The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-02

Tor sinking fund and i'm
terest on the city debt Sl.04S, ,S34 A
The amount of our state
tax was ................ 3OS. 2S5 81
a total of................$l. .352. 220 80
This leaves balance Of 80. 2,34S, 403 10
The city had an uncertain
income from sewer as
sessments which. I'm that
year, amounted to..~ S6,441 81
1t also made use OF a reserve
fund of................... G.1S7 rs
And 10 also received from
the committee ON the city
debt ......~..... 22.l56 10
Total income TO be APP
piled 10 the support
of our department
was ....................,S2 " ,4b3.lSS -
There was paid for the maintenance
Of the public schools during that year
S5if .65927. which was equal TO 232 per
cent. OF our entire income. This does
not include one-tenth of the annual sal
aries of our teachers being the pay roll
for September 1898 amounting To $i6,-
93S45. and the pay of the janitOrs for
September. 1898. amounting TO S3,Sl5.S1
total. $50. 754.32, which should be added
TO show the years expense. Catcutat-
ing upon our estimated receipts for the
ensuing fiscal year and the amount
which we have appropriatedfo for the pub
lie schools including all monies received
from the State, and from poll taxes,
dog licenses, tuition, and sale of mate
rials, etc, amounting To about S625.
10000, this percentage will be increased
to between twenty-siX and twenty
seven per cent
II Is true that we are a growing city
and that our population is yearly in
creasing. but il would seem that i'm
have increased out OF proportion TO the
growth of our population. I'm 1883. our
population was about 1913 600 people In
the present year. it is estmated 10 be
16I Coo. In 1883 our school expenditure
was $279, 1874; in 1898 il was $57l, ,659.27
not including the above mentioned sum
of $50. 15i. 80. In ten years our population
has increased about thirty-six per
cent. our school expenses have increas-
ed. in the same time one hundred and
four per cent OF course. some of this
has been necessary by legislation and
by transfer Of certain expenses from
the committee on city property 10 the
school committee. | make these state
ments merely for the purpose of plac-
ing before our citizens, as nearly as
possible, and exact statement i'm regard
To this department.
NEW CITY CHARTER.
\ very important matter to come be-
fore you for consideration. during the
year, is the draft OF the new city chart
er. The City Council in February of
1896, feeling that the city had outgrown
it's present charter, and that something
more in accord with the spirit OF mod
ern progress should be adopted. some
measure which would relieve the city
from the awlwardness Of its present
/ system of governments
committee To present draft of a new
charter That committee has made its
report. which is now in the hands of
the committee on ordinances. Believing,
as / do, that our present charter is
very imperfect piece of patchwork and
wholly inadequate to -nnr present needs
that il gives To the city too little au-
tonomy. and presents "A system which
besides being complex, and Offering lit
tie opportunity for locating authority
and responsibility. is clumsy in the eX-
treme / must ask of you that You do
not lightly disregard this important
measure. but give it, your most earn
est study and consideration It's proVi-
| sions. as stated in the report OF the
I committee. are radical, and this was
| what was expected and desired. but |
| believe them TO be I'm the main exactly
| i'm the line Of modern thought on muni-
| CIpal government. The whole spirit OF
! the document is concentration of au-
thority upon some one whom the pub
! Tic can hold responsible. | do not believe
| that the great power Of appointment
conferred upon the mayor will be. as
some critics have declared. a source OF
strength to him, TO perpetuate his hold
upon office. ON the contrary, | believe
that. in accordance with all ex-
perience I'm such matters it wouH
be source OF weakness TO
! any other than an able. upr~eht and
honest official and might he such Co
him. When under our present system Of
city government public duties are inef-
ficiently performed u is impossible FOR
the public 90 FIX the responsibility and
correct the error. But updcr the pro-
posed measure, the public will know ex-
actly who Is To blame and the remedy
Is simple Moreover. ~ seems to me that
the business Of the city could be more
efficiently and economically performed
under the commissions provided FOR by
the new charter. whoSe terms OF Office
are extended beyond one year. than b.
committees as now constituted and an
pointed. From my limited experience I
cannot imagine more inefficient sys-
tem OF conducting public affairs than
I by our present system Of ,ommittces I
sincerely hope, therefore. that this
charter as IL ia. or with proper amend
fnentT. 1Tr1y- br urrrptrrr tr----- ------r----
and granted TO us by the General As
sembly
HARBOR.
have never realized until OF late. tho
| Importance Of our harbor. and the pos
siblities " presents for the develop
| ment OF our city. and the disregard
| with which We have hitherto treated a..
| / am aware of course. thai this sub
! jcrt has been frequently called to the
/ attention 0f the CITY Council bN varioiIs