The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-28
READY TO BORROW AMY SUM.
MAYOR MELDRIM SAYS COUNCIL
WILL PAY UP ALL DEBTS.

1T Is the Impression That the Board
viii Find II necessary to Borrow
the Last InstaIIment of $4,000
Provided for in Resolution Au-
thOrizing Issuance of $4,000 in
City NOtes-AIdermen Admit IL Was
Understood Entire Amount Would
Passed-MayOr Says His Policy Is
to Leave No Debts THAT Are Due"
for Incoming Hoard TO Pay.
we will leave no debts for the next
Council to pay if we have TO borrow mil
lion dollars" is the reply Mayor Meldrin
made last night to a query whether the
city would pay certain paving claims it
is alleged are now six months past due
The Mayor emphatically stated that rot
even 10 cents, provided it is due" will
be carried over for the next Council to
pay.
1t has been rumored the Council will be
compelled to avail itself in full of the reso-
luton authorizing the Mayor TO borrow
$4,000, for which he is to issue the city's
notes. As has been stated in the Morn
ing News, $4,000 of this amount has al
ready been borrowed, and while it is not
understo the whole of it has been spent
still it is reported the entire amount pro-
vided for Will have to be borrowed. 1t
is admitted to have been the boards orig
inal intention TO borrow the whole amount,
a
sisted the city could tide itself over with
at least half the amount. 1t is also adj
mitted the board did not know exactly
where it Stood and provided to borrow
what it thought the city would need, the
intention being to increase the amount as
developments created a demand.
Mayor Meldrirn was seen yesterday in re-
gard to the report that more money would
be needed to run the city through this
year, IN addition to that already obtained.
He said he did not know whether an ad-
ditional $4,000 would be needed or not.
IF the additional funds are needed, f"
said the Mayor, Il will be notified by the
chairman of the finance committee. In
the event I get this notice I will issue
Mayors notes, as has been done for the
$4,000 already borrowed.
There IS understood 10 be $1,000 due by
the city to the Warren-Scharf Asphalt
Company. Will this be paid by the pres
ent Council or carried over to the next?'
The policy Of the administration is not
to carry any bills over for payment" he
replied. 1T is my intention to see that
every dollar of Indebtedness now due is
paid, If the city has to borrow million
dollars to do it. l recently approved bills
for the asphalt company amounting to APP
proXimately 5000, and it was my impress
sion the claims were all paid. If such is
| not the case, however, the city will pay
them before the present board retires, pro
vided they are due"
Mayor MeIdrim was asked if it was not
| the original intention of the board TO Dor
row the entire amount provided for in the
resolution.
Il cannot say it was" he replied cot
| course we had reason to believe we would
| need this amount and therefore provided
| for it. Council did not care to borrow any
more than was actually needed to defray
| current city expenses, and for this reason
| provided for what it was thought would
probably be needed. We drew from the
! amount as the occasion demanded"
Alderman Charlton of the finance CON-
mittee, was seen in regard to the report
| He did not know whether the city would
| find it necessary to borrow the third So
| 900 or not, but it was his impression that
! about this amount win be needed When
| asked as to whether it was his understand
ing the last $4,000 of the amount would be
required in a few days to pay city laborers
| he said it was his impression the last
| $4,000 borrowed had not yet been spent
ever, and as much money as may be needed
| for emergencies, such as current expenses
| can be obtained on Mayors notes. This
! cannot be done for other purposes though
| such, for instance, as Claims that could
| be conveniently pigeon-h oled for the mex
! Council to pay.
The fact was brought out when the city
attempted to issue notes for the house
| drainage work that the indebtedness is al
ready equal to 7 per cent of the as
sessed valuation Of property, and for this
reason the city finds Itself estopped by a
| constitutional provision from contracting
| further Indebtedness on Mayors notes
for other than imperative demands.
| When the Morning News referred a
month ago to the condition of the city :
| finances, it was predicted the board would
! have TO borrow heavily TO pun through
| Some of the aldermen took exception "a
| statements made at the time but the pres
| ent indications are the shortage win even
! exceed what was then predicted.
An effort was made last night to SEQ AL
| derman Thomas, chairman of the finance
! committee in regard to the reports lie
! took the position the second instalment OF
! $4,000 would be needed but insisted that
! some OF the departments had not exceed
| ed their budget allowances" and that the
| board had not in any way been reckless
| in its expenditures.