Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-04-14

OF change and induce the members
of the next Legislature to grant
proper relief.
1t IL most unfortunate that, at a
time when materials are cheap, labor
abundant, and the needs of the labor.
ing classes SO greas, the city is
without the means to begin impor.
portant works. or even to complete
those already commenced. At the
very time we should seek to give EN-.
Payment to the largest number We
are compelled to dispense with the
services Of competent officials in OF.
der to keep within our means.
1t Is evident that for q number of
years past the revenue of the city has
been entirely inadequate to meet all
just demands. The perplexing di.
lemma which con ;ronted my prede.
ccssors for many years reappears at
this time with greater force than
ever. We cannot shut our eyes to the
fact that this administration has to
meet the elimination OF an evil
which has grown to such proportions
as to Ike no longer dealt with on any
general commercial principles.
1t would Ue an effort to fool the
people II we should attempt to hide
from them the real facts OF the case,
that the taxes received are not
enough to support the city govern.
ncnt.
Plans to Keep AHost.
We have been compelled to resort
to every possible contrivance to keep
afioat. The proceeds Of appropria.
tiOns made from time to time have
been, under the plea that necessity
knows no law" diverted to the pay.
ment OF more pressing demands.
The annexation Of outlying towns
has called for large expenditure for
improvements and an addition to the
Police and Fire Departments, with.
out any compromising advantage or
return. This Is evidenced by the
constantly increasing amount Of the
floating debt. Jan. i. 1894, we prac.
tically required a., 600, OOO ready cap.
ital to place the city's finances In
proper condition.
Here the Mayor quoted from the
city financial reports showing that
the city owned Jan. !, 1894, "a, 1O7,.
0G4. The available cash in the treas.
ury was s5s0,8ll, leaving q net In.
debtedness Of $4,l47,353. The re.
mainder Of The cash on hand Jan.
belonged to the school fund, water
fund, special deposits. ETC., and could
not be used In payment OF the debts
enumerated by the Mayor. The taa
levy for the year 1893 was sll,slO,.
06'.
Comparison Of Reeve rue.
From the foregoing II will be seen
that after deductiny the amount oil
school tax. public library, interest
and sinking fund, there remains only
about ~, 100000 for municipal pur
poses. This, so far as the receipt.
from taxes are concerned, 10 the
whole amount applicable to the needs
Of every department, while IS, 500,
ono IL allotted for school purposes
alone. Under such conditions 1t car
readily be seen how difiicult II will
be to maintain the credit Of the city
Our proportion Of the genera
taxes for municipal purposes In 1894
cOllectable In 1895, IL $4,Sl7,4 400, o.
about sufficient to carry on one de
partment Of the city effectively. TIT
humiliating spectacle consequent!
Is presented Of the city Of Chlcag'
being obliged to depend on the re
ceipts from saloon licenses 10 exc on
its municipal existence.
The total estimated receipts from
this source for the year 1893 wer'
~, POS, 1872; the actual receipts wer'
s3,'29, sos, showing a deficit Of $56s,
4s3. The receipts from these tw'
sources combined are entirely insult
AcIent to meet the necessary expense
Of the city government In the protec
ton Of life and property.
Some additional income may b, Oh
tanned by an increase In license fee
or an extension Of the license system
While the legitimate demands upor
the city, owing to an extension O.
area and increased population, have
become greater year by year undel
the ubiquitous system OF assessments
the means OF obtaining revenue fol
the city has gradually lessened.
Estimated Income Of the city.
Our estimated total income for thu
year 1898 was s9,O26,3 35. Our actua
receipts were $s,548, 1874, showing an
overestimate on this account Of $+77,
$50. Upon this estimate appropria
tiOns were made, and many Of thu
obligations incurred under II were
brought forward In 1894 without pro
| vision fOr their navment