The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-13
FINANCES OF THE CITY
Will Be Considered by the Way
and Means COMMITTEES.
TO INCREASE REVENUES
The Recommendations in the Mayors
Annual Report Will Receive the
Consideration OF the Com
mittee.

Alderman Bowman, chairman Of the
ways and means committee. has decided
to call that body together tomorrow for
the purpose of considering the various
matters connected with the finances Of
the city which were recommended in the
Mayors annual report. The particu-
lar matter for elaboration will be as
to how the revenues of the city may be
increased.
At the present time the city is just
about paying expenses. The revenues
just o meet the years expenses,
including interest. But while the ex-
penses are likely to grow slightly, there
Is no prospect OF corresponding growth
of revenues. The tax rate cannot be
raised, for ID is already very close to
the 10-mill limit allowed by law, n
cannot. therefore. bring the city much
more than II is now receiving. 1t may
be, in fact, that the taxes will not
amount to as large a sum next fall as
they amounted to las fall. h reason
for this is that most of the Davis es-
tate has been divided. and this was the
heaviest tax payer of all.
While the city's revenues are likely
to continue just about paying the run
ming expenses of the city government,
the mayor Is anxious that something
better than that should be done. There
hould be something for emergencies.
such as are constantly arising, and he
Is anxious that the amount of out
standing warrants shall be reduced a
little each year. Several damage suits
against the city have been won, and
others nay be won. There Is no pro-
vision for such emergencies, and con-
sequently each damage suit that is paid
increases the amour of the outstand-
ing warrants.
The suggestion of the mayor for in
~creasing the revenues is either that Ii
censes be raised or that some provision
be made for increasing the receipts
from licenses. As the taxes cannot be
increased, the licenses must be depend
ed on to bring the revenues up to the
mark desired. This is the point which
the members of the ways and means
committee will have to consider.
There are some things which probably
can be compelled to pay a license which
pay nothing at all at present. Most
important of these are the pool rooms.
There are three first-class pool rooms,
and each does as much business as a
gambling house used to. There is no
doubt that they ought to pay a license,
and doubtless they would gladly a a
very heavy one in order to shut out the
small pool rooms which are constant
~ %springing up. There is, too, an unof-
fetal rumor about town that there are
gambling rooms running. If they are.
il is believed by many that they should
be compelled to pay the city a regular
fine or else close up. They have been
closed several times, and have always
opened UT once more. and as the city
seems unable to keep them closed, they
should pay some revenu to the city.
/. The licenses of the gambling houses
used to be a most important item in the
city's receipts. This has entirely dis
appeared and nothing has taken its
place.
The committee will also consider GER
tain other lines OF business on which
license might be placed. n will con-
slider the matter of raising the present
license on certain lines. The receipts
from licenses the past year were not
equal to what they were the preceding
year.