Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-24
HIS HONOR'S VETO.

|
Disappearing of the Appropriation Or
dinance-He Does Not Expect Much
Consideration-Afraido of Big Deficit.
The Mayors message to Councils, embodyine
his reasons for vetoing the appropriation ordin
| ance, mentioned elsewhere in this issue, is as
| follows:
ITO the President and Members of Common
| Council:
"GENTLEMEN-I respectfully return you
herewith c. e. Ordinance No. 762, entitled An
ordinance levying taxes, assessing water rents
and making appro priations for the fiscal year
beginning February l, 1884, without my ap.
proval. While I realize very fully the i'm
probability that any objections which may be
| presented in this communication will effect any
| modification of the ordinance, 1 nevertheless
| feel that it is but due to Councils and Just to
myself to state some of the reasons which
prompt my refusal to share In the responsibility
of this legislation.
"A careful reading of the ordinance forces
the conclusion that in order to grant the large
appropriations demanded by some of the de-
partments OF the city government it became
necessary to swell the estimated receipts very
largely in excess of what can reasonably be ex-
pected from the sources designated.
"Whlle such policy may effect the present
purpose OF It's adroit advocates to provide
large appropriations without increasing the
mlllage. it will inevitably result in deficiency
correspondingly large at the end of the year.
The payday will come next year, loaded in all
PROBABILITY with superadded burdens.
Figuring on Deficiency.
"The ordinance estimates the revenue from
city tax at 81 100 00U allowing, according to the
statement of the Controller, but SlO7, 500 to
cover generations, deductions, discounts lost
taxes and amount not collected during the
year. This sum of sl07, 800 does not in any way
appear in the ordinance, but it is a tacitly un-
derstood excess of the tax levy that will be re-
ported to the treasurer over the estimated reve-
nue. of 81, 100000 referred to above. The dis
counts and generations will exhaust about
half this amount, leaving approximately $50 900
as against the uncollected balance at the end of
the fiscal year.
Now, the delinquent balance at the end of
the year Of the levy of 1880 was s245 453 80: of
the year 1883, Sl7O,9 SO; Of the year 1883 S23S
collections of the year 1889 tax were yery close:
and, as will be observed, the delinquent bal
ance at the end of 1890 was over s245OOO. In
view OF all past experiences. therefore. we have
every reason to expect that about $3.50 900 will
remain delinquent in the hands of the collector
at the close of the current year. If this reason
ing be correct we have here in this one item of
estimated receipts, after deducting the $50 600
$230, 900.
Regarding water rents. the committee have
evidently based their estimate upon an assess
nent VI apouI e'oV.WV, whereas the Super1n-
tendent Of the bureau has said that he does not
and cannot expect to be able to assess larger
amount than that of last year, which was S644-
OO0 OF this assessment sl36OOO remained un.
collected at the close of the fiscal year. leaving
but s5OS 900 of revenue realized during the year
from this bureau. The ordinance estimates
the receipts from water rents at 5000, 600 In the
light OF the facts presented, is there any sub
stantial reason to believe that the revenue
from this source will be almost 100000 in ex-
cess of that of last yearf on the orber b,nd
is not the conclusion justified that at the end Of
the year 1891 there will be deficit in vonr esti
mated receipts from water rents of a6ont SIN
OOOf This NAV NOT he hannv exnectation bn,
it seems a reasonable one NV
,,.
Neceipts OIL the mayors OHce.
1.-THE ordinance estimates the receipts from
the Mayors office at s77 600. from enpIneering
sl0 OO0. from Iionor Iiconso, sso ooo IT, -
creased receipts from the Mavor,s Office dnrina
the past year were in large measure the re-,
suit of the extensive prosecutions of iIlepal
liquor Sellers Without these prosecutions the
revenue from this office would not, in nv iudg
ment, have exceeded the sum of $50 O00 The
estimate. in the opinion of persons most com.
petent 70 know. is Sl5,OOO too high.
the recsinIs frn,n oDai ascision strikes down
ments and liens from which the receints wers
to be derived, and nothing can be expected
from this source in the present condition of
things. Notwithstanding this fact your ordi-
nance anticipates $4,000 The increase of $40
600 over the estimate of las. year from LIQUOR
license is evidently based upon one of two |
that the court will grant |
4OO licenses, or that the Legislature will pass an
These are uncertain contingencies |
upon which to base revenue. They may be 1
realized and they may not.
"Ihe estimated revenue from miscellaneous
sources is increased almost $50 900 over that of
ast year. am INFORMED you propose to collect |
shls sioooV0 py tne auInorlty OF curative laws |
sxPectea from tne Legisiature These laws
nave not yet been passed, they have not been |
by the Governor, and even though |
Vour expectations may be fully realized il will |
lot be possible TO collect any considerable Dor
Joe OF thls money during the present year. |
md in aII nrobabIitv the Snnrsme ~ii Gnre ensue SUE
'gain be appealed to for a decision touching
he constitutlonal1ty OF the act.
His Honor Reaches a Conclusion.
"If the foregoing statements are we'll founded
he inevitable conclusion must be reacbed that
his ordinance will be followed by a deficiency
# at least 100000 at the end of the wear
There are other objections to this measure
which make it impossible for me to approve if
.Tho onnronr;,tion of sooe eo1 An t -,
et ~ so-ooOA ~ ioi pafhs
embraces 'ne ioio"lne items, as SHOWN by Mr..
3igelow's estimates, to which l cannot SUBJ
cribe: William A. Roeyeler. s27 oSB 40. CbarJes
3. Seely IS, 600; Mrs Stella II. Kennedy SIN
OU These items aggregate S42OS6 40. TO be
lsed for the purchase of property from the nar |
ons named for Highland Park The imnrass;on |
vas giyen out while the Ordinance was nndar
that this properly had ALREADY been
purchased and that the duty deyolyed mon
Councils to provide for the paymept fhjs
and has not been bought, nor do I believe the
,resent an opportune time 1o induIoa the |
sthetic tastes of those who advocate nSodiGaI
for the enlargement and deyei6n.
nept of public parks Aside from the nresept
LEGALITY of the contemplated purchase. peItSer
he present nor the Immediately prosnectiya
condition OF the city warrants the appronria.