Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-03-02
laneastet fllteIliqenrer.
THURSDAY EvEN'a, MARCH 2, 1882
The City Government.


was one of the most important of the
fiscal year 1t is a popularity of our sys-
TEN of city government that the respon-
sibilities of our councilmen are weightiest
near the close of their terms and after
their successors have been elected. Our
fiscal year is so disarranged that one
council makes the estimates, the appro-
priations and the tax levy, and another
spends the money. A large portion Of
the revenues raised and appropriated is
only paid into the city treasury near the
close of the fiscal year. These and many
other ill-jointed features of our munic-
ipal system will never he regulated until
the time-not far distant we trust
when our people of all parties will see
the wisdom and necessity Of uniting to
secure a non-partisan, business-like ad-
ministration of city affairs in every
branch of the local government.
The taxpayers will not be especially
gratified at the levy of another nine mill
city tax. When this rate was laid last
year it was claimed, and with indisput :
able truthfulness, that the addition Of
the two mills was due entirely to the
floating debt incurred by an extravagant
and reckless street committee. That ex-
planation fully explained. 1t was ex-
pected, however, that when this special
necessity had been provided for the rate
would be lowered, especially as the re-
funding of the city debt had reduced the
necessary expenditures for interest some
$4,000 and as out of last years current
appropriations some permanent improve
ments were made, the like of which are
not projected for next year. The esti-
mates for the coming year not being
submitted as yet we can not of course
fairly judge as to the propriety Of the
heavy tax rate and anything except
general criticism must be suspended
until we have the details, of how the
money raised by nine mill tax
is expected to be spent. 1t is of course
presumption in favor of the propriety
of the rate that all the members of both
branches of council, controlled by differ
ent parties. assented TO it. Upon exam
ination we find that OF the money raised
generally by the city tax the smaller pro
portion goes to the current expenses of
the city. Five mills are required to pay
the interest and principal on loans, the
state tax, and to make the annual
reduction of the city debt required
by law; out Of this the tax
payers have the satisfaction of. knowing
that their permanent indebtedness
will he actually decreased about
Sl5,VO next year. OF the city tan
of last year only two mills were
actually devoted to current municipal
expenses, and the same amount would
probably meet next years expenses ex.
cept for some special wants that have tC
be met. One of these, we understand
is 81 $50, damages assessed for the open
ing Of streets, fixed by judgments now
recorded against the city, over which
councils have no control. There is de
ficiency of some $500 in the lamp lie
partment occasioned by the fact that the
appropriation for last year was based OF
an estimate Of SIS per lamp, but whel
the contract came to he given out il
could not be let at less than S23. The
water and street departments have slight
deficiencies, but besides the street dam
ages the principal item which the eXtra
two mill tax has to provide for will bt
the cost of the new fire department
which includes at the outset the purchase
of fourteen horses. harness and other ap
paratus. City Treasurer Nc Comsey als(
tells us that the appropriations of las
year were actually in increase of receipts
the finance committee having consider
ably under-estimated the attachments AM
generations.
The report of the water SupeTinteDd
ent, printed in full on our first page, i!
worth careful study. 1t is a cOnIpre-
hensive statement of the yearly opera
tions in his department. 1t shows thai
with the reservoirs filled to the top al
the water renters cannot be properly sup
piled therefore better facilities art
needed. The repairs at the eastern res
ervOir have stood the test OF time ant
use. The low stages Of water in th'
creek have increased the demand fo
steam service, and the enormous ani
eyer-increasing consumption of water b!
our people has increased the total ccst
of the water works operations.
1t is satisfactory to learn tha
the average cost Of pumping H.,
water power last year was onl,
Sl.sl per million gallons, though
the same service under Supt. kitch last
year cost S3.57 and under Supt. Hal
bach, the year before, 1913. 1t seem!
too, that Notwithstanding the increase,
cost of coal the water pumped by steam
power last year cost only s7.5s per mil
lion gallons, while the year before i
averaged STA and under Halbach i
was $500. These economies refiec
credit on the administration of the pas
year. A steady increase in the receipt
from water rents is another satisfactor,
feature of the report.
Experiments with water meters hav,
shown, what most of the taxpayers hav
long believed, that according to the ad
vantages they enjoy the private con
sumers pay more than their share O
water tax and the manufacturers less.