San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-04-04
SHORT STOPS.
What the People are Saving.

| Mayor Paschal has redeemed his pledge
| given the peOple-that he would lay
| before them thorough statement of the
| the financial condition of the city. His
message to the council yesterday was
plain, easily understood statement of the
| financial situation.
The big budget of;expenses made by the
late administration of S523, 6S7 IS for the
fiscal year $685. is beyond the control of
the present administration as the eXpen-
ditureS have been kept up to the maxi
mum, and the saving made by this admin
istration will not reduce the amount.
The next item called attention to is the
floating debt not provided for amounting
to sos, 5l6.S3, which does not include the
amount due the National bank, $685.
593.99; and to these large sums must be
added the judgments against the city,
S2O,0OO.O0.
The city also owes SAG, $50. 90 interest to
the school fund, and the garbage furnace
fund of S14,OO0OOO.
The total past due Indebtedness is S446,-
OS6.OO, and with the amount due the
banks, makes total of S694.679.99, float
ing debt.
Add to these amounts the bonded debt
and we have the total debt of the city.
81, 92S, 1889. Now the people can see in
plain figures Just what we owe. To off
set this the mayor enumerateS our assets
as follows: Back taxes. $500 taxes for
fiscal year '92-3, S450,0OO; other receipts,
$4,000: total. $4,000, or more than Suf
ticient to pay our floating debt, if collect
ed, but leaving the city without means to
pay next years expenses until next years
taxes come in.
The mayor leaves the problem with the
city council to solve and upon their
shoulders rests the burden of devising
measures to meet the emergencies.
The mayor takes occasion to pass some
comments upon the delinquent taXpay-
erS, and to advise that they be made an
example OF by prosecutions in the courts,
and that the city attorney be given as
sistance to push the prosecutions.
This portion of the mayors message
will meet with contrary comment. The
present administration is no wise respon
Sible for the delinquent list. neither is it
reasonable to presume that the conclusion
arrived at by the mayor that it is owing
to a growing notion" among tax payers
that they are under no legal obligation to
pay taxes. On the contrary, the Qelln-
gent list is largely due to hard times. to
the inability of taxpayers to meet their
taxes.
The cases of wilful neglect, or deter
mined opposition are few in comparison
to the total number. The fact that the
large sum is due for back taXaS, should
be met with careful consideration, and
with due reference to the present straight
ened condition of the city treasury. How
to get in the largest sum in the quickest
time at the least expense should be the
policy, instead Of attempting to admins
ter punishment by prosecution.
If the city would offer an inducement
to delinQuentS such as rebate of inter-
est and penalties provided they came for
ward and paid up their taxes within a
certain time, say 60, days suchan induce
ment would bring into the taeaSury big
amount of money at once available to
the current expenses of the city. After
such period then to prosecute delin-
quGntS.
This policy we believe would bring
better results than the one suggested by
the mayor, and cost the city less money in
the end.
One Of the most Objectionable features
Of the past administration was its litiga
tiOuS character Always in court at the
expense of the city and the profit of the
Law