The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-11

cities. A city that is spending more
should curtail expenses, he said.
In beginning, Alderman Dixon said:
My subject presents the most inn
portant and far reaching problem that
sponsibility of directing municipal af-
fairs. That it should be correctly
solved is equally imperative to small
municipalities of meagre income, as
to the more rich and populous cities.
Assuming that all expenditures are
honestly and economically made. the
public funds should be scientifically
pose of:
For Two Purposes.
First. Maintaining the government,
that is. providing for the conduct Of
the regular departments for the pro-
lection of health, life, and property,
and the proper care of the highways,
etc, and
Second. Providing such improve
ments as will keep the municipality
abreast, or, If possible, ahead of others
in the march of progress, including
i'm this category street paving, sewer
age, parks and squares and all other
adjuncts of civilized urban life that
tends to promote comfort convenience,
health and general business interests
In other words, the public revenues
at the command of the municipal Of
ficers should be properly apportioned
between running expenses and better
ments.
Such a natural division of the in
come results not only i'm well govern
ed city, but eventually furnishes to its
citizens, without an exorbitant rate
of taxation, every convenience deemed
necessary in this day, and at the same
time provides in advance of it's ac-
tual needs for it's future growth and
development.
Public improvements should not lag
behind the actual progress of the city,
They should be ahead of and actually
lead In the onward march Those cities
are not unwise that lay water mains
and pave highways beyond the thick
ly built up sections. They know that
such improvements tend in themselves
to rapidly build up the territory
through which they go.
Congestion of Improvements.
A congestion Of improvements in a
few favored localities of a city is not
only calculated to create justifiable dis
satisfaction among citizens, but is un-
wise from a business standpoint.
Public Improvements that tend 10
broaden the built-up area OF the city
and increase property values i'm new
districts tend to swell the city's in
come, something that is never to be
ignored where the public demands are
in excess Of the public funds. as Is gen
orally the case in growing American
cities.
The gross revenues Of municipalities
may differ largely in amounts. The
income of the small city or town may be
thousands or millions less than that OF
an adjoining city, yet the problem OF
revenues and expenditures is the same
TO both. The same methods must be
applied in the management Of a small
as OF a large business IL continued pros
perity is expected. And a municipal
government Is nothing but a business
proposition when reduced TO its last
analysis.
The experience Of one city in ham
ding the funds at its command is nee
essarily Of value to all other communi-
ties, establishing standards OF comp8r-
ison that are not only Of interest, but
OF positive value TO students Of NUM-
cipal governments and those into
whose hands have been entrusted the
management Of their complex affairs.
same Sources of Incomes.
In an communities Of one state q Is
probable that investigation would dis
close that the sources OF income are
practically the same, and that about
the same proportion OF revenue 10 de-
rived from each.
The percentages OF expenditures Ia