The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-04
$3.50, i65 o. t,,ST6, 7S5 " s.
TERMED ORDINARY
g.. 100, $40 IS s3.;63, SIS .
Sept .o''...s sss.sls s. sis,5s9,wip II


Sept ;O....'s sss,s s. sis,6s',Isip II
Pertinent To this is mention of the use
OF sums taken from receipts for sewer
assessments and transfers from the city
| debt account, which for the past four
years amount respectively to $685., 900 and
1925 GOO. and which, instead Of being re-
garded and used as revenue for current
expenses, should have been turned back
as credits to the sewer debt, 20 the ex-
peuse Of filling and improving the cove
lands, and other public improvements. !
These matters are rot offered in q spirit
of criticism, but with the hope that a
plain statement of existing conditions
may lead TO measures OF relief, and among
such measures may be recommended the
following acts:
To assess cost of highways against
abutters
To change the laws regarding taxation
of personal property.
To change the laws regulating the tax
for liquor licenses
And for which ordinances will be pre-.
sentod to the Council simultaneously
with this. such acts If passed by the
Legislature, and, in turn, supplemented
by reasonable economy, would afford the
needed easement, leading In all probabil-
ity to a reduction OF the tax rate.
Taking the city's ratabe property for
1878 at one hundred and seventy six mil
sources of seven hundred and thirty
thousand dollars, tozethor with appropri
ations for three million eight hundred
and sixty thousand dollars we reach the
terms from which may be determined
the tax rate and that rate Is found to be
s17. so per slC0), or s1.7S per 300.
Exam pie--Iax Of sl7 so per $1,000 on
s176, 90, OO) 81, 132 SO; re .eiIts $40 600;
total, 81, S62, 500.
Analysis cf Tax Rate-Genoral purposes,
(limit Of law l per cent $40 per NJ. or
| 81, 760, coo; state tax (provision for), 81. so
per NJ. or 1916, s0o interest and sinking
funds (actual s6.0 per NJ. or 81, 056, 600;
total, Sl7. so per NJ. or s3 1872, 500
|, 1t will be observed that tho law limit
for general purposes has been reached,
and should the several departments be
given what they ask for (notably that of
| education, which has been reduced $l02, :
| OOO), application must be made to the
| Legislature for an increase of the limit.
| After full deliberation Of this most
| important question the committee be
heving in the soundness Of policy which
| says "pay as you go, y see no other alter
| native than q recommendation of the rate
| borne out by the figures submitted, and
/ they h, rewith present an ordinance deter
mining that rate to be 81. 7S on each $1O0
| Of ratable property.
Before closing this report the committee
avail themselves OF the opportunity to
emphasize their opinions by quoting from
| the last annual address of his honor the
mavor:
"While our expenses are constantly in
creasing and must continue to increase
| IL we lntend to maintain our position as
| a progressive city, we still continue to
practically obtain our chief revenues from
| the same old sources The question that
forcibly presents itself TO us is: How NAV
the revenue Of the city he increased with
out adding to the burden OF direct taxa
tion upon the people, This question was
exhaustively discussed in the report OF
the Board of State Valuation made To the
General Assembly at its January session
I'm 1892 and also in the report of the joint
spocial committee relative TO tho assess .
ment and collection OF taxes mado to tho
City Council on March Is, 1895. The
salient point affecting the city's interests
Of both these reports is, that all tangible
personal property should be taxed i'm the
place where the same is situated. There
arc millions of dollars worth Of goods and
mercnandse, and other tangible personal
property located in stores and warehouses,
in this city, and receiving the protection
OF tho fire and police department, that
do not pay ono cent Of tax into the city
treasury. II such property were taxed in
this city as IL ought in right and justice
20 be the tax rate could be materially
reduced, and all necessary improvements
at the same time be made "
Respectfully,
HOWARD o. SrURGES,