Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-25
: CIITING ENHENSES.


There is strong likelihood that the AT
lanta public schools viii be closed for the
greater part OF December on account Of
a lack of funds with which to pay the
teachers. We learn from the Constitu-
ton that the teachers fund is almost ex-
hausted. and that the teachers are Con
siderably agitated over the situation"
The Board of Education has been trying
with all it's might for several days to get
the Finance Committee of the City Coun-
Gil 10 take action to remedy the situation.
So far they have utterly failed.
Mayor Porter King has set his foot
down on every proposition that has been
made to him to appropriate money from
the city treasury for any expenses which
have already received their apDropria-
ton" The Constitution says that he
takes the position that every department
of the city knows what money is appro-
priated for it's use in the early paft or
the year and that all should hold their
expenditures within their appropriations.
Richmond has trouble Of the same de-
scription az that under which Atlanta
labors. Here. as there, departments OF
our city government have regularly-that
Is 10 say. year after year. allowed their
expenditures to exceed their appropria-
lions.
OF course. emergencies may occur in the
life Of city when extra expenses must
be incurred 20 protect great public in
terests; but when a department regularly
cutting down its expenses. 1t does no
thing more nor less than set at defiance
the Judgment of the city Council As
we understand the position Of the Mayor
Of Atlanta, it is that such defiance should
not be allowed to pass unnoticed and un-
removed. Hence, he has put his foot
down against it.
Here in Richmond we have for many
years been spending largely more than
our income our streets have not re-
ceived the attention that they need, our
parks do not have the money spent upon
them that they require, our real estate Is
assessed at IS per cent. Of its true value
vet the dencit regularly occurs. This
deficit ranges from $4,000 to $4,000 per
annum. and now aggregates more than
$4,000. How is this 10000 TO be paid of ?
There Is but one way, and that is 10 issue
and sell 100000 OF city bonds. after the
fashion that we have been following 10,
these many years. Thus we are paying
part of our current expenses by selling
bonds. More: We are robbing ourselves
OF a fund. Of a credit which we ought to
70 hf Of In
insproyements-to renew our wornout
streets, 20 add TO our. water-works
plant. TO beautify our parks etc Soon
we shall have no margin upon which TO
issue bonds. Then we may whistle, and
whistle in vain, for the money that We
need for public Improvements.
Wen. what is TO be done? Nothing but
10 reduce our expenses to a figure which
VIII bring them safely within ofIr income.
il q clearly the duty Of the city Council
10 90 this. 1t Is most clearly the duty
OF the Democratic members Of the City
Council TO support such movement.
i they will not do ii the public may
lee, for other agents 10 90 this work.
Wculd that the officers and employees
OF each department would come together
an. volunteer TO submit TO such reduc-
t.cas as would make plain the path of the
Chy Council.
4 called meeting Of our Board Of Alder
men win be held on Friday evening 10
give further consideration to the report
o. the Committee on Retrenchment and
Reform This report has already been
adopted by the Common Council, but the
Board Of Aldermen laid IL upon the table
because the Board wished 10 have before
st. before taking any decisive action. the
Recommendation OF the committee as to
reductions In each department.
The report. as our readers should know
covers only the street and Light depart
ments-the committee promising that II
the City Council shows proper appreela-
ton OF SIS labors In these two depart
ments. II VIII continue its labors
And IN the opinion Of many. the COM
mittee Is justified IN taking this position
because CT the contempt with which a
report Of the committees was treated
two or thfee years ago. Per contra. IL
u contended that II the Board proceeds
20 ADOPT this partial report. the present
retrenchment and reform fever may .ol-
lapse suddenly and leave the Street and
Lighi departments cut. while an the
other deDaytments flourish at the 10 rates