The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-24
NEWS OF TACOMA
TAcoNA Brsxar or THR PosT-IyTELIr-
eExcKx, 1ff5 PAcrYrc AvEsrE-
THOMAS SAxMoss, MAxAsKl
WHOSE MONEY Is IT3
Does 1t Belong to the People or
to Boggs' Bondsmens
THE LAW REQUIRES REPORTS.
Shameless Attempt 90 stiAs the Ksqaest
Of the People OF Iaeoma for IN
Accounting Of City Funds.

Aeeeustisg Of City Funds.
TacoxA, Nov. Z2-fSpecial. Ito any
even fairly well informed citizen, the fol-
lowing wnitewash editorial daubs from
the Ledger show whore the shoe pinches:
Those who sre and ought to be most
deeply interested in Mr.. Boggs' manage
fnent of his Office are his bondsmen and
the members of the finance committee of
tie council. He has given these gentle
men all the information they have asked
for. He has shown them his books and
accounts. his cash, and asked 10 have the
cash counted, the deposits verified and his
books carefully examined. He has paid
on demand 30 far. and although not asked
TO do so, has said he il in shape TO turn
over his Office TO his successor when
elected. or TO anybody else who is au-
thoSized to receive il. When his bonds
men and these public officials who have
q right 20 be admitted to the innermost
condolences OF The Office have satisfied
themselves that all 10 right, il would ap-
pear that those who have no special in
terest in the treasurer or his accounts
might be satisfied The charter requires
the treasurer 20 deposit 10 the credit OF
the city of Tacoma all moneys received
By him by virtnre of his office in one or
more banks which the city council shall
have designated as depository; pro-
ylded, IL no such depository has been
designated by the city council. he shall
keep such funds and be responsible for
them With this provision he has so far
satisfied everybody who has a special
right TO ask that he has strictly COM
piled"
This is . fair sample of the consummate
rot printed on this and other like subjects
by the Ledger. Following is the pertinent
clause:
HE fthe city treasurer shall report to
the city council al the first meeting in
each month the amount of c,ty funds
under his control, and mhere the same are
placed or deposited. Ikrom section 81, Ia
coma city charter.
1t was stated in open council meeting
last Saturday that Mr.. Boggs had not in
formed that body in over eighteen months
where the city's funds were placed or de-
posted. OF course the Ledger chung to its
customary boggery and secreted the
truth.
But why this secrecy about Boggs' &C
counts. 1t was expected that he would
rise to the occasion in his report for Octo-
Der, aud by obeying the Law put stop to
injurious and apprehensive conjecture re-
garding where the city funds really are.
u
statement from the treasurer. When they
see they will believe and quit guessing.
Section 30 of the city charter says:
Section 95. He 1.-THE city treasured
shall not loan any of the funds of the city
to any person or otherwise dispose of the
same"
But even If this section has been vIo-
lated. they would rather the treasurer faced
the music than continue secrecy.
In reference TO the condition of the city
treasury s. Ii. Pettingill says the import
ant thing. which mas not yet received
sufficient attention, is that the city should
begin at once to reduce and economiza ex-
penses. The people may not generally
know how necessary this is. The state
ment made by the controller TO the coun-
Gil last Saturday. as published In the Posr-
lSrEiLiGEscER, shows that the expenses Of
| the city government are S42. 0i0 per month,
| and at this rate the available funds TO meet
| next years expenses will be exhausted In
March. He says:
ain these times this rate of expenses is
excessive and intolerable. 1t was much
| too high for flush times, but now while
| every business man or corporation has
| been reducing expenses the city should
| economixe and must or lose it's credit.
4 nOtitt tiiat ia MONTANA pubic expenses
1 are being radically reduced, as they ought
| 10 be here. The city of Helena has put the
| knife OF economy in deep, as shown By the
statement that the expenses of that city
| government for October. 1893, vas s., 4i3,
| while in October, 1882. they were SIS, 40S.
But this heroic treatment has been fol-
| lowed by no bad public effects. /. is dis
appointing TO some politicians and makes
| IL pretty slim picking for their heeiers and
| hangers-on,. but it does not iniure the COM
| munfty. The city Is recovering frem the
effects of the panic, and the people are en-
| JoyIng more of the virtues and less of the
| vices than ever before In its history. In
Silver Bow county. Butte, the county
| commissioners have issued orders 10 JUS
tiees of the peace and 10 coroners 10 re-
| duce expenses, notifying them that the
county viii not be liable for the pay of
more than SIX witnesses on each side in
| Justices trials. nor more than six at any
| inquest. unless expressly authorized by the
| county attorney, aud restricting the pay of
| physicians for holding postmortems and
| autopsies.
"The knife should be applied in the
same manner here, aud the people who
have to paw tor the continuance of boou
| expenses must make their views heard
for IL cannot tie expected that 'lhe gang,
| who thrive by these Teck less aud PREDICATE
| expenditures will take the initiative in the
. requisite reform. ! regret TO say that a.
little, perhaps, can lie expected irom the
press oi the city. Tor reasons already well
| known. Ii 10 idle. however, for the press
30 think that the condition of affairs is not
| inquired into by outside taxpayers and
| others interested in the credit Ot the city.
| Expenses mean taxation, and taxes are a
| burden upon property, check TO trade
! and industrial enterprises. They have
! been the occasion Of revolutions many
i times in the history OF the world. Tacou a
. IS not suffering alone among the cities end
/ towns Of this state from the reVel of ex-
| pensrs, which has been almost universal
| III the United States and infested other
| parts Of the world within the last fes
| years. h0t Tacoma cannot afford 80 stand
Qua alone while other communities are
sooeFaag az, even though II has father la
| Fhlladslpala 20 foster its interests. This
allaslen 10 Philadelphia. | Easy add. Is
what AsIsinus Ward vonid call sark as
1 teal az