
warts. They love politics for what they
have been able in the past fifteen years
TO get out of 1t. They have found "mil-
lions in It," and these millions they still
. vish TO pocket. And the same craving |
to make money out of politics that has
existed among those basking in the sun
shine Of national politics shows itself in |
the local politics Of all our cities. In
Wilmington Tor nearly twenty years
from year to year they ru, the city into
debt, deeper and deeper; and floating
debt af,e floating debt, had to be fund
ed; until the people became wearied
with the increase of taxation aud the
decrease in the value of their real pro-
perty. When things looked as bad as
could be this party attempted to add half
million more debt TO ths city by build
ing water reservoir double the size
necessary, and at cost from the appear
ance Of the waste Of construction in its
start of double what the work should be
done for. This alarmed our people and
the increase of the taxes consequent
seemed to make no difference-t the
money was wasted as fast as it was col
lected-an in fact spent before 1t got
into the treasury. Tie voters could
see no safety i'll Republican rule and
hence they voted them out Of the City
Council, and the Democrats in. The
Democrats started without dollar OF
money IN the treasury and an account in
bank overdrawn about 5000, several
bac contracts on hand and an Immense
floating debt. The Democrats have
clear d of this rubbish, reduced the ex.
penses about twenty thousand dollars q
year, and then reduced the tax rate las
year to $l.l5. This is what gals The
Republican. 1t at once denounced tbi
act, and said the Democrats could neve
run the city on such reduced tax rate
and ever since it has been racking it
small amount of brains in efforts t
make IL appear that the Council woul
be unable to get through the year o
the amount of money they authorize
the collectors to get from the peopl,
But they will do it we feel very sure
and that they will not raise the take
next year we feel equally sure. {
course they will have to struggle alor
through the winter with many difficu
ties, and curtail in many places wheI
the Republican Council unwisely waste
and leave undone many things that a
petitioned for. But this is necessar,
since there has arisen disposition


force Council to cease to borrow al
money to tide over the months lite
vening from January to July, when t
tax bills are payable. But we are 9
sured the water rents will keep the c
going by reducing the expenditures q
avoiding all unnecessary work. I
will put many citizens to ali incon
nience. But they can avoid this by
vancing to the city the money to pay
the work. All such work should


paid for at once. And to force


in part is one of the objects of


"Committee of Twenty-six." If


Democrats reach July without inc
ring any debt they will then have cles
out the "Augean Stables" and have
sailing in the future.


They have had bad chance to eflec


form and retreuchment. They |
been like man hampered with de
dreading every day an execution,


having to borrow at high rates, and


high rates. But with little patit


and with what encouragement the bt
class of Republicans will give then


feel sure of their success and have s


hopes that they may reduce the tax


still further, perhaps they will g


down to $1.l0 this year but we ca


promise. But of this we feel sure


the Republican will be compele


''eat crow" by witnessing the Demo


run the city on tax rate of S


without creating floating debt, "


1t said could not be done.