The daily gazette., 1883-06-08
Not a Funny Mat er, at An.

We fail to see upon what grounds Every
clined to make the question of city finances
unnecessarily difficult for Councils major
e'ity, and to point out with some glee the
unpleasant dilemma of q high tax rate or
+" a deficit" for surely our contemporary
will agree that low taxes and and efficient
administration of our municipal affairs are as
much desired by the GAZETTE as by any other
business institution OF the city. Awell-con-
Quoted local government is a valuable ad
junct to business prosperity and for this rea-
son the GAZETTE is interested in having the
financial affairs of the city administered
upon the principles of sound common sense,
But human nature is the same the world
over, and if our contemporary will
reflect upon tine attitude Of the
GAZETTE during the past year IL will
not wonder that a little bit of the ~ told
''vou so" spirit naturally but not ILL
naturedly, creeps into its consideration Of
the subject
When City Council established the tax;
rate a. year ago, the GAZETTE protested
that it was insufficient in that it not
only Jailed to provide for the def
cheney OF 100000 made by the previous
Council, but would not raise sufficient
money TO meet the regular appropriations
that it was designed TO cover. Councils
party organs hooted at this latter idea, and
not having sense enough to comprehend .
years financial operations, looked only at
the huge bank balance piled up by the July
taxes, and positively asserted that city af
fairs would be conducted upon strictly
casn basis until the end of the year, with
''plenty and to spare" Before
the new Council was two months
old the GAZETTE predicted that d
would create deficiency, but this predic-
tion was treated by Councils ignorant party
organs as the declaration of political
malice, while their columns teemed
with praises of the wonderful imam
cial wisdom that was at last guiding
our mismanaged affairs into the safe waters
of cash basis and no floating debt. They
telt sure, in their deep ignorance, that they
were right, and we have a shrewd suspicioa
that Every ErsaiHy agreed with them at the
time, though fortunately it did not commit
itself by joining in the raillery at what the
Others were pleased to term the ''croaking''
OF the GAZETTE.
The recent reports of the City Treasurer
have fully sustained every declaration made
by this paper, and at last nights meeting OF
Council that official reported an overdraft
amounting to l9,l5796. During the even
ing bills amounting to S7,199.57 were
allowed, which increased the deficit to
S26,357.53, and when the May bills,
To be paid next week, are added to this
amount, the deficiency at the end of the
fiscal year will exceed 500, 900.
With this large deficiency piled upon de-
fciency OF $4,000 last year, the situation
becomes really alarming These deficits
will all have to be met in the courst
of time and the sooner they are
resolutey taken in hand and wiped
out, the better il will be for the city Thi
is why the GAZETTE hopes the presen
Council will have the nerve to apply th
only sure remedy and raise money enough
bg taxation To set our affairs straight w,
are not in ''glee'i over the matter, and if VI
speak in apparent confidence it is not from
delight ut the - confusion of oul
3" enemies" but from the fact tha
we firmly believe we have grasped the tru,
import of the situation, and having sue
crsstuly predicted the result of one year..
mismanagement, are in position to pon
out the way 10 avoid reptition OF suct
disastrous experience.