The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-02

chase any 0tner DOnuS OF TIE CITY, Which
bonds shall be made payable to the
commissioner of the sinking fund in
trust for the city of Raleigh, and shall
be held by him in trust for the holders of
the bonds authorized by the said acts
mentioned in section twenty of this CHAP
ter or shall make such investment of the
funds in his hands as the committee
of the Board of Aldermen shall approve,
preference being given to loans upon
real estate in he city.
Under present conditions, i should ad-
wise against the commissioner OF the
sinking fund putting cent in warrants
of the city, but l can see no objection
to the investments of the accumulations
of this fund during the summer months
in warrants, if the Board of Aldermen
will adopt a business system that will
preclude the possibility of warrants be-
ing issued and excess of their years re-
ceipts. Such an arrangement in fact
would prove profitable to the fund and
of incalculable convenience to the city.
Our citizens have enjoyed an object
lesson on the line of permanent improve
ments. If they desire continuance
of the work let them say so at the bal
lot box. There is no questioning the
fact that one hundred thousand dollars
judiciously spent in permanent improve
ment can be carried and matured with
out increasing our tax levy one cent.
Give the sovereigns an opportunIty1to vote
on the question and if their decision is
favorable the work of street improve
ment can be pushed with renewed vigor.
If unfavorable, let us content ourselves
by doing as much each year as the cur
rent revenue will permit.
Don't go on attempting impossibilities
piling up deficits year after year relying
on raiding the sinking fund now ard
then to square you up.
Meet the situation squarely and in a
business like way. Pay off the maturing
6 per cent bonds to the extent of the
cash in hands of the commissioner of
the sinking fund, and take up the bal
ance of them with new per cent bonds.
Then adopt a strict business system,
in city affairs and provide for its enforce
ment.
The Budget system unqueStlOnably
presents more advantages than any |
know of, and if conscienciously lived up
to, affords greater opportunities for
economy.
Your present system of bookkeeping
readily enables you to ascertain the cost
of any department in detail. Let your
committees get together, go carefully
over the items, make consultative esti-
mate of the absolute needs Of each de-
partment for the present year and adopt,
that as a basis of apportionment in the
AF py,In
When you have determined ON the an
nual apportionment for a determined an
ual apportionment for a department, let
the committee of that department deter
mine how much they will spend each
month. Then put check on them, by
requiring a monthly statement from the
City Clerk of the expenses of each de-
partment.
Then empower the Mayor to withhold
his signature from any warrant in any
department in excess of its monthly pro
rata share, such system would enable
one department to keep check on the
other, prevent the monthly estimates
being exceeded, and prevent with alb
solute certainty a deficit at the end of
the year.
This same recommendation was made
in my last report, but it met with little
or no favor. / observed such gross care
lessness during the first quarter of 1896
that made and submitted to your board
at the June meeting a comparative state
ment of receipts and disbursements with
'95 and from the chair urged the adoption
of a budget as the only means of cur
failing expenses. But / heard nothing
from it until February, 1897, when the
Finance committee submitted the one
embodied in their report for 1897 use.
And it must be changed as the appor-
tionments to some departments in that
are absolutely inadequate.
1t is to-day in force, but no department
respects it for the simple reason they
are not made to. Provide machinery for
its enforcement. Take your first step
toward applying business method to
municipal affairs, some have been sim
pie enough to suggest that it would put
too much power in the Mayors hands.
Now, in all justice, why should not the
Mayor, who is charged with the success
or failure of an administration be given
some control in the matter of expendi-
lures and management of departments?
You have never thus far adopted re-
commentator made by your present
Mayor that has not saved the city money.
1t is certainly unfair to shoulder him
with the mistakes of II men, some of
whom complainingly attend AN alderman
ic meeting once in 80 days and give the
matter of the city's resources and liza
bilities no study or even attention, yet
such is the case.
Two years experience satisfies me that
he should be accorded some power of con-
troll in the matter of expenditures and
that the efficiency of some departments
might be marvellously improved by ex-
tending him appointive power, no change
can be made that wont tend to improve
the present conditions.
VALUATION OF PROPERTY.
A casual glance over the tax books
will convince you of the fact that there
is a defect in our method of valuing
property that can and should be RENE
died.
Tho hrp,aS nf tho xrorIyipu 5,any.la ara