The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-03-07


amounting in November last to more than
sl3s.O0o SO quickly wiped out that. within
three months after. the mayor in his mes
sage was able to refer 10 tho fact that It
had been liquidated? Where did the money
ne FROM Was the Illegal step taken
diverting such large amount from
ONE other fund to pay this floating debt
TO meet the political cxigencies of the
mayors message? n the public finances
are to be juggled in such manner the
matter is one of extreme public interest.
~
Suppose. for example. that this floating
debt had been paid by diverting or borrow
ing from the sewer fund and the paving
fund s13s,000. How long would the pub
lie have to wait for sewers and pavements,
that might be badly needed, before tho
general fund would present such a sur
plus as would permit of the repayment to
the special funds OF such a large amount
OF money?
And II, as has been the case within the
past few years. the city was embarrassed
to such an extent that no money was
available TO meet the current expenses.
the funds voted for public improvements
would be almost permanently depleted
large issues of bonds would be drawing
interest and slowly maturing while the
people were obtaining none of the benefits
from the improvements or comforts for
which this big permanent debt was incur
red.
"A financiering which borrows from Peter
to pay Paul and claims credit for genius
because Paul is paid, is species of leger-
domain that may do for an impecunious
and tricky individual but is the most dan
serous of all financial policies for a city
government. So dangerous in fact is this
plan of keeping up appearances and max
ing ends meet regarded in law, that IT
IS specifically prohibited.
II other funds have not been diverted to
wipe out the floating debt, how was this
debt so quickly paid? Where and how was
the money procured? Aud what has be-
come of the big sewer fund minus about
100000 accounted for? Can an admins
tration claim credit for fnanciering when
1t runs into extravagances and then only
meets these obligations by new ones, con
tracted through the process of "borrow-
ing" or diversion"
~
These are vital matters affecting all
classes of citizens and directly involving
the good credit OF the city. The questions
suggested have not yet been plainly, sue
clnctly or satisfactorily answered TO the
public. Neither juggery OF figures nor
iugglery Of words VIII suffice to fully meet
the demands OF natural and honest pub
lie curiosity when such issues as these
arise. The people ought to see the books"
and have solid facts.
~
It was one OF the boasts before the cleo
tion OF the present city government that
it would "straighten out the finances.
Has This boast been made good, even with
tho larger revenues arising from bach
taxes, etc? Is the public mind not now
worried and confused 10y the connictinl
ana inconsistent reports and messagel
.
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.r,,,.,an ioa,,- M ,,,h,,,oi,,ht
wien an s,,,oipistrat,or navs marc 40,
+ont,o,, % ,yord nolit,cs ana rAv,rdtn,
&c fo,,owers ana undorstr,l,ers than I,
ali o,he, ,,a+tera oon,hined wo can rarel,
bons n 400 clear. headed cold bloode
hns,ress rr,ncin,es nrcvaii IN banalin
snv ssnar,nent a, no vovor,ment p,vb
here IN toct q 10 no ,ouna tho over.
s,aao..,ra ona a,a. ,,,,,,oon, aa,,ro, :,
'pp pupiie in'eies'e '"a' '"'Ns III " i"e
a'oha'' ps'N''an po''''''i oi's soNeiuineh'
'A'''ona'isi" nse poeo TUG oreaeh ot n''
~ 'he present administrator ana upot
iao'''na','n u 'uo irose iu'o'o'ah' 'ha'
ao'ei - % uspenu'ph io' ne" tease
po"e'' 40
Jugglery is not business The mer,