Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1853-05-19

Thus it will be seen that, twelve
years ago, our Tax was about Seven
thousand, five hundred dollars last
year it was nearly twenty-five thousand
dollars, being about ten thousand dol.
lars more than the previous ycar,-and,
as far as we can learn, Tax OF over
Thirty thousand dollars will be required
to meet the expences OF the coming lis-
cal year ; and all this is without any
increase o; business, and with n slight
increase Of population over the year
1910.
The question very naturally arises IN
the mind OF every one, whdt has caused
this immense increase OF expense2 But
1t is question which IS more easily
asked than answered, unless Through
investigation is had into the business al
fairs Of the Town.
From partial investigation, we are
satisfied that Tax OF nearly THIRTY
FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS will
be required TO meet the expences Of the
Town during the coming year. We
have further learned that the expcnces
OF the Town during the last year have
exceeded the Tax by about -FOUR
THOUSAND dollars. which amount
will have been overdrawn at Bank, by
the close of the fiscal year. This one
item shows great loosencss as TO the
manner IN which tho affairs ofthe Town
are managed, because, if they were
properly conducted, the estimates Of the
Finance Committee would certainly
cover all the expences; the Finance
Committee are not at all to blame, be-
cause last year, after their Report was
made, aud the Tax was ordered, the
Town Meeting appropriated something
over a thousand dollars for two matters,
no, anticipated, because not known OF,
by the Committee. Al this shows that
there is an alarming and constantly in
creasing laxity in our mode Of conduct
ing the business OF the Town, which
calls for an efficient remedy.
The great cry against City is that
it will be much moro expensive this
was the story at the time Of the last trial
in lS4S. Let us look at The matter "A
little, and see what figures will show
The Tax that year was Sl3 30l 40
the three following years IL was be-
tween fifteen thousand and sixteen thou
sand dollars each, ard the last year it
was twenty-five thousand, and the COM
ing year it will probably be thirty-fve
thousand dollars. Now if the City
Charter had been adopted in 1913 and
there had been this enormous increase
in taxation, then the opponents OF the
City would have had just ground TO
sustain them in their objections. But
such was not the case. The Town
government has been continued, and
here is an increase Of about Seventeen
thousand dollars since that timc,-and
yet the generality oi the Taxpayers
cannot account for the great increase.-
We do not pretend but that the money
has been honestly SPENT ,-on the con-
trary, we have no doubt OF It, because
the Trensurer's Office will show vouch-
ers Tor every cent Of the money. We
desire TO have the management Of the
government IN moro compact 'orm' SO
that the appropriation of money will be
confined to judicious, discriminating
board of men, who will feel their res
possibility, and who will be compelled
TO publish, for the benefit Of the people,
a full statement oil all receipts AMI ex-
pendi,ures, to whom the money ispaid,
in what amounts and for what purpo.