The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-08-21
8a.1sa.ssa

Totals C years. IL. 81, SOC, 1923 81, 1s9, 1856
Cleveland's gang OF malfeasant Of
hcials extorts. therefore, $377, 263
more in two years than the Big Four
dared to.
LICENSE PICKINGS.
That's pretty good beginning, but 1t
doesn't begin to represent the whole of
the business The new high license law
was not in operation at the time the old
Boards went out. If they could have
held on until July a year ago they would
have had a crack at this nice little pile;
but the Ring rascals outgeneraled them
and got into power just in time to dis
burse it.
Licenses had been sold, of course in the
years before the new law became effective;
but the liquor fee was then only $50, and
that exacted from 1850 saloon keepers
brought in revenue of only S62500 a
year. In two years the old time officials
had therefore S125, 900 of rum money to
squander.
The new license law put up the ante
for O license to $3.50 per year. The num-
ber of saloons was reduced to about one
thousand by the inability of some of the
saloonkeepers to pony up. In spite of the
reduction the new rate put $3.50, 900 a year
into the city treasury, and as matter of
fact the Cleveland ringsters have taken
in, since they reached power, $447, ,220
from that source.
MARTIN TAX MONEYS.
The Martin tax moneys are devoted to
the same purpose under the new regime
to which they were to be devoted under
the old. The old Board of Finance gave the
new financiers a tip in financial manage
ment that they have since followed. The
old Financiers had just perfected a
scheme to meet the accruing obligations
of the city government out of these mon
eys, and they were set aside for that pur-
pose. The new city officials have, how
ever, drawn against these accumulated d
funds, as they have been needed for cur
rent expenses, and no one can tell to what
extent this reserve fund has thus been
impaired. 1t is all on deposit in the Sec
ond National Bank, and no gentle hints
are dropped that when the Ring wants a
little ready cash it goes down to the bank
and induces its president to loan 1t it's
own money for AZ per cent. considera-
ton.
The school moneys have increased some
what but as they are disbursed by the
State, per capita, the enlarged expendi-
ture has only kept pace with the increase
of the school population. The railroad
moneys are, as already stated, included
in the tax levy estimates. As for the
water moneys, no one can make head or
tail of them. The Water Department
has always shown a deficiency. The not
able fact about it is that while the
total deficiency at the close of the last fis-
cal year of the Big Four's administration,
was $144, 900, it is $244, 900 now. 1t is fair
to presume that the 100000 difference
has been squandered by the Ring.
ANOTHER TABLE.
The net increase of ready cash available
for city purposes under the Ring Govern
ment over the old may be thus tabulated:
Old Board. Neau Board.
Tax leves two years. 81, ,S06 1913 81, 1888 1856
TipnnSa two 121 QO0 AT
Water deficiency, provided
for by bonds... ....-. 100000
Totals. 81, ,931, 1923 S2,730 ,606
Here is the enormous excess of $500, 600
placed at the disposal of the Ring for two
years management of the city's affairs
over that which was within the reach of
the old government the last two years it
was in existence.
What has the city to show for it?
"a new Police HeadquartersI' one of
the Ring Wasters shouts in reply. So?
But the cost is not to be paid out of the
city revenue. 1t is to become burden of
the future on the taxpayers. Bonds have
already been issued TO meet the expenses
of its construction.
"a new police station on Bergen Hill
thenl" is q refrain heard from another
quarter. Ahl That too is to be paid for
in time bonds.
How about the high service pump?"
pipes a third indiscreet Rtngster. More
bonds, if you please. The 5000, 600 excess
makes no provision for it. 1t is to be paid
in the future out of future impositions on
The taxpayers.
The property of the city is to be mort
gagged even for tritle of $1,000 needed for
the new engine house on Warren street.
The Ring rascals cannot spare even that
trifiing sum. They must have the whole
tax levy in their pockets Unlike Flana-
gan, they do not ask what they are in
office for They had definite ideas when
they reached out for Office as to what
they wanted it for, and they have carried
them out so selfishly and greedily that
they will not let even a trifle of $1,000 be
expended for needed public building.
The only thing left of the extorted mil
lions is a balance of $4,000 school money
lying in the Second National Bank. Mr..
Hogencamp is loaning it out at per cent
intaraat Lyuhile two -Rnc, lll :. q dI1a,.ral-