The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-08
City Council Meeting.

The city council met in regular ses-
sion at Mayor McDivitt's Office last Fri
day evening. Present, C. ]. McDivitt,
Mayor; COuncilmen Durkee, Reed,
Smith, ScOggins and Childs; City At
tOrney Seeds, Marshal HoisingtOn and
a number of interested spectators.
The council tabled all the sidewalk
petitions; referred to the finance COM
mittee all the bills reported; tabled the
petition for hydrant on the west side
of the creek: again touched upon the
expediency of annuling the contract
with the water works company for ex-
tending the main up Buckeye Avenue
to Thirteenth street; cut down the sal
airy of Marshal from $50 to $40 per
month; reduced the salary of Clerk from
5000 to 800 per annum; requested the
city attorney to draw up an occupation
tax ordinance; confirmed J. c. Roger
as city clerk and then adjourned.
No one understands the financial
strait of the city better than the RE-
FLECTOR, and no one more thoroughly
appreciates the difficulties which lie be-
fore the council.
Not counting the balance on hand
April ,, 1888, which was S550.02,
and leaving out the pauper items, the
city's receipts for its last fiscal year
were S., S54.45 In this amount is in
Guided $500 received from the saloons
for the months of December and Janu-
airy, which should probably be deducted
from the receipts for the pres
ent fiscal year. This will leave the city
an Appropriated revenue of s., 254.45,
with which to pay current expenses, the
floating debt and interest on the bonded
debt.
From the estimated receipts of So
254 10 must be Subtracted the sum of
SO, 800 for salaries, interest and water,
leaving the city the magnificent sum OF
81 ,S64 IS with which to pay floating
debt of over $4,000 and to meet the
current expenses of the city.
1t is obvious that something must be
done, and that something will take the
shape of a special tax on business men,
or the city will be asked to vote bonds.
Neither a special tax nor bonds will
be popular. The city is growing rapid
ly, and its streets, sidewalks and other
conveniencies should accord with and
become its dignity and Importance. No
citizen will undertake to deny this, but
they may object to the means through
which sgch a desirable end may be
reached.
DOctrinaires and visiOnistS always re-
treat before a cold, practical showing
of resources and expenditures. The
city will need for several years to come
more money than can be raised from
taxation, fines and mislcellane o us
| licenses.
As practical temperance man, the
writer makes the statement that the
drinking of Intoxicating liquors has not
been diminished in this city by the clos
ing of saloons. Their back doors are
open. and an internal revenue license
| has been taken out by party III Abb
lene. The saloons could be made to
pay into the city treasury from $4,000
to So, 900 per year, and the amount OF
liquor drank, the number of cases OF
drunkenness and disorder would be nc
more numerous than they are today.
We make this statement, and we are
still not a ''whiskyite'' nor a ''rummle.
| What we want to know, what the bus
mess men want to know, is: Are the
saloons to be permitted to sell free
whisky while the business men are
paying a special tax for the support OF
the city.