The Portland daily press., 1877-06-05

heSDecIIullY submitted,
CHARLES WALK Err,
w. w. LATHAM,
T. III. HASKELL,
JAMES CUNNINGHAM,
CHARLES +. SWEET.
The report was accepted and the order
passed.
Mr.. Cunningham then offered a.resoIution to
the effect that the city sell all their right and
title in the road, first giving the citizens of
Portland an opportunity to purchase, but if not
disposed of by July LIST, to sell for $270OOO, or
20 per cent. of the par value of the mortgage
bonds. The order.was laid on the table after
some discussion.
The Committee on Appropriations submitted
the following report:
The Importance of the appropriation bill and
the proposed changes made therein the present
year, render it proper that the committee on
that subject should make report to the City
Council explanatory thereof, aud setting forth
| the reasons for the committees action in the
premises. Our fellow citizens and tax payers,
also, are entitled to be Informed of the doings
of their public servants especially in all mat
tiers relating to the financial interests of the
city.
Heretofore, since the default of the Portland
& Rochester and Portland & Ogdensburg Rail-
roads in the payment of interest due from them
respectively to the city, former City Councils
have shrunk back from including the amount
thereof in the annual tax levy, but have resort
ed to the easier but most hazardous method of
issuing bonds therefor from time to time, in
creasing the debt year by year, so that in a
comparatively few years it would be doubled
and become SO large as to be wholly uumanage-
able. 1t is obvious that this ought not to be
suffered to go on any longer, and that this year
of necessity this railroad interest must be put
into the taxes to be assessed. To do this, how
ever, without very marked reduction in ex-
penditures would raise the rate of taxation full
ly one-ffth higher than the present burdensome
rate of So 80 per 500. The committee concur
with the often declared and we'll known opinion
of the Mayor, that such increase of taxes would
be extremely prejudcial if not actually disas-
trous to the interests of the city, especially in
these times of business depression; and In this
view it ia believed all our citizens of financial
experience and acquainted with the affairs of
the city coincide.
The only alternative therefore is to reduce
the appropriations to such an amount as will
equal the amount of this railroad interest," viz:
$l50,000. and also the falling off in the city's
income this year of $1,000, making in all $751;
900. This reduction has been made boldly, but
at the same time carefully, the necessary ex-
penditures of each department having beeu
gone over thoroughly and in detail, and the ap-
preparation bill herewith presented is the re-
suit:
Last ear the amount of appropriation was
1882, 1886 49, Deduct income of city from that
year, 1897, 900, and we have amount raised by
taxation in 1876, 1854, 496.40. This year the
proposed appropriation is $500, 564. %; deduct
income less by $1,000 than last year, 800 900, and
we have $610, 564.22. Add to this the railroad
interest, $150,000, and we have $3.50, 564 %, the
amount to he raised by taxation. These fig
ures show reduction of $161, 1872. Is, enough to
meet railroad interest and diminution of in
come $157 900, with balance over of 1892. IS
Ii therefore nothing unforeseen occurs and
the valuation is kept up, taxes for 1877 will be
no higher than last year. The average rate for
the last dozen years has been 1882 for $780,
Among the reductions from last year are $22,-
500 for streets, it being the policy to keep up
the streets for the present year in their present
fair condition without extensive paving or
grading; also $4,000 on drains and sewers; at
the same time, owing to the ease of excavation
and cheapness of labor, the extent of sewers
constructed this year will greatly exceed the
number of rods built last year; for schools S.
4S5; the Poor $4,000, without injuring it is be-
lieved, the efficiency of either of these depart
ments. Also $4,000 city building and $1,000
salaries, including public schools, &c, is SILL
100.
The responsibility if this bill is passed will
rest upon committees and heads of depart
ments to see that appropriations are not ex-
ceeded Indeed it is one of the benefits of the
law limiting the amount of the city debt, that
it puts check upon the too frequent practice
OF exceeding Apr opriations. One thing reat-
Ing 10 the present condition OF the City finances
is subject OF congratulaton. From the day
of its Incorporation In 1882 the city has been
constantly in debt, at first to a moderate
amount, but steadily increasing from year to
year with few exceptions, between 1910 and
1850, till it has reached its present proportions,
when more than 100000 of the $760000 or
25ths Of the sum raised by taxation, must be
devoted to the payment of interest on our debt
and to feed the sinking fund for the redemp-
ton OF the principal. AT the commencement
first time our Treasurer was enabled to report a
decrease of this debt of $21, 000 and at the be-
ginning of next year he estimates the reduction
will be 100000 more. These ate rot large
sums it is true, but they afford a hopeful ndi.
cation that our liabilities have reached their
height that the tide has began to turn, and
that the course of the city has been laid, fl
nanciallv, in the right direction. In the con-
duct of our municipal affairs let these two
rules be observed, viz: TO apply the proceeds of
public taxes to municipal expenditures alone
and to manage the business affairs of the city
strictly according to business principles and
methods, and these liabilities will grow less,
slowly it may be at first, but more rapidly as
time goes on, until they are wholly extipguish-
ed.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
M. NJ. BUTLER, Chairman,
A. BRUNEI,
VIM. T. SMALL,
JAMES E. HAsELTINE
w. w. LATHAM,
BENJAMIN +. ANDREgs.
HANSON S. CLAY.
JAMES KNoLToN
TIE following are the APPROXIMATIONS 90 va