The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-05-24

"a tilo Guy udu ptenty OF money TO
spare, the Building Inspector ought to
be provided with horse and carriage
TO enable him to go from one side of
the city to another readily and with
despatch, but under the present cir
cumstances the city should stop and
think long before it provides a horse
and carriage even for SO excellent a
Building Inspector as Daniel Dohl is
proving himself to be. Bnt it will
only cost $500, some one says, and
surely that will not bankrupt the city.
To city that has to raise its tax rate
to meet increased expenses, $500 is one
OF the straws that helps to break the
camels back.
If the city had plenty of money to
meet all expenses so far that the tax /.
rate could be reduced, then $500
would not be felt as burthen. The
coming year is one in which the great.
est economy will have to lie used, and
wherever dollar can be saved it must
be saved. Already there is deficit in
the year which will expire the first of
July. This deficit Is no fault of the
present City Council, but has been
forced upon it by adverse Democratic
legislation from Dover. With ever
lasting tinkeriug at the laws and the
creation of numerous commissions it
is extremely difficult for any City
Council to keep q correct debit and
credit account OF the city's finances
and to provide the exact amount Of
money required for the commissions
to expend. $685.. s...
About the only revenues that come
Into the city treasury are those col
lectabie for fixes in the Municipal
Court, and surplus that the Water
Department has been lucky enough to
have left over after defraying all its
expenses Both of these sources are
Avery little dependencies. The most OF
the fines collected by the Municipal
Court are expended in paying tho ey.
penses Of that department. and next
year if the Water Department pays
$4,000 towards building a bridge
across the Brandywlne the usual sur
plus paid to the city Will be very much
reduced.
The fact OF the matter Is City Coun
Gil has no resource to fly to to raise
money than right straight direct taxa
tion. 1t is obligatory upon it to raise
all the money legally demanded by
the Board Of Education and the street
and Sewer department, and the Police
Commissions can create whatever
debt they will, either in an increase
of the force or an increase in patrU
wagons and horses. and Council it i.
claimed has but to foot the hill with
out protest. only in the appoplja
tlons for parks, and the fire depart
ment has the City Council any dis
erection whatever. An act ri tine legi-
lature required the city Council to
borrow S500,GOo for the use OF tn.
Street and Sewer department slVA,
600 of this amount was borrowed las
year and 5000 900 OF 1t this year.
The interest on these amounts "
believe, is four and IA half per cent. o
$t3, $50 per annum. When II lsa!I u
rowed. which will DO in lSa}, tho inter
est will be - 500 So this is the wa.
the taxas 20 lIow long can the cit
stand this Dover Democratic strain
q Tue City Council is inaeel enitle
more to the sympathy o. the tax pay
ers than to their condemnation
Under the circumstances baIlGtn
Inspector DohI though an esceller
Official, we arc sure viii not huris
council By ASKING to be provided Wi!
horse and carriage. Mr. HeAti.ssaiaf
is $1,000. II lie bought his own hors
and carriage ont OF his salary IL VOL
still have S120O left which is Iro5uul
as much or moro than Inc minority
contractors and Builders are maxim
in the course Of year At the presel
time. Economy must be the waite
word for every city ulieIal tie con
ing year.