The morning news., 1899-11-18
TO BEGIN ON THE BUDeET.
CITY DEPARTMENTS CALLED ON
FOR ESTIMATES.

The Aldermen VIII Begin Figuring
ON the Budget by Dec. 1-House
Drainage, Street Paving and the
Street Opening the Items Likely to
Receive Special Considerations.
Departments Generally Not Ex-
pected TO Ask for Heavy Increases.
Passage of the WiIIingham Bill
Would Interfere Seriously With
the City's Finances.
The City Council will begin its consider
alton of next years budget as soon as the
estimates from the various departments
are received. These are expected to come
In next week. as all the departments have
been given notice to have their estimates
In before Dec. 1.
AS usual, it is expected that each de-
partment will ask for a larger allowance
than the city can afford to give. This may
not be the case, however, as no increases
are contempla ted in the fire and police de-
partments and these departments have no
buildings to erect this year
The three items which will come in for
chief consideration, after the necessary
running expenses of the city have been
provided for, will be house drainage, street
paving and street opening. II is expected
that at least $55,00O will be allowed for
house drainage. The paving work which
the Street and Lane Committee desires to
do next year has already been outlined in
the Morning News A very healthy ap-
preparation will be required In order to
carry out this programme. The Committee
on Street Opening is desrouS of finishing
up the work of opening streets In the
southern section during the coming year.
Such good work has been done this year
that the end is already in sight, and with
g reasonable appropriation the Street
Opening Committee win be in position to
achieve its purpose.
One question which will come before
Council in making up the budget is that
of restoring the salaries of the city Of
fcials, which were cut down at the be-
ginning of the year, on account of the
prospective deficit in the city's revenues.
The officials have been throwing out some
very strong hints of their feelings on this
score in the direction of their aldermanic
friends, and It is safe 10 say that strong
effort for the restoration of salaries to
their former figures viii be made.
The deficit which threatened the city in
the beginning of the year has fortunately
not materlahzed. There is not only a nice
balance in the treasury al present, but
there is every reason to believe that the
city will close the year with quite a neat
figure on the right side of the balance
sheet The $40, 900 remaining to the account
of the house drainage work is not included
in these estimates, and is in excess of the
estimated balance
The members of Council are waiting
rather anxiously the outcome of the fight
before the Legislature on the prohibition
question. If the Willingham bill should
| become a law it would mean a direct loss
10 the city of at least $4,000, besides such
indirect loss as might result from the de-
probation of property This would near
that the city would either have to cut
down its departments and stint the public
| improvements, such as house drainage, oI
taxation would have to be increased. As
! Savannah's taxes are already higher thar
those of any city in Georgia, it is not like
" that this would be done. at least nc
| further increase would be made than tC
restore the old rate of $50. instead of the
! present rate of AS