The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-05
Assistant Comptroller Gabel Elk. /,
plains the City's Dire Finan-
cial Straits.
REVENUE NEARLY ALL PLACED
Collection of Delinquent Taxes Not
Likely to Afford Much Re
lef-Plans for Rcduc-
ing Expenses.


been wrestling with the maze OF facts and
figures incident to the making up OF the
general appropriation bill for several weeks
Vest erday Mr.. Gabsl made this statement
of the status of the city's financial affairs:
THE amount Of revenue, estimated for
the year. is s5.5s4.029.sS. of this sum all bat
81. 055. has been appropriated or set asids
and Yet there has been nothing appropri-
ated for streets and parks for the fiscal
year. There are no other funds available
except the unexpended balances fsom the
appropriations made last year. Before these
balances or any of them can be made
available for appropriation this year GER
tain ordinances must be repealed. Certain
of these balances cannot be made svasla-
be, for the reason that contracts have been
let under the ordinances which made the
appropriations. Last year We expended
s2i20'o for cleaning streets. In order to
get any money for that work out OF the
estimated revenue, II will be necessary for
the Municipal Assembly TO wipe out some
of the departments The only other way to
get money for cleaning streets is TO repeal
the ordinances making arpTopria; ons last
year in which there remain unexpendea
balances.
There seems to be a lack of proper IN.
Outstanding of the question of collection Of
back taxes. There are 81. go coo due the city
IN delinquent taxes or this amount about
sJs0e1o are taxes on real property. and IL
is estimated that about SIS 0o5 will be col
lected. II is not possible to s-e on the back
taxes Of last year before January 1. 1901.
and as It would require some time to col
lect judgments in those suits. the city cam
not expect any relief from the prosecu-
ton Of delinquent taxes of last year.
Back Taxes Hard to Collect.
"As for the preceding years. II Is neces-
ssry to make this explanation The del
linQuent taxes grow less and less each sue
ceedng year until the fifth year. This be-
ing the last year IN which the city can
bring suit for the delinquent taxes. il ia
marked by a great slump in the amount
Of delinquent taxes ior the year referred
to. Now. it is an established fact that the
delinquent taxes for any given year grow
steadily less year BIZ year until the fifth
year. when they are finally paid voluntarily
collected on judgments in the courts
TO sue on these cases before the nth
year would require the expenditure by the
city OF large sums OF money for costs be-
fore judgments could ne secured and col
Iected. Hence, the unfeasibility OF the idea
that relief could be obtained from the pres
ent financial strIHsency OF the municipality
BY bringing suit on all de.in9s~ne tax Bills.
Instead of securing more money thereby
with which TO meet the demands OF the
present. the city would be obliged TO pro-
vide money for the prosecutor of those
suits. and tiae chances are that very little
of 1t would come back into the treasury
during this fiscal year. The collection Of
the delinquent taxes on personal property
would be very difficult in any event.
Councilman Hodges, chairman OF the
yl-x~a
opinion that the city will pe Obliged to use
all the unexpended balances left over from
the app.o priations last year anu may
have TO use the hospital fund To get money
10 carry on the current expenses OF ths
city.
4 am as much opposed 10 that as any
man III the Assembly said Mr Hodges,
but IL is not d question OF sentiment; but
Of necessity. The city's streets must oe
cleaned and kept up. The money must bs
secured to pay the expense of cleaning
Il EN-. II 1t cannot be secured otherwise.
the hospital fund will have to go into the
+ ole"
Views Of Councilman.
Councilman kratz is fearful that all the
revenue for the present fiscal
'ear will not be appropriated. AT the last
,e ssion of the Council. when the appropria-
ion bill was discussed at length, he said
70 Mr.. Gabei: lis all the estimated revenue
or The year appropriated in this bill. with
he exception OF the $1,000 you speak Of!
Yes. SIR replied Mr.. GabeL
"And you are sure there are not two or
hree hundred dollars more lying Ground
said Mr.. Kratz- To which the
Deputy Comptroller replied that he Wa
urc there were not.
Councilman Richards Is a strong exponent
II retrenchment. Ii Is his opinion that
hearty all the department appropriations
or expense accounts can be cut Tore or
ess ana that when the heads Of the de-
ind their appropriations tor this
tenn materially reduced they will ind ways
o reduce their expenses which are at pres
mt hidden from them. Nearly al the cuts
when have been made by fEe Council
ar have been made on motion of AIR. Rich
rds
Councilman Horizons policy Is &c appro-
riate more for each department than
fas appropriated last year. generally speak
ng. and when there is doubt as to the 4
mount which will be actually needed by
na teraily and make up any deficit with a
alter. when the city's financial condition
ill be more clearly defined. Councilman
lodges declares this policy to be rothing
lore tnan a method of procrastinstion, CAL
uiated to work Injury to the city without
nording any real relief.
Councilman Carroll Is the optimist OF the
ouncil he declares that IL Is ridiculous 10
ak calamity when the city has slslO00o
lming 10 IL in back taxes.
Il am In favor of getting after those &C.
rquent tax ayers with sharp stick" Re
aid. "and thereby obtaining the funds
eeded 20 make up the deficit In the reve-