The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-13

considerable portion of it will be twenty
years old
Can this debt. soon to become due. be
cared for by a new issue OF bonds!
These who think that values OF realty
will be materially increased at the as
sessment Of 1900 will answer, Yes those
who think that the assessment will not
be materially increased will answer that
the debt then 10 become due can only be
met by increased taxation. Are the own
ers Of real estate and those doing bust
ness in this city prepared 10 advocate
an increase Of taxes? Are they prepared
TO have their properties and business bur
dened still heavier 10 support the in
croasng fixed charges of the city gov
err ment? / leave the answer TO these
questions TO them. They will have to
pay the taxes-whether willingly or not
1 have endeavored TO give a brief state
ment as TO the city's financial condition.
for two reasons: O) TO show to the
public the danger which lies in their
past. and the danger which threatens
the interest Of every citizen, whether he
be rich or poor. a danger OF greater mo-
ment TO the poor than to the rich; % be-
cause this condition is a good and valid
reason for any member Of this council
not to vote for appropriations Of any
,
Inmates of the ctys annual revenues.
Now, as 20 the request Of the School
Board for an increase OF their annual
appropriation. accompanied with the
threat 10 close the public schools for one
month If you do not accede TO their de-
mand. This Board. through their rep
resentatives. were told long since the
financial condition of the city. Soon af-
ter this Council came into Office the rep
resentatives Of the School Board applied
for an additional appropriation. The
matter was fully discussed with them.
and they provided the necessary funds
for themselves. by making their fiscal
year accord with the city's. ON another
occasion an application was made for
the sum Of $500 with which 10 equip
school. After a long oss-questioning
Of the School Boards representative II
was ascertained that the Board had sur
ficient funds in hand 10 supply this need.
and subsequently an effort was made TO
withdraw the application II is matter
was again. during the past summer. dis
cussed with the representatives, OF the
School Beard and certain remedies were
suggested and my recollection IL that
one Of the members Of the School Board
made use of this remark: VERY well,
we will do the best we can with the APP
propriation."
Has the School Board done the best
II could with the appropriation? This
question can be readily answered by Civ
ing a full itemized statement of the Dur-
poses for which the moneys have been
used or appropriated, which statement
will show whether they have endeayored
to economic or not.
Has the School Board any funds which
IL Is now holding I'm reserve? l do not
swered by them. II they have. then they
do not need the amount Of money which
they have asked for. / know OF no valid
reason why the School Board have not
accommodated their expense account 10
live within their income. They had am
pie notice. and were fully informed OF All
matters concerning the financial condition
Of the city. ] am or the opinion tnat tne
amount needed by the School Board 10
complete their fiscal year is not as much
as the demand which they have made on
the Council. or IL IL Is as much, has IL
not been made so by Using the moneys
appropriated for purposes which could
have been allowed 10 wait a few short
months, until their next appropriation be
I do not believe the School Board has
carefully considered the situation In all
its phases. / believe when IL shall have
done so Il will be convinced that the city
is now giving TO the schools the maximum
amount OF money which the State law
allows this Council TO appropriate for pub
lie school purposes The State law eX-
pressly prohibits-or rather, places a
linton all appropriations OF money for
all school purposes, by stating that there
shall not be appropriated in excess OF two
mills taxes, or twenty cents on the hun
bred dollars OF assessed property values.
The total assessed property values OF the
city OF Richmond is SCI Oss .3sl. The limit
under this valuation. which can be APP
propriated TO the schools by the city Is
Sl34 1876. The amount appropriated for
school purposes I'm the budget Of this year
is Sll037 TO which should be added the
interest which the city IL now paying on
the bonds which IL has issued FOR build
ing the schools and buying the lots, and
which will show that the Council is now
appropriating the full limit allowed by
Law
/ believe that when the School Board
shall have carefully considered the sit
uation 1t will remedy its existing trou-
examine carefully into the facts will be
convinced that those OF US who do rot
accede to this demand for additional APP
preparations are not enemies 10 the
schools, as some would have the people
OF this city believe, but that the determi-
nation TO live within the city's income VIII
result in the city being able TO maintain
its public schools IN good ard enicient
manner for the future. while II we exceed
our income year by year. as has been Done
in the past the day Is not Tar dlstah,
when the only use 20 which the annual
income can be put will be 10 pay our deot
and certain fixed charges, and the schoois
will be without funds, unless the taxes afo