The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-14
valuation is ss2, ,,s2.So This is the ac.

valuation Is $s2, ,5s2,soo This Is the ac-
tual cash value.
Allegheny's $50, $50. 500 worth OF prop
erty paid last year si,453,173. 3.89 in city,
poor and school taxes.
SOME COMPARISONS.
scranton's s7oOOO.0OO worth of prop.
cray in that that same period paid In
the same taxes $105,557.S2.
with u valuation exceeding OURS by
only twelve and one-half millions AL
legheny pays twice as much taxes az
we do.
Allegheny also paid a business tax OF
$2T, 1864 last year. Scranton has no
tax on business.
Allegheny's bonded Indebtedness is
sA,582. .44O.l5 THAT of Scranton Is $780,
1Ol.95 The net indebtedness SO is given IN
each instance-.the net Indebtedness be-
ing the gross amount of outstanding
bonds minus the securities held by the
sinking fund commission.
OF course no one has license to say
that the impending change in classi-
hcation is going to Increase Scranton's
taxes and Indebtedness to make IL pro-
portiona1ly commensurate with that of
Allegheny. This. however. can be said:
The change in classification will open
the way to increased taxes and debt.
AS explained above. the present con-
ditions in Scranton make It practically
impossible for the councils to raise
more revenue. Proof Of this In found
in the fact that for the last ten years.
each succeeding estimates committee
has had TO wrestle for weeks with the
problem Of meeting about half a million
dollars of demands with about a quar-
ter of a million resources. IF it was
possible to get more money, 1t can be
relied upon that the councilmen would
not let their pet schemes die year after
year by the wholesale for want of an
appropriation. But further comment
on this point is unnecessary. 1t can
be taken for granted that under present
conditions taxes on real estate cannot
be increased.
With the new system of valuation.
though. the conditions which now cheek
councils are wholly wanting. The val
uation would go up to $7O,OO0.00O on
an actual cash valuation, such as is
prescribed by the law. Say that $50
600 900 of this would be found to be
city property; $4,000 900 suburban
property. and S15.OOO00O agricultural
This would mean that $780,.
900 900 at the full assessment: S25, 100000
at two-thirds assessment. and Sl5,-
900 900 at q One-third assessment would
give us an actual valua ton Of $40,
OU0, 900 plus SIG 66f. G61 plus $s.333. 3233 or
S5. 900. 900.
AYE HERES THE RUB.
TO keep the city tax approximately
where 1t is at present the levy of ten
mills would have to be cut down to five
and one-third mills. With school and
poor tax the same proportionate cut
would have TO be made. But will the
sllapers of tax destinies do this? For
ten years councils have each year at
time cried out bitterly
against the conditions which prevented
them from getting more money With
the opportunity of getting this anx-
iously sought increase in receipts by
from cutting down the levy
to 5 1-3 mills. and contenting them
selves with cutting to seven mills or
eight mills. will the councils shut their |
eyes to the possibilities of the case and
go on year after year for ten more !
years to come crying out bitterly be- |
cause they can't get more money, or
will they cease their crying, wipe their |,
ayes and. ioinig with the bard in 1--WE !
waited money. waited long for thee
proceed to gorge themselves to the |
fullest limit their Judgment tells them |
the people will stand for?
AS is held by several of The Trib- |
mes correspondents who view the APP !
transition with optimistic |
glasses. ''it all depends on the men," If |
The city officials will practice rigid
Scranton can be governed |
lutte as cheaply in the second class as
t can in the third
In n nutshell it Is thus; Scranton's
cannot at present increase
axes no matter how much they want |
o do SO. Under a. second class city
,harter it is readily possible for them
o greatly increase taxes. Councilmen
nave for years complained of insuffi-
,ient revenues. With the opportunity
If securing more revenue will they per-
nit their cause of complaint to con-
inue"
Fancy Leather Bags. Reynolds Bros.