The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-22
MUNICIPAL EXPENSES.
A Comparison Hctwccn Galveston
and Houston.

comparison between Galveston
md Houston.
Galveston News.
upon the occasion of recent visit OF
special committee of the city council TO
Houston reporter for the News accom-
panied them and collected some data with
reference to the municipal government of
that city. 1t was the intention to institute
comparison between the Houston and
Galveston municipal governments with
reference to their financial condition, otc.,
because citizens are, by reason of the
proximity of Houston, constantly making
comparisons without having figures at
hand upon which to base them. This pre-
sentation has been delayed awaiting
Mayor Brashear's annual message which
contains some necessary figures aud deals
with Houstons financial condition. II is
impossible to reduce the conditions OF the
two cities TO common basis and TO insti-
tute an exact comparison tor the reason
that the governments are conducted upon
somewhat different ulans, and because
there are items of expense not common TO
both Hence the comparison viii only go
as far as there is a common ground ior
comparing.
First. the bonded debt may be men
toned Galveston has gross bonded debt
Of So, 652 600. AS au offset for this there
arc held in the sinking funds SS22,oOO The
net bonded debt is S2,S3e 600,
Houston's bonded debt Is 10000.
There have been no sinking funds accu-
INFLATED as an offset.
Galveston's bonded debt is therefore
s43O 900 in excess of Houston's.
To show for the bonded Indebtedness
Galveston has waterworks system cost
ing 81 500 900 public lighting system.
fire engine houses, n city hail ana hlhe
miles OF poorly paved streets.
Houston has city hall sewerage
plant eighteen miles OF well paved streets,
fire engine houses and several expensive
bridges across the bayou
Both cities have hne school buildings.
Houston's tax rate. inclusive of school
taxes. is . per cent. The gross assessment
is S22. 52s, 1903. Taxes assessed $500, $50 .O6.
GaIyestons tax rate. inclusive of scnooI
taxes. is II per cent. The gross assess
ment is 1927, 276,65i. Total taxes assessed
$4S0, SIS 81.
Houston pays for interest on bonded IN
debtedness S86, IS, leaving from assessed
taxes 1868 ,712, rs to be applied TO general
expenses, including the support OF schools
Galveston last year paid for interest on
bends $751; .3a7. and carried TO sinking funds
| S1Ol zoe leaving $lSS, $50. 81 from assessed
| taxes TO be applied to current expenses IL
viii be observed that the practice OF the
| Giles Is not the same with reference 10
| sinking funds. aud this makes a bg dlIer-
ence in the matter Of meeting current eX-
| ponses. -
galveston had a floating debt on Janu-
ary Of s71, 1871 81 which has since been
| reduced TO about $4,000
houston has a floating debt of $62,o6O a..
Galveston last year appropriated $2Hi W.
| for general expenses, inclusive OF school9'
| of hospital expenses, water works opera
| ton. and of $4,000 for the payment Oh
| note. Mayor Brashear TINS year recon-
| mends the appropriation Of S26'.2Oo LOT
! n,,rront nvnenses in Houston (likewiSe eN-
| cinsive NJ above mentioned itemsl, which
| ia eo,ne,yhat less than the amount eNpena-
cd last year an otong the
line is impossible, because the departments
are different e,o ooo ,rh ,
| The Galveston salary list Is Si3oSo. me
tTouston salary list is $ll ,00o, bur ms docs
',o, innI,'de eome salaries otherwise pro-
The Galveston police department was
last wear allowed s54.Gij; the Houston de-
partment gets Sf000o' a-oo e-. 1to,,a.
galveston lre department S5S,e63; Hous'
ton fire department, $4,000
Galveston streets and alleys depai llile y.
sso on Houston street and bridge depart
ment, $4,000; engineers department 'ii''
coo: total $6l 900. .o,.,o
~ Colyeston health department s243l2
Houeton health department slOQ 300 garp ,,,'
denartment. 10000 total Slb'VpV. ~,
Tdnston seavenger department geis SsVp'
wear. but II covers more than ina
amount back into the treasury
Galveston, lighting pubic bullninsS az
| GDQl0 maid Dluntl
s9o 0sG. Houston light account, Sl''pvu'
1;alyoston for public property insurance
o,o s27OO. Houston 10000, for puFchas
Of public park. e,o mn Cor legal dc
nart,rent and $4,000 for assessor ana COZ
icrtor.s department, These probably IN
ohde fees on DELINQUENT taxes rs WI, a =
cost of hooks, ETC. as lney are IA Lee e. do
excess Of The appropriations lor u'eTs w
partments ri Galveston. - eenr
Galveston. printing, $500; Houston ssv'
galveston. cemeteries, s226s; Honsto
nothing. ,, e,e,o. tJoustot
for Houston Lyceum, s2ioo' a nc
Galveston. beach. SLOW parks apu ~
| planades. $3.50; Houston huth,ns 7,or,i ON
a,sa In The above departments, Caves
ion Iaet wear appropriated $4,000 for opei
a,ina eynenses of waterworks, put w
amount s Is covered back into the tFe ,,.sli
from The receipts CT the water wor y,
Houston pays a private company !21,o'
a year for water. and that amount -
anal charge to general expenses ei see ,u,
q Ealveston appropriates S2S,poV per alnul
ra ne s,,nnorf Of sealy hospital and d
riysea net revenue Of $4,000. Houspu
,naLea No appropriatlon fer IKE purPos
Each ~ the cities has certain items
revenue exclusive of properly ,anes s a sa'
as rapItation taxes, revenues from ma
kets and the Ike Galveston osin .eso
revenue OF about 100000 from its ih'ei'
| In The wharf company.