The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-31
JULY 81, 1887.
7his paper as Democratic IN principles
end Is independent IN its vsesus on all local
questions
The CITY budget.

Much of the City Budget for 1878,
which we print in our news columns to-
day, shows careful study and good judg-
ment. On the whole. it compares favor
ably with the efforts of preceding Boards.
Whether It Is the very best thing that
could be done. under the circumstances
we do not know. The Mayors SUCCESS
ton that short appropriations should be
made for salaries, regardless Of statutory
provisions, has been d~isregarded. The
value of his suggestion is a matter OF
dispute. Some hold that ofaceholders
could be compelled to take lower pay;
others say they would simply sue the
city for the statutory minimum and get
Judgment. the effort at economy merely
resulting in extra legal expenses.
It will occur to every one that the APP
preparation for the City Hall Commits
sion is absurdly large. The appointment
Of five additional Republican workers as
policemen is also a somewhat unneces-
sary luxury this year. On these w
-
items, a saving of perhaps $12, 1000 might
easily be made. On the other hand, the
estimate of the Board of Education for
teachers for the new schools, which are
to be ready in the winter, has been cut
out. This is likely to cause trouble later,
because, under Corporation Counsel
Blair's opinion in regard to the salary
of Assistant Corporation Attorney VIII
lard Fisk, 1t is hard to see how the FL
nanciers can make any arrangement to
pay additional teachers until the begin
ming of the next fiscal year
The grand total of the Budget is s2S9, 294
higher than last year. But a large
amount of this increase is absorbed in
two items. The appropriation to the
Sinking FUNDS is jumped from $4,000 to
$157, COO. an increase of s1o3.6O and the
amount to take up maturing bonds is
s11s, 5s5.2s against $50. 351.3 last year, in
crease $50, 243. SO. Besides these, there is
about 81. 500 for interest on bonds due this
and last year, and about $4,000 to pay
the city's share of the Improvement ac-
count. These figures aggregate s19O, 37S.2 !.
The only other large increase is for the
fully paid Fire Department. SAC, $50. All
the other increases are small, about the
most important being $500 for street
lighting. There are, of course, nc de-
creases worth speaking of.
The reckoning in of o%ne-fourth of the
liquor license money as a portion of the
General Fund is not new. It was done
last year. The weak spot in the Budget
is the figuring in of the additional revenue
which the so-called equal taxation law of
this year provides for. It is extremely
doubtful whether this money is forth
coming. The law does not give it to US
until 1878. and it is extremely doubtful
whether the State officials will join in
any subterfuge to give it to us this year.
Indeed, it is a question whether they
wou not incur the penalties of mall
feasance in doing SO. But, even if we
got this money, the Board of Finance
seems to figure it a good cal too high.
Last year we got s227, 600. The new law
adds 80 per cent. to our former allowance.
This would be s113, 500. making our entire
receipts $34O, 500. Allowing for SOME in
orease in the amount of railway property
in the city, is it not unlikely that we
would receive any such sum as 1872, 900.
The Board may rave up-to-date figures
which Justify their calculation; but GER
tainly last years figures do not. Anyway,
vi have scant hope that the extra fifty
per cent. will be available to reduce the
burden OF this budget on the public.
ALLAN l.. McDERMOTT has written
the Mayor a letter telling him that. under
existing laws, it is out of the question
tor the city to build It's own water works.
Now, perhaps. the cranks and fools will
AXE a back seat.
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.