Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-07
FOUND ANOTHER FORTUNE.

| Allegheny Financiers Discover a Few Nor
Unknown Thousands in City Receipts
All Applications for Transfers Lait
| Over-want to Sell Railway Franchises
Another session of the Allegheny Fl
nance Committee was held last night and i
was discovered that the surplus over tn,
appropriations this year will be S140, 600 o.
more. There is still, however, a kicl
against any transfers from the contingent
fund. The Public Works Department
| asked S15, 900 for the Water Bureau, $50, O0t
tor the water extension fund and S7O,O
for the street department. Each o.
these requests was laid over for 6
subcommittee to handle, and several mem
| bers declared against granting the transfers.
The chief objection is that the purposes fol
which the amounts are wanted are moi
named.
A resolution for the transfer of 500, 0OC
from the general treasury to the contingent
fund was passed Then Charles Dahlinger,
of the committee to examine into the truth
of the alleged find of 100000, reported in
substance as follows:
We find there will be more money col
lected at the end of the fiscal year than was
estimated. This arises from the fact that a
smaller millage than twelve mills would
have been sufficient to meet the needs of the
city for 1891 and 1892.
1t has been the habit for several years to
base the millage on 80 per cent, as the loss on
taxes from discounts and other causes is but
little less than per cent, as can be readily
seen by reference to the annual reports. In
this way a large surplus was created. In
future it might be wise TO have the millage
based on a full valuation and make an ap-
propriation for discounts and generations.
Then again the millage was based on a val
uation of S51, 800, 900, while the actual val
uation was Sol, 100000. Here several
thousand dollars were gained. The esti-
mated increase from the water department
was $4,000, while the treasurer was
charged with S264, ,6S1, making a surplus
over the estimate of S74,55S. The estimates
for city taxes were S556, 200, and the City
Treasurer was charged with Sol9, 434, max
ing surplus of S63, 900.
The lew for business tax was S24, ,556,
while the estimate was only $4,000. From
these three items we have surplus of over
S140, 900, while in several other instances
the estimates were far below the actual
amount levied or received, and it is fair to
assume from the amount already collected
that we will, at the end of the fiscal year,
have at least 100000 more than was eSti-
mated in the appropriation ordinance.
The report was received and filed, and
Mr.. Dahlinger then moved that the Con-
troller submit statement at the next meet
ing showing the amount OF money IN the
present contingent fund. 1t carried.
The next matter taken up was bill of
$3.50 to pay the expert accountants for the
last month. Mr.. Nesbit moved to lay it
over if there was no money in the contingent
fund, but it appeared a special appropria-
ton was made for this work and the bill was
ordered paid.
The resolution making the Controller the
custodian of all city books was amended to
except the City Clerks books.
The resolution relating to the amending
of the Observatory Hill Railway, making
the fare 5 cents and the tax on cars $40, in
stead of $50, was referred to Messrs. Gill;
ford, Dahlinger and Schondelmyer. The
providing that the Controller no.
tify Councils three months in advance of
the expiration of street car companies leases
to allow of making alterations in regula-
tions was affirmatively recommended.
Another resolution authorizing the Con-
troller to advertise these leases and fran
chises for sale to the highest bidder caused
discussion as to its practica-
Dility. Mr. Eshelman said it would retard
rural Improvements. Mr.. Kennedy said it
would cause competition that would pre-
vent the successful bidder from getting any
The matter was left to the
anne committee and after some routine
business was transacted the committee ad- |
ourned at II o'clock.