St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-13
THE BUDGET INCREASED.
EVERY PRESIDENT LOOKED OUT FOR
HIS DEPARTMENT.
THE CONTROLLER OBJECTED.

McCardy's Budget $4,000
City Hospital Allowed Enough
TO Complete It-Election Ex-
penses More Than Doubled
Building Inspectors Fund Cut
The conference committee wrestled
with the lax estimate budget for four
hours yesterday afternoon, and when
the session ended the amount to be
raised by taxation had been increased
over the comptroller's figures $4,000,
making the total amount to be raised by
taxation next year 81, 926, 4SS.67, or SlS4,-
600 more than in 1893. The increase
over the estimate as reported was made
up by increasing the amount for COM
pleting the ward building at the city
hospital from $4,000 to $4,000; the
amount to be expended for the Como av-
enue bridge from SIT, 200 to S25, 900; the
amount for election expenses from Sl6.-
600 to $50, GOO. and increasing the engi-
neering department fund from $4,000 to
1000. The committee reduced estimate
allowed the building inspectors depart
ment from 81, ZOO to $4,000, and also di-
nected that $4,000 worth of school
bonds, which mature in February next,
be refunded, and the money which
would be used to pay them be invested
to build additional school houses. The
chamber of commerce and board OF ed
ucation had recommended that an ad-
ditional tax of half mill be made to
raise the amount necessary to erect the
new buildings and additions. but Mayor
Wright gave the conference to under
stand that the tax rate would not be
raised under the present administra-
ton. President Wheelock, of the park,
also favored the refunding of the school
bonds and the use of the money to build
new school houses. Mr.. Wheelock and
President Willrich argued as to plan
which would allow the $50, 600 worth of
bonds refunded to be paid IN the next
two or three years from some surplus
which an economical administration of
the affairs of the school board would
save.
Assessor tombstone and MIR. Vince
lock figured it among themselves that
when the real estate valuation was made
next June the valution could be raised
so as to make the property. both real and
personal, foot up S126, DOC, 900, an increase
of a couple of million or so more than
the present valuation. They did not
give out their figures for the enlight-
eument of the other members of the
conference, but the organ will tell how
it might be done, if the taxpayers would
stand it, in carefully worded editorial.
IF l,a hnr oP hn
conference were on hand promptly at 2
o'clock, the Only absentee being the
president of the fire board. City Treas
urer Miller brought up the cOmpl ton
of the ward building at the ciIy>hos-
pital, and made an argument for the
appropriation of $4,000 to finish the
building. The comptroller had in the
budget set apart $4,000 for partial
completion of the building, and the
speaker could see no reason why there
should be so much economy in a case of
this kind. The comptroller said he had
been taking quinine. and could not hear
all that Mr.. Miller had said, but he
thought the discussion was trifle out
of order. He suggested taking up the
BUDGET ITEM BY ITEM,
and discussing matters in order. This
was agreed to, and the first item, under
the head of interest and sinking fund,
amounting to S303.S00, was on motion
accepted and approved. City Engineer
Rundlett questioned why the sinking
fund was credited with $1,000 less than
in last years budget. The comptroller
said the $4,000 placed i'll the sinking
fund was put there because the charter
required the placing of an amount
each year in the fund. President
Bement, of the water board, suggested
the taking of $4,000 from the sinking
fund and placing it to the use of the
completion of the hospital. The mayor
suggested that the interest on the bond
ed Indebtedness might be reduced.
relying on the delinquent taxes for a
portion of the amount. The comptroller
said that there was no use in taking
chances. Aid. Cullen remarked the
first and paramount interest of the city
was to pay interest and bonds when
due. Bonds would be due III February,
1894, and the comptroller was correct in
placing enough in the sinking fund to
meet the interest due.
issued for school purposes in February,
1874, and due February, 1894, was dis
cussed at length by President Willrich
of the school board. Mr.. Willrich,
argued that the $4,000 bonds could be
paid from the balance to the credit of
the school fund. according TO the sup
Elemental report of the comptroller.
He recommended that the $4,000 bonds
due be refunded or new bonds
issued, and the amount in the
levy used for building additions and
new school buildings. The question
was raised as to how it was possible to
renew or issue new bonds. City At
torney Chamberlain read from the Gen
eral Laws of 1898 chapter which al
lowed new bonds to be issued by cities
to meet bonds and interest due. Aid.
Cullen thought that If the bonds were
not paid it would be wrong step. The
bonded Indebtedness of the city should
be reduced. The credit of the city had
always been maintained through the
reason that the bonds when matured
were always paid. Mr.. Wheelock IA
vored the scheme of issuing bonds for
about $4,000 in order to build new
school buildings. The comptroller said
there would be no trouble in selling the
boLds if issued, and, while the law read
by MIR. Chamberlain was correct
1t was a question whether it was
policy to begin refunding bonds
The mayor inquired if from the $3.50. O0C
to be raised by the two mill tax S5U,O
could not be used in the spring of the
year to put up new buildings. The
comptroller said that this could be done,
but it was question of policy of which
the school board would be the best
judges. Aid. Cullen asked for an opin.
ion from the city comptroller as to the
refunding OF the bonds. The comptrol.
Ter said that bonds and certificates
would come due, and he did not deem il
advisable to refund the hoods. Mr.. will.
rich argued in favor of refunding, stat
ing that it was better to have the school
children accommodated than to keep up
the credit of the city by refunding the
bonds. The comptroller asked if it was
not possible for the school board for the
next two years