The morning news., 1897-01-14
MAYORS ANNUAL MESSAGE.
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE
CITY's AFFAIRS.


of Mayor and Aldermen to Four
Years Recommended, Half the
Board TO BE Elected Alternately.
Completion of the Work of Open
ing Streets Urged.
Mayor Myers read his annual report 20
the city council last night, reviewing the
city's affairs and the work of the depart
ments.
The report is a carefully prepared docu-
ment and evidences a close and intimate
knowledge upon the part of the mayor
of the work of the city in all its various
departments, with a comprehensive view
of its needs for the future
In opening his report Mayor Myers says:
LAS my term of Office is about to ex-
pire, feel justified in adding thereto such
| suggestions and recommendations as
may seem to me pertinent basing them
on my years of experience in city affairs.
Although the past year has been one of
great stringency in financial matters, it
is a pleasure to me to inform you that the
payment of taxes has been prompt, and
the receipts show a marked increase over
those of the preceding year, proving that
the great mass of our citizens do not shirk
| their responsibility as supporters of the
| city government.
Appreciating the depressed condition of
business, and realizing the imperative
duty of those interested with the citys
affairs to obtain the fullest values for all
monies expended, every effort has been
made to prevent any extravaganza. In
| every department specia. care has been
! taken to have the results accomplished
full equivalent for the money paid out
The fact has not been lost sight of, that
the revenues of the city are derived from
| the citizens generally, and should be ad-
ministered with the sole intent of promot-
ing their good. The financial condition
| of the city as a result of this policy was
never better, and its credit never stood
| higher than now. Every obligation has
! been met promptly, and not one cent of
| Indebtedness has been incurred for that
purpose; on the contrary, the close of the
| year found cash balance of $37, ,490.04 in
| the city treasury, while amounts outstand-
| ing, due for taxes, aggregate $3S10.O0, and
| for street paving $8,555.15. This latter
| amount does not include $40 800 balance
due for paving Liberty, Jefferson and Bull
| streets"
comparative statement of the receipts
and expenditure for the years 1884, 1895 and
1886 is presented, as follows:
lS9-Cash on hand, Jan. 1, SIS, ,267. .08; re,
ceipts, $7726S475; expenditures, $7S1, ,31S So.
lS95-Cash on hand, Jan. 1, $40, ,633. 20; re-
| ceipts, %45, ,56S.S6; expenditures $717 664.
| lSS0-CaSh on hand, Jan. l Oncluding S.
| COO due sinking fund commission, S3S.
5SS06; receipts, $766, ,31629; expenditures,
| S67,364.31 Cncluding $1,000 due sinking fund
commission for 1885.
| 1S97-Cash on hand, Jan. /, $37, ,490O4.
| From the treasurer's report" said the
| mayor, "it is seen that the cash outlay
! exceeded tod sa ~ ta
| budget about $4,000. 1t is proper for me
| to explain that this increase was not
| caused by the expenses of the various de-
| partments overrunning the amount ap-
| propriated; these were really less than the
J amount appropriated for them but Ii is
| due to the following causes:
| First the amount expended TO repair
the damage done the city by the dfsas-
trovs storm of Sept. 20, 1885, was $7146 80;
house numbering, "a greatly needed i'm
provement, and for which there was no
| appropriation 81, 1888 80. The expenses of
| the city court also exceeded the budget
| $1,000, which expense is entirely beyond
the city's control, and appears to be in
! creasing every year. l had hoped that
the legislature would have relieved the
city of this burden which should be borne
| by the county. Also $4,000 was due the
sinking fund for 1895, and paid in 1896 In
| street paving there was an excess in ex-
! propriated for the city's share of such
work. This is due to the fact that the
paving on South Broad street and Louis
vile road was incomplete al the close of
| the year. and no assessment of property
or collections could be made. There is also
due the city by property owners on Aber-
corn street and Bay street extended, S.,
555 Is.
1T has not been the policy of this admin
istration to stop public improvements.
| This has been abundantly demonstrated
| by those made during the past two years,
as well as by the fact that the budget for
| 1897 contains appropriations for such work
aggregating $105 600. At the same time it
| has steadily borne in mind the advisable
ty of relieving property owners and busi-
| ness men of some of the burdens of taxes
| that are imposed upon them so heavily.
| BY prudent economy and close supervi-
| sion of every detail of municipal business,
this has been rendered possible. The tax
rate for the present year has been reduced
from Sl.50 to $1.45, and, in my Judgment,
| based on what has already been accom-
| plished, a small reduction can be made an
nually for several years to come, without
| interfering with the efficient conduct of
the departments, or checking necessary
improvements All that is required is to
consider the city government as a bus
! mess institution, and conduct it as such"
The mayor expresses his regrets at the
| Efforts being made to repeal the acts ere
ating the commissions. The reports of
! the commissions, he said, show what has
been accomplished during their first year,
| and, with twelve months experience, il
| is natural TO suppose, he added that the
results for the coming year will be even
| more gratifying. He expresses the opin-
| ion in speaking of the failure of the po-
lice commission amendment bill to pass,
| that the mayor and aldermen and the
members of the commissions are the
| proper persons to judge of the merits Of
local bills affecting municipal depart
ments.
On the subject of local legislation fv.
makes the following important recon-
! mendation:
while considering the matter of legis-
| iatlon, l would recommend that the in
| coming administration. formulate and
| draft a bill. to be introduced at the next
! session of the general assembly, providing
| for an extension Of the term of the mayor
! hereafter to four years, and to render him
| Ineligible for reelection. ] would also ad-
| wise that the city charter be further
amended. so that at the ensuing city cleo
| fiof, sly Of the alderman sbal ha choaar