The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-06
COMPTROLLER URGES
REVENUE INCREASE,
Mr. Player and His Predecessor,
Mr.. Sturgeon. Agree Oh Needs
of st. Louis.
ESTIMATED DEFICIENCY LARGE.
Expenses Declared Absolutely Nee
essary for the Next Year Are
$S99, 42y.H7 in Excess of
the Income Expected.

The annual report OF Comptroller James
I. Player. embodying the report of former
Comptroller Isaac H. Sturgeon. was trans
mitted yesterday to the Municipal Assembly.
Already the pamphlet Is elicitng particular
interest. principally in consequence Of the
independent agreement between the new and
the retiring fiscal officials in regard to the
remedies for bringing about salufary condi-
tions in municipal finances
Mr. Players portion of the report deals
primarily with the present and the future,
illustrating by an array of figures and con-
ditions that the revenue will be inadequate,
even under congenial circumstances. for the
actual current requirements Of the New st.
Louis. Delving into the philosophy Of his
subject. he draws attention to the restric-
lions binding st. Louis to narrow confines
of authority. and urges the necessity for
constitutional and Charter amendments.
Basing his conclusions on the past, Mr..
Sturgeon advances the same argument. and
insists. in strenuous terms. that the true
interests of the city demand the cons;itu-
tional and Charter amendments Further
more. MIR. Sturgeon indicates that the city.
in his opinion. Is Obliged to endure certain
expenses that should be borne by the State.
Messrs. Player and Sturgeon explain in de-
tail how the municipality Is hampered Ia
It's prerogatives by being compelled to exer-
else the functions of county without tine
additional income to which a county Is En-
titled
Estinsated Receipts and Expenses.
MIR. Player estimates that the receipts
this year. from all sources. Will aggregate
current expenses is estimated at $sSSs.s42.0s
a deficiency of 1888. 4e9. q. The estimated
increase III revenue was $780, 00. Since the
report went TO press the estimated increase
was augmented to $s26.5l6. g.. TO be derived
as follows: From taxes. $105. 619. "a: ta1 on
foreign insurance companies. &41.6S 81: IL
censes. sli5.eVo; franchises. S2i.oo0. and INES.
ETC.. 10000.
The harbor and wharf fund and the in
terest and public debt fund are adequate.
The following paragraph Ii devoted to Wa;
terworks revenue: The amount available
for appropriation from Waterw0rks revenue
Is estimated at &. SIS. Ss3.si. After providing
works and cost of collecting the revenue
there will remain So. 406 OIL for new WORK.
such as extending the distribution system.
OF the works. and provide for furnishing
pure, wholesome water. OF course. there
woHd not be sufficient revenue to complete
works and build filtration plant in one
year. But 1t is probable that money could
be furnished as fast as the work could be
done-at least so fist as not to materially
The expenditures. Mr.. Player explains.
are OF three classes. namely. those that are
Imposed by statute. by contract and by I'M
perative necessity. The first class require.
g 2sS. 2sl. 81 and the second class R62S $50 le.
aggregatinG A9I7. 1G 10. Thus only $780,
0s6. 10 remains for sewers. streets and the ex-
ercise of general municipal functions This
amount. he asserts. would be insufficient
for streets alone IL properly improved and
cared for as they should be-"
1T Is necessary. the report continues.
ito recognize the fact that the needs Of the
city cannot be met by econOmizinE. Some
little. but only little. can be done In this
inn only in, vzrht Ot, hn
plorable condition of the city can be
changed is by removing. TO some. extent.
the severe restrictions of the Constitution
taxation and incurring debt. and removing
existing barriers relating to public Inn
proyements."