The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-05
The Tax Rate for 1869.


OK Tuesday next there will be special meet
1869, and II is to be hoped that the subject
will receive the attention it deserves, and that
IN effort will be made to avoid the financial
embarrassments which have hitherto been so
annoying to taxpayers as well as our CIVIC
legislators. On Thursday last q majority
of the Finance Committee of Common Council
presented report advocating $3.50 as the tax
rate for the year 1869. The liabilities Of the
city for the coming year amount to $l2, 3S9,
279'50, and the cash on hand is 1914, 1928
The estimated receipts from all sources added
to this will make 50, 766, 555'73, leaving
$S, ,622, 729'77 to be provided for by taxation.
The amount realized by the rate of $3.50 is
$7,975, ,563'77, leaving a deficit of $647, l63.
Two important items, however, have been
omitted in the estimates made in fixing the
above-named rate-the extra appropriations
and to fall due in 1869.
The extra appropriations for 1868 to Novem-
ber / amounted to 1851, z94'74, and the
amount now due to the State for taxes in
arrears is 5000, 1000, and it is estimated that
the States claim in 1869 will be at least
Sl6O, ,0OO making total of $3.50, 900. Thus,
at the proposed rate of $3.50 we will be more
deeply involved than ever at the end of 1869,
and extraordinary means will have to be re-
sorted TO to make up the deficiency. Our
credit is not so good now that We can afford to
run deeper in debt and the most prudent,
Sensible and satisfactory course for all par
ties would be to fix upon tax rate that will
cover all expenses, and, if possible, leave a
surplus in the treasury.
On last Thursday Messrs. w. E. Littleton
and James F. Dillon, of the Finance Commit
tee, presented a minority report in Common
Council, in which they clearly set forth the
above particulars and earnestly advocated
1920 as the rate for 1869. The rate of 50 20
will give in excess of the $3.50 rate $1,772,-
347.77, from which deduct the estimated def
cienoy of 81, 507, 163, and there will be sur
plus at the end of the year of $265, 1884.
Messrs. Littieton and Dillon state that when
an annual expenditure Of over twelve millions
of dollars is to be considered, they do not think
this too great margin.
A high rate is, OF course, unpopular with
taxpayers, and members of Council on that
account are disposed to resort to expedients
rather than meet the financial difficulties Of
the city government in the only way that can
avoid constant embarrassment. Messrs.
Littleton and Dillon are entitled to credit for
their advocacy of tax-rate sufficient to cover
the actual expenses of the city, and we hope
that Councils will be induced to look upon
the matter from the same practical and
They say in their report
with the result of the experience of the
last five or six years and the present condition
OF the City Treasury before them, 1t was hoped
and believed that az last rate would be
decided upon adequate to provide for current
expenditure; but from the action of the majo.
rity OF the committee, II appears tnat this
expectation was delustve, and that the course
of folly is still 10 be continued in reference TO
city finances. 1t would seem unnecessary to
say that the same rules should govern a muui.
cipaIiIy as would influence a prudent man in
the conduct of his business and that it Is as
imperative duty tor city or its rulers to
provide adequate means Tor It's annual ex pendi.
lure as for an individual TO do the same thing
for his domestic or business engagements But
for years this familiar and simple rne has
been neglected and repeatedly violated. In no
one year since the war began has there been q
tax rate producing a sum equal to current ex-
Penditures. Year after year nave deficiencies
been accumulatiog, until inc debt of the city
hes assumed gigantic proportions, exceeding
the debt of the State ITSELF No decrease has
been effected. but accumulation has been steady
and continuous. To such course, If recklessly
continued, there can be but one term mpation-
bankruptcy; and only ons remedy can be ap.
plied-a tax rale suftcient for all current expen'
ditures, estimated aud special, which can be
made for or during the year in question"
1t needs NO argument to prove that the
measure proposed by these gentlemen will be
more satisfactory to taxpayers and more
oreditable to the city than the policy hitherto
pursued, and which is advocated by the ma
lority of the Committee; and we hope sim
cerely that Councils will allow themselves to
look at this matter in proper light, and en-
deavor to retrieve our credit little by pro-
Viding means for meeting our liabilities as
they arise, rather than by adding fresh debts
to those with which we are already burdened.
New York and Hester Vaughan.