The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-15
THE MAYORS ANNUAL
Review of the City's Affairs for
the Past Year.
EAT SAVINGS EFFECTED.
Mayor Phelps Goes Through the De-
rartmenIS Prsising the Good ana
Pointing ouf Improvements

night It IS uluCh more eAH41StlAT t--~-'
such documents usually are and DTiiiss
out into clear light the rernarkacie liia-
provement made during the present a--
rnlnistrafion The Introduction says.
This administration which Is nOH draw
lag 10 a close has had many adverse eir-
cunstanees TO contend with or accouns OF
the stringeney OF the times and the spirit
Of unrest resulting therefrona- Fiacea Ia
power - a popular wave, aach was sA
pectsd Of us-En0re perhaps. Tran II "oeia
De possible TO perform under the most
favorable circumstances. Pledged 10 strict
economy, and forced in some instances
nv our financial situation 10 the line OF
parsigslony we have not given satisIac-
zion 10 That class which looks upon a gov
eminent with favor in proportion 10 the
amount they can make OUT of IL Nor
have We striven 10 attain such popularity
We have kept our pledge that We would
administer the affairs OF the city Win
honesty and economy.
In the work of retrenchment. inaasu-
rated ia the very FIRST hours Of this adj
Tainlsfration and steadily followed 10 TINS
Gay. the city council-IrrespeettNe OF party
affiliations OF its MEMBERSHIPS taken ana
maintained the lead The pruning knife
has been applied with rigorous hand. but
without deiriment to the public service.
Very few taxpayers give any attention
the midst Of "A political campaign. when
misrepresentation leads them up against
a stone wall II is very easy for the peo-
pie 10 demand retFenchment, but X Is fire.
quently the case that those who inveigh
the loadest against municipal eXtrava-
gance are the first 10 complain of a re-
trenchment policy IL IL touches them in
any way. If the people demand lavish ex-
penditures they cannot expect reduced
taxation.
The city Of Seattle has bonded debt of
s. 5t9oo1. which entails an annual interest
charge 81 SI71.sga. exclusive of commits
sions 70 fiscal agencies. This debt was all
created prior 10 this administration and
large proportion OF II has been expended
in public improvements which add to the
wealth and convenience of the city. The
floating debt consists OF old warrants
amounting. with interest to about $1,000.
which We're issued in 1881 and 1882. vail
dated in 1893. and which should have been
retired by the funding bonds of 1888. but
owing TO the sale of these bonds during
the panic at a discount, still remain out
standing This debt was decreased over
S2a.tso last year and a tax levy has been
provided on the roll OF ISa5 which will be
ample TO retire the remaining warrants
The city Is over the constitutional debt
limit-not on account of new debt, for we
have decreased rather than added 10 our
liabiligies-but because Of decreased yalu-
ations. Ne are on cash basis. Not
warrant has been issued in the past two
years that could not De redeemed on pre-
sentatt0n TO the treasurer. The last legis-
lature. however. passed revenue law
which Is SO lenient that il practically
places premium upon tax delinquency"
as the city comptroller aptiy saws in his
annual report and which. IL is feared will
seriously affect the credit Of every city in
the state
Our condition AZ the present time is this:
We have levied q tax which should be am
pie 10 meet the requirements OF the city
for the year isssi il the administration is
honest and economical. TIE taxes are now
due and payable, 5ut the legislature mas re-
moved every incentive TO payment before
May 81, when One-half OF the taxes be-
come delinquent. ana has provided 50 nomi-
nal a penalty FOR delinquency that there is
bat little hope for payment Of a fair pro
portion OF the tax even at that time Taxes
are not being paid and the expenses are GO
ing on. AT present We are able to meet our
bills promptly out of savings from last
years revenue and from miscellaneous re-
sources. buE this cannot last forever We
cannot issue warrants. being over the con-
sIitutional debt limit IL the people do not
pay their taxes, therefore. the machinery
OF government must come 20 a standstill.
he a.
lice and fire forces discharged the exc
cutive officers must suspend their functions
or work Tor the doubtful glory of holding
Office. and public improvements must cease
The water department being seIf-sustainfDe
j., fortunately for he people. ont Of danger
from this source. The only alternative to
this course-uuless the taxpayers see iii
10 pay their daes--ss 10 mortgage the tax
levy by making a temporary loan under
the provisions Of an act OF the legislature
u 1880. bat from the result Of Informal ne
Eothuous 20 tbs end recently carried On bv
the finance committee the prospect of sue
ceeiiHg IN this seems doubtful
For lss5 the tax levy should have pro-
dAee1 over Sasit'o. bat only SIC. 90 vas
collected, leaving delinquency Of S1fa cNn
sui every expense Incurred was met in
cash. over $4,000 was transferred from tba
FUNDS provided FOR current expenses a, the
interest funds and We closed the wear v,;,l,
sum Gent resources 10 meet the exns.-,ses
81 az least the first two months az los -rl,a
TAX rave Tor general purposes has been Ie-
creased from 81 mills in 1913 to rs mills
Tor ta~ current year, AMI the decrease n,
rate weud have been much more r,,arlss.,
u Il had not been Tor the great decrease s.,
ASSESSED valuations and the decrease u
water revenue on account % a N r.~ -,,,r
fe3t3eftcn su rates n consunsars ami a fer
ting on in license fees and fines -Yta
Lli''-,i,'st CONDITION " the city Is fully SET
teFth ~ me comprehensive report az ne
CITY comptroller. which IS now IN the hanfs
81 tHe taxpayers. making IL ,FT1ne,ssss.,.
Tor me- 20 10 more than ., slr.a tbs 49,.
sitN ~ at an hazards ulasata ming tr,.i.,l-
abe the hteh crtsii; ~ or ely
re review % She la 9epartfner+ Ia 80,
t"..of ant ana iuh as 70 call for senarate
publication. f''A'e
he.errIng 20 The police DEPARTMENT ,,s
mayer SHOWS what has been aoue 81 ~.
Wy ~ e7e'Sing gambling ana ,flsorgarlv
'o7s@ 4''. he adds. unfortunately a
rahiE ia tne municipal court has n,,5g, :,
iFoIiaSsiatf 60 entirely SUPPRESS ~ol-.r
rooms although the police have ,,,es. F.
arrests" 0s -t''4'ehI
t"e P--ee ispRrtmeBt. be continues .ur.s
iaE many months the stfhfe,-t ~ ,,..s.,.
eff.i'' -n- Fl}a-ttian and sianaer Nv, n ~,
tiaf' "f tae pahliC press. which AZ rrst ,t,-.
vas controlled h} fhe mos. vici3us ei4sne.,
in -"e "'r Arn Who had fat1+ne4 for
wears tn te- rro7re-is ~ crime Tomas .e,-t-
revenues ans occupations ron.. ,a-,,,..t
l"e ra' srernent " iho laws hv the r.7i.,,
.ie5aF 'n'H5-1. ara in retaliation tAev ~
hA4e-"l every resource ~ their ca-r,s,.s-,,
10 tH-s@ fhe sr3atjuE Of every one ,---,
n"cted VIth ihe admin stration ~ re.,-.l-t
fat AHa-f@. ana Hsr7seHtarIv fhe Police ~
f&fita'lsE- NctW outstanding thls stsr4.-.
Gas opposition thr ualice fa-,a rr-,,.r,s :, =.
taarsased , efficiency whfs rr...+t,. -. =
ine ttS cost ta thf taxqsye~S. j., 7ses 81.
department c7st S>s.gT-, Ia ISsl use cas-. s.,.
3f91fv4 t1 %t .ts5.H,, A SAVING ~ "a a~Q Ia
/ GAS. |