The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-07-31

them who have been given
place only that they may have an excuse
to draw money from the city treasury.
The Board of Finances budget allows a
paltry 81, 900. They can't be paid out of
that! How, then, are they to be paid ?
Why, by using the assessment collections
that should go into fund TO meet accru-
ing bonds. BY and by the bonds will fall
due; there will be no money to meet
them, and they will be added to the
permanent debt of the city
In the Aldermanic appropriations no
allowance are made for trimming trees,
or for street signs. or for park settees.
They should all be provided for. The
city hasn't bought new park settee in
fifteen years. It's about time she had
some But then $500 is allowed for print
ing the city ordinances in book form be-
cause ring printer wants job.
ANOTHER ELECTION FRAUD.
Last year S11 900 was appropriated to the
Board for election expenses. They
amounted to $15, 900; and the "a, 600 differ
ence is represented in the Finance
Boards sS9, ,s54 bond account. This year
the erection of new booths under the bal
lot reform bill will increase the cost of
elections to $40, 900 or more The budget
allows only the paltry 81. 900 that was
not sufficient even for this years use.
The city will have to run $1,000 or more
in debt to cover the deficiency.
For the District Courts the Aldermen
demanded S10,650 The Board of Finance
allowed 1880. The Sinking Fund will
be robbed of the court fees it usually re-
ceives to make up the shortage. 1t is
little steal of course, but it's despicable
smallness makes it worthy of note. City
finances must be in bad order indeed,
when the Board has to juggle for 81, 600.
The Police Board asked for $4,000 for
street lights. The Finance Board last
year allowed S95, 900. The contract with
the gas company called for $4,000 moro
than could be paid out of that appropria-
tion. The deficiency figures in that
$50, ,S54 bond item of the Board of Finance.
This wears appropriation of $l05, 600 is
S., 600 short of what must be spent.
Then there is an unexplained increase
in the item for the pay of the police. Last
year s222, 734 was enough to pay the men.
The pay was increased by the vote OF the
people at the November election, to the
extent of S24. 500. That would
make a total of s247. .234 needed
this year for their pay But the Financiers
fix the item at s261 .6l4. Extra policemen
do not explain the appearance of this
extra S14,o00. A special appropriation of
s22, 900 is made for them. The gentlemen
of the Board of Finance may throw some
light upon the use to which this S14, 900 is
to be put.
A DEFICIENCY LAST YEAR AND THIS.
Stop now and look at the Fire Commits
sioners' figures. They had SIT 900 in the
current years appropriations TO pay
claims" The money was all gone in
less than six months, and the Board is
now running on tick. To meet the def
cheney Of this year and properly provide
for next year about $40. 600 is required. A
pittance of SIS, ,000is given.
1t may be mentioned of the Board of
Education's figures in passing, that the
cost of printing its annual report is in
creased from $500 to $500 The $500 allow
favored Ring printer is evidently ang-
ling for the job.
FINANCE FIGURES
The figures of the Board of Finance are
full of interest. They begin with very
transparent attempt to give the Board an
undeserved reputation for economy by
showing reduction in the salary ac-
count. Last year it was SIC, ,299. The new
budget allows only S88, 500 But the Board
has taken from it S12, 800 tor printing
minutes that was included in the figures
of last summer and made special appro-
priation on that account. These two
items added make the salary account in
the next levy larger than il was in the
last.
A paltry 81, 900 is allowed for legal ex-
penses and Judgments; but in the SS9, ,S54
bond item are any quantity of charges
for legal expenses and Judgments.
BIG DECREASE EXPLAINED.
A vast reduction is made in the interest
and sinking funds accounts. In last
summers tax levy 1t was $7S5, 900. This
year it is $500, $780, This reduction of about
S95. 600 is claimed to be proof of the effici-
ency of the existing ring government.
The item is reduced, its hoodwinking Ear.
tiSans say, because SO much of the inter-
est bearing debt of the city has been
paid off
The fact is that the allowance robs the
sinking fund by making no practical pro-
vision for the interest that may become
its due during the course of the year. Thus
$780, 900 is kept out of sight. For the rest
the Board said to itself
Here, we may be able to pay q million
of dollars of the bonds to fail due this
year. That will save SAC, 900 of interest y
Not one of them had the smallest idea
how the million dollars is to be paid. But
the $40, 600 went out of the tax levy.
They were aided in the juggle also, bv
remanding some of the Sinking Fund
loans to the interest on arrearages ac-
count" for payment.
ALL UNDER SUSPICION.
Now it cannot be pretended that all of
the crookedness and deception the new
covers has been exposed in this article
So much has been shown concerning it,
however, as to put it all under suspicion.
If the city officials would open their
heads they would probably snow every
item in the list to be afraud upon the tax
payers.
But enough has been laid bare, how
ever, to show what beastly skin upon
the taxpayers-what gross imposition
on their credulity-the new budget is
that even if it does contemplate the ex-
penditure of $780, 900 more than last year
1t does not begin to meet the extrava-
gances contemplated by the Fraudulent
Mayors administration; that il is
made up on a basis oi
borrowing and issuing bonds for the tax.
payers to pay next year or the year after
or some other year." and that it was pre-
pared for the one purpose of keeping the
monster cost, to the community, of His
Fraudulency and his vandals from the
public's knowledge
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