The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-04-10
THE CITY'S FINANCES.
Council Beginning to Get an
Idea Of the Facts
AN APPEAL MADE FOR ECONOMY.


session for the purpose OF listening 20 .
delegation from the Municipal Reform
League charged with The duty OF present
Ing resolat tons In favor Of economy 10 the
city government. Judge Burke, w. H.
White and A. r BnrweIi represented the
league ans Submitted the following reso-
lufsons:
.swHExE.s, All governments are uasin-
tanned by taxing the people, and 1t 10 the
people who support the government, aud
not the govsrnment thai supports she peo-
pie; tna: -. ..,.,., .,.v,,,,o, IN
business throughout the country and other
we'll known causes, makes IL an Irnpera-
tive necessity that the city OF seattle
should EXERCISE the s;rictest economy IN
fbe administration OF the government OF
"wHgsgas, The present city government
Of the city o. Seattle has ;aEen the nrst
step la the direction Of economy ana re-
form by the passage Of ordinance No. = vi,
AN ordinance fixing the salaries and
compensation Of officers and employees OF
the city Of Seattle whereby the annual
expenses Of sssd city are reduced some
43l 600. and
ssWHxsEss, Certain persons affected by
said ordinance. to-wii: certain officers and
employees of said city. for selfish purposes,
ars vigorously aud psrsistentsy seeking 10
effect repeaI or modification OF said Or
dsnance; thersfore be {.
skesoissd, By the Municipal League OF
the citv OF Seattle, that said ord.panee,
No 1897. 10 In the interest OF economy
and reform. and that the Municipal
League Of the citxof Seattle viii sustain
and support the city government OF the
city Of Seattle not Only IN the enforce
msnt OF said ordinance. No. 2.3D5. but in
Ill other Just and proper measures in the
interest Of economy and good govern
mens"
Judge burke asked permission TO add
few words in support Of the resolutions.
He said:
"As chairman OF tho committee, charged
with the duty Of presenting these resoiu-
tions. desire 10 say few words IN their
support. The familiar principle set forth
IN tbs opening sentence Of these resolu-
tions, namely: that all governments are
maintained by taxing the people and that
II 10 the people who support the govern
ment aud not the government that sup
ports the people. Is too plain to need any
argument before this council. Ii 10 true.
unfortunately, that In these latter years
people have been too much inclined To for
set and ignore this principle. There Is
disposition abroad TO run tothe govern
nssnt for everything. but the government
has nothing 70 give US except what II
takes from rs. and not even that, because,
between the act OF tsking--that -. OF tax
tng-and the act OF returning. there Is
great loss and waite. IL il plain, there
fore. that not . cent should be taken from
the people BY taxation except what is
nccessary. under strict economy, to carry
on the government. Every dollar taken
beyond that In dollar taken uniustiy.
The necessity for judicious economy In
the administration Of our city affairs will
BE- conceded by all. Wastsfni manage
nlent leads TO burdensoms taxation and
20 ruined credit Every man in every
walk In life. in this city. and above all, the
man who works for wages. 10 interested in
keeping city taxes low and city credit
high. In that way you best encourage the
growth Of business, OF industries and fac
tories, and greatly multiply the opportu-
mites of profitable employment ana in
crease the means OF making comfortable,
contented and happy homes.
At the present time. unhappily, there
are more men seeking work than there 10
work TO be done or money TO pay for il.
Where then would be tbs justise in taking
what little money there IL Left In the city
treasury and paying IL out In high wages
10 . few ~ the expense Of the mAuy7 IT,
for example. the city has $50 10 expend on
piece Of work, wouldn't IL in
tH0a0 times h9 fAlger, EE more fQSt.
more In accordance with the dictates
OF humanity, 10 pay that money to seven
teen worthy men needing employment
tAan to select twelve GU, of the seventeen
and give 10 oil TO them7 The wages 4 xed
IN this ordinances are relatively higher to-
day than the wages paid for lake work two
years ago. One dollar today will buy far
moro Of the neeessar.es and comforts Of
life than il would then.
s.tft fha utnAer az mar hes tha
can employ IS At mos; hui very small
cofnpa ed with the number of those who
must fad employ fasnt IN the various de.
Iartmea.s Of private industry. Not more
than one in one hundred of those who
work for wages are employed by the city.
Hence, the great mass Of wage sarners
must lind work in some department of
private business or industry.
Now. IL is just as certain as anything
In lite eau be That business cannot prosper
Ia o city whose affairs are not ecouomi-
eaiiy administered. And If business i.
rot prosperous. how can men End work
Who is 10 employ them7 The way 70 ind
steady employment at fair wages for in
aassrsons men and somea In Seattle "a to
make our city attractive TO the man of
business, to the man about 10 establish a
new Industry or 10 build n new factory.
How shall IL be made attractive 20 such
menf by gcoa city government. that is
b. tudlcsous economy ia the adminis,ra.
ton of city affairs, resulting in iow rate
OF taxation, high credit aud absolute rY,,-
teetioa 10 life and property. And. l repeat
again. no man Ia the community has a
deeper interest AZ stake ia securing good
government than the wage Garner HIS
employ mens depends on u. The com
Portable maintenance of himself and hi $
family Is dependent UPON IL. food eco
nomlcEi government isevcrything - him /:
=. H. Il.
the growth Of private industries and enter
prises that can alone furnish adequate en-
plcyment 10 the thrifty aud the indassrs-
oux
Dean Swift never spoke fruer words
than when he said, I have no other no
tion Of economy than thai IL 10 the pareat
81 liberty and ease.
IA frugal and industrious people are
entitled ~ an economical government and
they should hsysiL These hard times,
with shear long train 90 misery and dis
easter. would he worth ali they cost If they
would bring the people throughout this
land 60 priSe IS their fathers dsd those
hem~sy virGaes iragaii,y and economy,
both in private and public affairs"
W. Ii. White followed in q similar
strsin. In these times he believed the
city oagat 10 do As an individual woala
d.. When money is plentiful people can
afford many inxarirs which they mast lie.
pgtvs themselves Of when hard time.
come. He pointed cut ,hst property i.
taxed and must ray even though IN Is not
productive. There will ee more y,rerertv
of'ered for sale Tor sae non-pavnaens of
saxes this year than in say ia ths Asssorv
Of seassle. They desired 90 .~e ,hs
employees pad IA cast, ba; If
the high rate Ct wages i. Continued
that cannot he done, and they nav see
was~-saFners begging vaiaIy ;os rurch 49,