The record-union., 1895-01-25
THE CITY OWES roo MUCH NOW.
Therefore the Mayor Vetoes the Sew
erage Ordinance.
Taxes Increasing, While the Debt of
the City Shows no Percept-
ibIe Decrease.

City Trustees his veto of the ordinance
recently passed providing for a new
sewerage system. He bases his action
on the fact that the city cannot afford, at
this time, to increase its bonded in
debtedness, which he places at about one
million dollars.
AS a matter of fact, the city is paying
money yearly into an interest and sink
ing fund representing debt of nearer
million and a half, about one-half OF
which-paradoxica as it may seem-she
owes to herself The other half does not
appear to have perceptibly diminished for
several years past, although the friends of
the present system of handling the debt
assured the people, when the new charter
was under consideration, that the whole
thing would be wiped out, or practically
so, in five years. From present appear
ances it is not being reduced at all.
This subject, however, is only Incl
dental to the Mayors veto of the sewer
age ordinance. He says he is in favor of
municipal Improvements, and among
these not only a sewerage system, but
City Hall and street-lighting electric
plant. Just now he does not think the
people would vote to increase the bonded
debt, wherefore he is opposed to having
the city incur the expense of city elec-
ton to determine the question.
Mayor Steinman's message. however.
calls up the time-worn subject OF the
city's bonded Indebtedness, and his
the bondholders is calculated to set
the taxpayers to thinking. This
thing of Sinking $l43,000 annually,
with little or nothing to show for it in the
way of a diminution of the municipal
debt while taxes are annually increased
to meet the growing wants OF the city, is
something that should be looked into.
THE MAYORS VETO.
SACRAMENTO, January a, 1895.
To the Board Of Trustees: L herewith
transmit to your honorable body, with
my disapproval indorsed thereon, Ordi-
nance No. -, entitled as follows, to wit:
''An ordinance of the Board of Trus-
tees of the City of Sacramento, determin-
ing that the public interest and necessity
of said city demand the acquisition, con-
struction ana completion of sewers and
pumping plant, flushing system and ap-
puEtenances in connection Herewith, the
cost Of which will be too great to be paid
out OF the ordinary annual income and
revenues of said city"
My reasons for disapproving this Ordi-
nance are as follows:
The ordinance under consideration is
the lnitiatory step required by law for
the creation of a bonded Indebtedness.
Before the bonds are issued, it Is neces-
sary that the question should be submit
ted to the electors OF the city and ratified
by a two-thirds majority. Ii the pro-
posed ordinance becomes a law, special
election, with ali the attendant expenses,
would have to be held. 1t is therefore,
proper at this time, before any expense is
incurred, To consider the question
whether or not the proposition to incur
the Indebtedness would be likely to re-
ceive the necessary two-thirds majority
vote.
AS you we'll know, our city has at pres
ent an outstanding bonded Indebtedness
OF about one million dollars. About one
fourth OF all taxes collected last year, and
90 per cent. OF the revenue collected from
water rates, city licenses, Police Court
hnes, harbor dues, etc., were required to
be set apart under the law for the pay
ment of the coupons and the redemption
OF the bonds when they became due. The
following figures will demonstrate the
accuracy OF this statement: In the
year 1894 there was collected for city
taxes the sum of $233, G64 70, and the sum
OF 81, 80 for delinquent taxes, making a
total sum of S234. $50 70. Out of the latter
sum sos, IA 10 was apportioned to the
sinking and interest fund, while out of
the sum of Sl53, ,5lS 81, collected from rev.
enue, the sum of SS4, ,425 "a was appor-
toned TO the same fund, making a grand
total or Sl45,11O O3, appOrtioned during
the year TO the sinking and interest fund.
In addition to the above there was also
the sum of S2, l34 0S collected and set
apart for the leyee bond fund and the
sum OF S7.lUS IS for the street bond fund.
For the present fiscal year, on the as
sumption that the total amount of taxes
collected Will be $4,000, | estimate that
the sum of Sl9,6O5 must be apportioned to
the sinking and interest fund. The same
proportion, to w.t. 30 cents on the dollar
nf hn oil
set apart.
Our citizens have looked forward to the
time when tie bonded Indebtedness
would be wiped out; for, as we all know,
1t has been in the past a check on our
progress, and has been the means of
keeping our tax rate higher than it should
be.
During the last week many of our citi-
Zens ana taxpayers have interviewed me
In reference to the ordinance under con-
slderation, and have urged me to disap-
prove 1t. They stated that there was a
strong sentiment against increasing the
bonded Indebtedness at present, and
rather than see the measure defeated
they preferred it should not, at this time,
be submitted at an election. They fur
ther stated that during the year just past,
the taxpayers Were called upon to pay )
per cent. Tor taxes for State, county and
city purposes, and that this fact would
in their judgment, surely prevent the
proposition from receiving the required
majority vote. Furthermore, whenever
proposition to incur bonded indebted
nesSsfor public Improvement is submit
ted to the people at an election, that fact
is given publicity by the press of the
State and commented on favorably: but
should the proposition not be ratified by
failing To receive the required majority,
the good Impression created would be de-
stroyed, and instead we would have the
unenyiaple reputation Of being unpro-
gresslye and opposed to public improve
ment.
While it is unquestionably true that the
present sewerage system is not adequate
IN all portions of the city to carry OF all
the surface water when severe storms are
prevailing, 1t must not be forgotten that
the same is true OF other cities.
ln Stockton, for instance, some of the
streets have. during tLis winter, been
covered with water, while ID San Fran
cisco it has been no uncommon thing for
sewers to burst owing 10 their inability
TO carry OF the water in excessive rainy
weather.
We should not, for this reason alone
act upon the impulse OF the moment, and
increase the bonded Indebtedness of the
city.
After reelection and careful considera-
ton OF the whole matter, / am con-
strained TO the sbelief that the proposition
would not, at this time, receive the neces-
sary majority vote; and preferring Tor the
good name OF the city that it should not
be submitted to the people rather than
suffer defeat, L have accordingly disa-
proved it.
In this connection l desire to state that
when your board was fixing the tax rate
Tor the present fiscal year, urged the