The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-15
MUST KEEP CLOSE TO BUDGET.
Policy of Council Not TO Exceed APP
prOpriatfOns.


The halt called on the street opening
committee at the meeting Of Council Wed
nesday night, it being alleged that IT has
exceeded its appropriation. was not gem
orally expected, but the belief now is that
the action of the finance committee Is
largely due to it's recent reorganization. If
economy is not practiced, it Is stated that
all departments viii be required to keep
strictly within the budget allowance.
That this important part of Councils
work during the present administration
must end is not yet settled, as the com
mittee insists there is still a considerable
amount to its credit. While the finance
committee is not inclined 10 regard this
as correct, sull there is nothing positive
to the contrary, ana the Status Of the COM
mlttees contracted Indebtedness is such
that no calculation can be made until all
deeds have been drawn. The agreements
in numerous instances are TO pay a certain
price per square foot, but the number Of
feet not being known leaves the amount
70 be paid indefinite. Hence the claim
that the appropriation IS not oVerdrawn
carries about as much evidence as the
claim 10 the contrary.
The resolutions that Council passed from
time to time appropriating money for
opening streets has not siguiied a cash
consideration in every instance. II is said
that many of the purchases have been on
hve years time, which therefore goes over
to another administration and viii not af-
feet the budget this year. In other In
stances the property acquired has been
By exchange for lands the city owned. but
did not use. Considering this, il is claim
ed that what appeared at first a mountain
win resolve itself into a mole hill when
the facts are known. As stated in the
Morning News, there remains $34 1876 to
the committee on opening streets, accord
ing to the quarterly financial statement,
but there is no way at present of deter
mining what part of it Is absorbed IN the
property bought and that now being con-
demned.
Alderman Charlton regrets that some of
the board took exceptions to the extern
sive purchases his committee made of
lands in Collinsville. After a long fight In
caucus he succeeded in getting the pro-
cseds from recent ground rent sales for his
committee, with the proViso, however, that
Co,linsvllle should be opened up. He re-
grets the committee is being criticised,
now that 1t is carrying out the condition
Council imposed in giving it the ground
rent proceeds.
Under the act of 1854" said Alderman
Charlton, that territory between East
Broad street, the Waters road and the Bill
boa canal, is 10 be taxed at the regular
rate Wnen streets are opened up through
It, and lights and water furnished The
two last improvements have been made
and small expenditure will finish open
ing the streets. The amount appropriated
Will be handsome Investment, however,
since the city will probably receive some
thing like $4,000 additional revenue in in
creased taxes. Besides this, the city will
receive lands free from the Savannah
Building Real Estate and Improvement
Company, when streets are opened to their
property. There remains but a small
amount of land to acquire in order to do
this"
Even if the committee finds its efforts
are ended during the present admlnstra-
ton In opening streets, it will at least have
the consolation of accomplishing a great
deal. All members of Council admit the
money has been wisely spent in every in
stance, that the city has received fun
value, and the lands purchased Were those
most needed at this time.
New streets extend out in many direc-
tons which have conduced to material i'm
proVements In the sections traversed
IL Is apparent the treasury will be close
~ watched In future, however and that
oil departments viii be held strictly with
In their appropriations. Chairman Thorn
as stated yesterday that the effort of the
finance committee would be to keep city
expenditures down to the budget allow
ancp,