The daily gazette., 1878-09-13


N,te of E. G. Burnite, 800
Note at Union Nation Bank, 20 600
Sundry debts contracted by the
last City Council, and which
must bs met by another note
of about 10000
.. Total foating debt, $71 800
" " and funded debt, / ,2y4, ,45O
With regard to the sundry debts enum-
Grated in the list of floating debts and set
down as about $4,000, it will be neces-
sary for the Council at this present meet
ing to have ,ote discounted, in order to
raise funds for their payment, as there is
| not, to-day, a single dollars to our credit
in any bank of the city; but ON the con-
trary the city's account is overdrawn to
the amount of S51.44. At this point, for
the purpose of comparison, we invite
your attention 10 the floating debt of the
city one year ago, when the City Council
who preceded us entered their admins
tration of our city affairs:
Balance in bank to the credit
of the city, Sept. l., 1877, S58. .4o5 a
Floating debt, (P. Qugley's
note, $50 900, and L. G. Bur-
mites, 81 800 81 800 90
Balance in favor of city, S26 1876 "a
1t will be observed upon a comparison
OF JneSe Two statements that the City
Council which came into power Sept. 1,
1877, did so with a balance in hand
amounting to 6,995 "A. They admins.
tered the affairs of this city for one year
and during that period they have man
aged to expend that balance, and have
increased the floating debt of this city
from S31 800 to ST. 800. They have
nearly exhausted the appropriations for
the current year, with four months yet
remaining. They have exhausted the
City Treasury, and your honorable body
must commence your administration
with the passage of an extraordinary
20 carry on the government. Summed
up as follows:
Sept. l, 1877-Bal. in bank, $26 1896 "a
Increase of floating debt from
Sept l, 1877, TO Sept l, 1873, 10000 90
$66, ,995 "a
Add to this the amount of appropria-
tions for this year which have been ex-
pended, and you will have some idea of
the cost of running our city government
from from Sept l, 1877, to Sept. l, 1873 "a
period of one year
The following appropriations are over
drawn, with four months of the year vet
remaining: Water Works, Sewers, Re-
pairing aud Cleaning Streets. Incidert tai
and Miscellaneous and Opening and
Grading streets.
1t is true that much of the exr enditures
of the preceding Council have been for
necessary improvements to The city. call
ed for by our natural growth but while
such is true 1t is equally the fact that
much has been recklessly and laylshly
spent where no real necessity existed.
At this date it would be impossible to
give an itemized account of the expendi-
lures, but such will be forthcoming in
January next, in accordance with city
charter, and we owe it to the taxpayers
of this city that this report shall be in
the utmost degree specific. This is rather
a bad state of affairs for the present
Council 70 commence business with in
stead of having large surplus fund to
the credit of the city in bank, to meet
current expenses, we commence desper-
ately in debt, and that after tie bulk of
the city and school taxes for this year
have been paid.
The present Council will have to run
the city from now until next July on
borrowed MONEY, there being no reve-
nue. but that which will be derived from
the Water Department, the small
amounts of taxes yet nncollected, and a
small amount of rents from city prop
erty.
IuG DtODl6 VI w tApotb
much from the City Council now about
adm inst ,ring hit ir affairs for the ensuing
year. The task set before us Is one f
large proportions. We must set to work
earnestly to do our duty. A thoroue h
reform of our city management is i'm
peratively demanded. Useless offices
must be abolished, salaries must b. re-
duced to reasonable rates, economy
must rule in all the departments. In
fact we must apply the rules to the con-
duct our of municipal affairs which each
one of us would deem necessary in the
management of his private business.
Should we fail to do this it is only a
question of time until our municipal at
fairs shall be over-burdened with the
double curse of heavy debt and oppress-
i've taxation.
JOHN GUTHRIE,
ALEXANDER j. HART,
JOHN JONES,
Finance Committee
Mr.. Lynch moved that the report be
adopted.
Mr.. Chandler said the report was lame,
unjust and one-sided. He thought IT
F, might have been extended back several
years, instead of only to the past Conn-
| Gil. He claimed that the real cause Oft
| apparent financial troubles commenced