The herald., 1897-08-26
BUT GET ONLY PROMISES
SCARCITY OF FUNDS FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR
Estimates Away Ahead of Available
Assets-Parks, Police, Library
and Schools Need Money

funds for the fiscal year 10 the various
branches of the municipal government;
in fact, some of the councilmen ara
growing gray haired in their endeavors
to so portion out the available funds
as to satisfy each department and yet
make three quarts fill a gallon measure.
In other words, the demands of the Vari-
Gus branches of the city's business de-
partments amount to the small item
Of $4S, 200 more than estimated by the
city auditor and, Notwithstanding the
course of pruning at the hands of this
officer, to $4,000 more than the combined
sum of available assets, present and
prospective.
When the auditor made his estimate
of apportionment to the different de-
partments he did SO upon the assessment
turned in by the city assessor, allowing
margin of $500, 900 as the probable re-
duction by the board of equalization.
Instead of the above named amount, the
board knocke d off some ething over 81, 200
000 with of course corresponding de-
crease in the tax receipts, which VIII
leave the revenue of the city for the
year, in round numbers, $5S0,0O0. In this
condition of affairs, the 81 per hundred
rate may not be exceeded, not only Will
every department be compelled to scale
down its demands far below what was
originally asked, but the 'cut rate fig-
ures submitted by Mr.. Nichols are found
TO exceed by the aforesaid $4,000 the out
side amount of revenue.
After allowing for alterations made
from former figures, it yesterday ap-
peared that the demands of the park
police school and library departments
amounted to over $4,000 more than the
auditors apportionment The park
board wanted $4,000 in excess of what had
been allowed; the police, $4,000; schools
SIG, 600, and the library $4,000. That any
of them will get the increase asked ls
improbable although each department
appeared before the council committee
yesterday afternoon and gave good and
urgent reasons why it will be impossible
to conduct their offices in proper shape
with less money.
PARK NECESSITIES
In the first place, the park commits
sioners asked for $67 500 for the mainte-
nance of the city's pleasure grounds, but
afterward came to the conclusion that
they could worry along with $56,110. In
his estimate Auditor Nichols had allowed
them s5S,110, apportioned as follows:
General park fund.- $10,S60; Westlaka,
S10,SOO; East Side. s10150; Hollenbeck,
$500; Elysian, $S3O0; Echo. $500; Sunset,
$1,000; park nursery fund, SS500 The park
commissioners were the first to appear
before the council committee to plead
their case.
Commissioner Waters acted as spokes-
man for the commission. He stated that
while the cuts all around were more
than the commissioners felt they should.
be, yet the most serious cut of ell was on
the Elysian Park entrance and bouie-
ward. This was a cut of $4,000, where it
could be Least spared. They asked that
this cut, at any rate, be restored. The
councilmen declared their intention to
do their best for the park finances, and
took the matter under Amusement
NEEDS OF THE POLICE
Police Commissioner Gbbon next took
the floor and addressed the committee.
calling their attention to the crying need
of increased facilities for the depart
ment. Los Angeles at present has one
officer to every 1900 inha bitants. in all
force Of so men to cover 40 square miles
of territory New York city has one po-
liceman for each 435 inha bitants and
San Francisco one for each 500 He
called the attention of the councilmen
to the fact that the police department
was one that made a return to- the city
funds. In fines, chain-gang work, prop
erty returned to owners, etc, $45, 700 was
returned TO the city in 1895 and about
$1,000 more in 1896.
II is imperative that the force be at
once increased by at least twenty Off
GERS and that a signal system be put in.
This last improvement would in itself
increase the efficiency Of the force at
least so per cent. The cost would be
about $4,000 which would be profita BILE
investment All the commission asks is
an increase of twenty men, making the
force 100 in all, man to about each 1000
inhabitants, or a little more than two
officers for each square mile, and $1,000
for new horses and patrol wagons. In
closing Mr.. Gibbon said: eve want to
give you police force of which you
will be proud, but we cannot do SO with
the present inadequate number of pa
trolmen. We must have sufficient
force"
| Commissioners Preuss and Wyman and
Chief Glass also made few remarks
corroborating what Mr.. Gibbon had said
and urging the ella inns of the depart
ment. The members retired with the
| assurance by the councilmen that their
efforts We're appreciated and everything
possible would be done to assist the de
/ partment.
The amount asked for by the board is
$137, 515.92, of which $4,000 is for salaries
of additional officers and $4,000 for the
alarm or signal system. Auditor Mich
OILS in his estimate has apportioned $113,-
454 allowing for ten new officers but
nothing for the signal system.
SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS
The board of education was on hand,
accompanied by Superintendent Fos-
hay. and a strong presentation of the
needs of the school was made by Presi-
dent Braly in the following words:
| IN calling your attention to the needs
! of the public schools we wish to first say
that last year there was spent for sala-
Ties, teachers, superintendents janitors,
| secretaries, and office help, $33S, ,592. So,
and for all other purposes $77, ,257. .66, max
ing a total expenditure for the school
fiscal year ending June 80, 1897, of $415,-
850.02. The number of census children
for 1896 was 20,679; dividing the total
expen diture of SAILS, ,350.02 by 2O.679, we