The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-02

by the council.
A hard fight was made by Park Com
missioners Wilder, Holman and Downs
for an increase of the park levy from 1a
to 1 mill, but it was decided that for
this year the parks will have to wait
while the city is trying to pull itself
out of the ruts in which it was left by
the disastrous experiment with Hughes
ism.
The raise in the levy will put the city
back on it's feet as far as N Getting its
interest charges and maturing bonds
are concerned. That is all. 1t will
not help to pay current expenses. The
funds from which current expenses are
paid is limited to total Of IL mills, and
the limit is reached. The only way to
make up the $50, 900 annual deficit in
: current expenses is by rigid economy
and by increasing the income which the
IN DEPLORABLE CONDITION.
Today the city of Topeka has on hand
to pay its current expenses from now
1928. This is the actual balance in the
bank, provided outstanding warrants
are paid.
The following statement of the pres
furnished by City Treasurer NJ. M.
Hale:
Balance on hand from last month. .$16 a04. "a
Received from From o CO. treasure Jviy
Paid out for June bill. s sIs 60 sss 3
Balance on hand .s14 oee2 %
Due to banks outstanding war
rants ....-.... -. -..-..--...-..--... I4U0.W
Actual cash on hand for current
expenses ......................$ 99.2S
Note this point, however: The city
treasurer's report for August will show
the city's cash balance available for
current expenses to be about $4,000
more than $685. This is for the purpose
of a zfraO yyb do rnf
stand think that the city has plenty
of money for current expenses. 1t is
called keeping the credit of the city
good" The secret of the case is that
the 1000 which the city will officially
claim to have in the bank is offset by
$4,000 worth of outstanding and unpaid
city warrants
HOW THE TROUBLE STARTED.
The city treasurer is not to blame for
this Misrepresentation of the city's
financial condition. The fault is with
the system. 1t is said that about five
years ago the city found that it had a
small deficit in current expenses. To
keep people from knowing that the city
was running behind, quiet little ar.
rangement was made with one of the
banks to pay the city's warrants just
as though the city had money on de-
post, and collect the warrants, with
interest, when the next taxes came in.
Just as a dishonest clerk borrows
from the till and makes false entry
money before the Justification is discov-
cred, so the city officials borrowed
money from the bank, contrary to law,
and misrepresented the real conditions
by means of the city treasurers report.
The city treasurer merely acted under
instructions from some committee from
the codncil. But instead of catching up
with ITSELF and making good the de-
felt, the city kept getting deeper and
deeper in arrears on it's current ex-
penses. Councilmen and city officials
violated their oaths of Office and laid
themselves liable to criminal Drosecu-
ton. Money was transferred by act of
council from one fund to another, to
bolster up the city treasurer's report.
The law is plain. 1t says, in enumerat-
ing the powers of the mayor and coun-
Gil: (Chap IS, Art. 3, Gen. Statutes.)
ITO appropriate money and provide
for curren expenses of the city: pro-
vided that no Indebtedness shall be in
CURED, or order or warrant. or evil
dence of Indebtedness of the city shall
be drawn or issued on the treasurer in
payment of any Indebtedness to exceed
the amount of funds on hand In the
treasury at the time
Since this unlawful custom became
part of the city's financial policy. it is
not much wonder that the mayor and
council have been afraid to Investigate
too closely the question of city fnan-
ces.
The present mayor and council de-
ling the problems, and should be given
an opportunity to prove that they are
in earnest.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Apparently the only thing the city
can do now is to continue the "secret
alliance with the banks for a time.
and at the same time make determin-
ed and resolute effort to save money on
current expenses. The first part is easy.
1t is doubtful whether the council will
do the latter. Politics get in the way.
At the committee meeting last night,
Councilman Swendson, Councilman Neil
and Councilman Blaneh voted in favor
of a favorable report on the proposed
ordinance carrying a 5000 increase on
the salary of the city physician Coun-
Gilman Howe and Councilman Griley
voted against it. Nobody denies that the
city physician ought to have more pay,
the city physician should not be grant
ed an increase now. It will undo all
the good resolutions concerning econ