Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-04-03
THE cITY'S FINANCES.
Continued from Fifth page.

plete the reservoir is provided for out
of the water revenues of the city,
one extending for a period of four
years and the other of six years. Any
reasonable man knows that great
public improvement of this nature
cannot be paid for out of the current
receipts of one municipal year, and
as the object Twas to construct the
plant without raising taxation one
cent, hence, was the plan of payment
adopted.
1.-The cheap talk of still cheaper
politicians on street corners, etc., who
almost explode themselves in ex-
planning to their friends that the pres
emit administration has increased the
Indebtedness of the city by issuing
$3.50, 900 of bonds and the building of
the reserv oir-they are too ignorant
TO comprehend that $40, 600 of this
debt was made more than 81 years
ago. and that the bonds were merely
refunded ut lower rate of interest,
and that the reservoir is being con-
structed out of money that is not
raised by taxation whatever. MANY
of these howlers pay little or no taxes
and but very few of them contribute
one cent toward the building of the
reservoir by payment of water rent,
but secure their supply of water by
fetching it from the hydrants of their
neighbors.
Not One Cent of Increased Taxation.
.'As to taxation, this administration
has not increased the taxes one cert.
The constitutional limit of taxation is
two per cent of the value of all real
estate, railroad and personal property
in the city, as returned by the state
board of equalization. To this the
CITY council is allowed to add the in
terest on the bonded debt and two
mill tax for public library purposes.
In no instance has the present admin
istration exceeded this limit, and it
could not were it disposed to do so.
except where an emergency might
arise, which happily has not been the
case. In the matter of appropriations
the administration has not overdrawn
or exceeded an appropriation but in
one instance. that of the improvement
of the levee, and. in fact, has paid out
no more money than was appropriated
in this account.
The Levee Improvement.
The city appropriated for the i'm
provement of the levee $1,000. The
cost of the improvement was some
SIS. 900. The Rock Island & Peoria
Railway company contributed 81, 900,
the Ferry company $4,000. The city
expects to procure from the other
railroad companies $1,000 more, leav-
ing a balance of 81, 500. The mayor
stated to the council, before the work |
was begun. that the city could not |
complete the Improvement last year |
on account of the lack of funds The |
as well as many of our most |
citizens, insisted upon its |
in order that what was |
lone might be protected from the ice |
and high water, and the contractors |
agreeing to wait for the balance of |
their money until the next years APP |
was made, the improve |
ment was practically completed.
The Union fails to note the munifi-
cent gift of land, valued at $4,000, |
that the present administration pro-
cured for the city.
Il very much regret that | am COM
PEELED to defend myself in the news
papers, nor would do it were it not |
for the willful misrepresentation of
the facts that have been INDUCED in
by the Union.
IAN editor of a newspaper, of all
men, should confine himself to the |
absolute truth. for through the agency
IF his paper he is enabled To work |
untold damages if so inclined. He
assumes the position of moulding
public opinion, and it is incumbent
upon him while enjoying this posi-
ion to state only absolute facts"