Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-13

Il
You Will see this gives US surplus OF
$l5.S77.9S after having paid the expenses, as
heretofore indicated, to increase our emer-
gcucy fund, for which we have already al
lowed $1,000. making S25, S1l9S."
What provision have you made for
city hall or other public improvementsr'
We'll, if the people want city hall or
other public improvements, there Is way
TO get them, and but one way"
what is this one way2"
you will observe that our assessed val
ues are S23. 926, G67. The law authorizes the
the issuance of bonds to a limit of 6 per
cent This will allow the issuance of ST.
435, 600 in bonds. We have now outstanding
81 III, eco in bonds. We could issue S3l1,O
more i'll bonds this year to be applied for
public improvements. In addition to the
amount allowed we will be able to take up
after January a number of bonds by an in
yestment OF the sinking funds, and, OF
course, we can issue new bond in lieu of
each one retired"
Are you in favor of this?'
- am in favor of doing Just what the
people want in that matter. l think it the
duty of the council to advise with the
people on the question Of increasing the
bonded debt. The people should not be led
to believe the building of a city hall, school
buildings. firemen's central hall or purchase
of ground for same can be done out OF the
money received ClfOui lIlc LAX levy lux
1882 This is 4 true statement OF the
city's affairs at present. and think it the
duty of the city officials to at all times make
the people of the city acquainted with their
ability to accede TO their demands. 1t Is as
easy for the city to contract debts beyond
its ability to pay as it is for an Individual to
do So While the law gives to the city
council the right to demand Of each citizen
a part of his earnings in the way of taX:-
N the Government, and 10
carry on public Improvements, the citizen
should be consulted as TO the class and
extent of such improvements.
s.Do YOU think, Mr.. Early, the policy you
have outlined will be carried out by the
council!'
u cannot say as to that, but will say that
if the council deviate from it, and do not
offer instead a financial policy calculated by
facts and figures to keep their expenditures
within their receipts, we will be issuing
scrip again within ninety days. That the
city can build a suspension bridge, buy
grounds for school buildings and carry out
all other improvements contemplated, there
can be 70 question, but II must be paid for
from some other source than direct taxa
ton. If we proceed with the bridge and
other improvements in the future without
providing for the payment by bond issues,
the money set apart to pay city employees
and laborers the coming year will be con-
stunned in such Improvements, and they
themselves Will have to accept scrip in
future as in past. l am of opinion that if
the city desires its employees and laborers to
render efficient service and be honest with
the city. the city should be honest with
them
Alderman Drake was seen at his desk in
the general freight Office of the Fort Worth
and Denver City railway, and said: Il am
in favor of all employees of the city, who
still hold scrip, receiving the money there
for but those modern shylOcks who have
bought the scrip at discount of 10 to % per
cent have no cause to complain. | am IN
favor of using the money derived from the
sale of these bonds in public improvements,
in providing employment for the laboring
classes, and thus carrying out the desires
of the people and the intents of the council
when the bonds were issued. | do not be-
lieve that paying this scrip will in any way
relieve the employees of the city. They have
been skinned by these fellows who bought
the scrip at a ruinous discount, and | be-
lieve the greed of these shylockS should be
checked. The men who were paid for their
services In scrip have none of now, and all
that is out is held for purposes OF speculation
The city council has provided through this
bond issue for the construction of a central
fire hall and schoolhouses, and the money
should be used for this purpose. Mechanics
and laboring men are leaving our city,
causing a depression in trade, and
their interests must be looked after and |
shall use my influence with this end in
view. \ part of the budget for which these
bonds were issued embraced the building OF
central fire hall and new school houses III
the Sixth and Seventh wards, and the
money should be used for that purpose in
stead of paying the shylocks who fieeced
the wageworkers because they had the OPP
portunity to do so. If we must go broke
let US do so on public improvements, partic-
ularly public school buildings"