The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-04

after paying al DlllS presented Oh SzJ4O.3o.
But from a close study of some of the de-
tails of the report IL would appear to me
that this balance Is a fictitious one, and
right here desire to call your attention To
a system adopted In certain of the city de-
partments which should be stopped. The
practice seems to be TO hold back bills
which have been contracted and ARE due un-
til after the books have been closed for the
year with the only apparent object of max
ing a good showing. Take for instance the
special appropriations which were made for
building the sewers In Cross street and Lin
coin avenue.
The report shows that for the first named
sewer the only bills presented are for pay
rolls amounting to $490.s9 yet this sewer is
completed and IL must have cost something
for pipes and traps and other material and
the bills for them should have made their
appearance before the books were closed.
In the Lincoln avenue sewer the conditions
are practically the same except that there
were two small bills for sewer traps and
lumber. These are only two of similar ac-
counts which had outstanding bills against
them on December !, and IL these bills had
been paid ii can be easily seen that the cash
balance on hand would have been consider
ably less IL any, but the people would have
had a much more correct idea of the finan-
cia condition of the treasury. 1 would ask
that the members of committees and the
diture of city money entrusted to them
change this policy thisyear.
During the year the important transaction
relative to the settlement of the debt differ
ences between this city and the town of Lin
coin have been consummated, and congratu
late the committee which smoothed all the
difficulties which lay in the way of peace
full settlement, on the success of their work
Our city has had, to assume large debt as
a result of this settlement ;but II was smaller
than we had been led to expect, and there
fore the transaction Is a most satisfactory
one.
AS shown by the treasurer's report, the
total Indebtedness of the city at the present
time, including all notes and bonds, is $40,
445l2 against which there are uncollected
taxes and a cash balance to the amount of
$29, ,542S6 leaving net debt of $40 902. .26. The
report also shows that the city owns prop
erty, including public buildings, sewers,
water pipes and hydrants, whose aggregate
estimated value is $549,0O0.
The unpaid city taxes including curbing
and sewer tax amounting to 36,60l.9l Is it
seems to me a large sum for the two years
existence of the city.
In the payment of sewer taxes ! recon-
mend that when so requested they be per-
mitted to be paid in installments as many
people find 1t a hardship to pay the entire
sum at once.
1t is matter of very great satisfaction, and
one for which we have reason to be congrat-
ulated, that onr credit In financial circles Is
so high as to command the very advantage
Gus bid which was made for the $250,0O0
worth of bonds which have been fioated
within the past month. The fact that under
the ordinance passed by the City Council au-
thorizing the issuing of these bonds it was
stipulated that $4,000 was to be paid each
year. made them less desirable as an invest
ment, but on the whole the price paid was
very satisfactory.
In making up their estimates for the com
ing year the several committees ask for
sums considerably in excess of the appro-
priations for 1896. For the amount which
these committees consider necessary to run
their departments for 1897. refer you TO the
estimates of receipts and expenditures pre-
sented by the city auditor.
The City Council for 1896 made appropria-
tlons aggregating over slG6,OOo and of this
amount only sl3s,OO0 was included in the
original appropriation passed in February
and this amount was almost entirely to pay
for the ordinary demands. The various de
partments this year ask for appropriations
aggregating more than 100000 and this does
not include q single special demand for new
sewers or highways and other requirements
which are practically certain to come up.
Neither does 1t include the amount neces.
sary to pay for fuel for public buildings and
the board of prisoners at the county jail
All of these things In 1896 required an ex
penditure of more than $4,000 and unless
the requirements are much lessened this
year it can be seen that a much larger sum
will.be appropriated than can be met by the
ordinary revenues.
1t may be necessary but feel constrained
to urge upon YOU the necessity for the prac-
tice of the utmost economy consistent with
good government. The finance committee
has designed to pay from the regular sources
IN aAd N ".
penses, the sum of $4,000 each year on the
city debt. confess that am unable to see
lust how this Is to be done and not run be-
hind The expenses for the past year have
left very little in the treasury when all bills
are paid and while there have been some
quite larger expenditures for special pur.
| poses which will not be required again still
there will be other demands of equal size
and equal emergency. As against this
there appears to be no reason to expect
any material increase In the revenue
for some time:to come unless the tax rate Is
/ increased, thing which 1 should be 10th to
see done The situation Is one which de-
mands your very careful and earnest atten-
ton and believe that II will receive IL.
I cannot close this section of this paper
without taking the opportunity to express
my appreciation of the courteous attention
which I'm common with all others have al
ways received from City Treasurer Reynolds.
have found In him faithful official, cour-
teous at all times and painstaking In every
detail of his department
Public Schools.
The public schools of our city compare
favorably with the schools of any OF the
cities or towns In the state I'm method of in
struction and results. They have reached a
standard OF education never before attained,
which Is due to the earnest and faithful
work OF our present superintendent.
The modern method OF teaching I'm our
public schools reQuires that IL begin with
the kindergarten system. I therefore rec
ommend that our system be made more per.
feet and complete by the establishment OF
such a school.
The buildings are I'm good condition with
excellent sanitary arrangements, as far as
the buildings are concerned, but the sani.
tary surroundings OF some OF the schools
should be remedled. The deposit OF decay.
ing vegetable matter I'm close proximity to
the Garfield and Washington street schools
should be stopped. The existence of large
vanIts near the Hunt street school and the
surroundings OF other school buildings In
n. a. .tst. a