The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-07

ell Tie Teeult OF one year, and should have been
paid from the tax levy for 1906 This amount Is
During 1896 extra appropriations of $500, 600
have been made to the department. BY the report
OF the Comptroller for the year IL will be seen That
the extra appropriations foot mp 500 OOO includ
ing $95OOO to the ice boat and S74S9l2 40 to the
Water Department. In addition to these sums of
S0COOOO and S3OO,O0O not provided for in 1866 and
added during the year, the State recovered ludg-
ment against the city Tor S6OO,OOO for back taxes
Inc majority of the Finance Committee recon-
mend that this $1,5O0,OOO be funded. This the un-
dersiened oppose. 1t is the duty of Councils to
ment By funding S2,5OO,OOO, two years ago. the
city was made even, and rate of 9i 40 instead of
~ should have been proposed for 1866.
The duty OF imposing q tax rate sufficient to meet
the expenses of the city has always been evaded
by Councils. In 1855 they imposed proper tax TO
Of many years has been that the necessity to have
sum sufficient to carry on any particular depart
ment is not rendered inexorabe by reducing the
estimates and the extra appropriations of this
year shows the accuracy Of ais rule.
Tne act OF consolidation requires that the city
shall not only provide for the payment of the inte-
rest Of its debit but shall be prepared for any loan
needed by contemporaneous appropriation for
the payment of the interest, and to sink the prin-
cipal within the next thirty years. This law is
very plain, and II ii be admitted, then ought to
carry on the government of the year by the taxes
of the same year, without borrowing. This law
imposes the additional duty of paying the interest
upon the public debt and the sinking fund "with-
out loans" The postponement OF the payment for
thirty years of the 100000 will involve the pay
ment of 100000 annually for interest, and $4,000
ally State tax upon interest-altogether Sll2,5OO
per annum.
Again the Controllers report says that there are
now on hand for schools, gas, water, etc, unsold
loans amounting to 80 277S00. The contracts for
these works are made and the loans will he issued
during the coming year If the 100000 are to he
funded there Will be Si,000,O00 of a loan on the
market at the commencement of the year. 1t may
be said that the Commissioners of the Siuking
Fund will take all this but the law says that the
amount must be raised by tax, "eXclusive of loans,"
and this is wise to prevent the compounding of the
Ia ha habf
should only be increased by the corresponding
erection of public works, the receipts from which
cipal.
Again, to borrow this sl,5OO,OOO will be to do it
in paper and pay it in gold While the cost of GO
vernment at paper prices, the taxes should also
so be;
1t is stated that four per cent is high rate of
taxation. But the aggregate of assessments of
property made to Councils is S64,0tO,000 Coun-
ellis cannot change this assessment The people
elect officers to assess property and the under
signed hope that the apparent high rate will lead
people to correct the of the evil. The inter-
est account of the city is already 80 and we
should pause before increasing 1t.
The undersigned do not refer to 100000 for the
South street bridge, nor to 100000 ordered to be
works be commenced the proportion of loans that
can be sold in 1867 will be small.
The Controllers estimates for 1867 are S760i351 5S
To this Councils have added
For House of Correction, 100000 90
For increased pay OF police, 100000 90
szsl4,351 5s
To meet this tax rate of 81 rs will be necessary
and the undersigned think that there is reason
that will excuse the funding of part of the ex-
penses that will not justify funding the whole, and
therefore urge upon Councils the honest payment
of the whole. (Signed,)
JOS. F. MARoER, Chairman,
JAMES FREEMAN,
JOSHUA SPRRING.
Mr.. Harper moved that the ordinance attached
to the minority report be considered. Agreed to-
NThe amendment to fix the rate at S4 rs was lost
nays 81, yeas 8, the latter being Allen, Arm
strong, Billngton, Dillon, Heizel, Marcer, Stock
ham and Stokes.
The rate was then made Si on the hundred only
theee Observation-Disclosures, Marcer and Stock
ham-being in the negative.
Mr.. Willets then moved to amend the bill by fix
ing the tax farm lands in the rural districts at
one-t third of the regular tax and all other rural
properties at one half the tax.
The amendment was not agreed to, and the bill
was approved without further objection.
Mr.. Stanton offered 10 the Chamber a comm uni
cation trorn John Nj Orton, OF Boston, in refer
ence to the proposed change in the Fire Depart
ment.
Mr.. Stanton moved to refer the communication
to the Committee on Fire and Trusts. Agreed to.
Adjourned.
A Tim dn.sr of