The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-03-23
CITY FINANCE-TELE-
PHONES-SHOWINGS

anu City lHUeTeHtS are Cnemeb OF 30
much discussion on the streets,
and especially in the surrounding
cou ntry, that have been induced
to submit for publication a few
facts.
The revised ordinance of our
city, Sec. 6S, says:
"The board of aldermen shall
Semi-annually, in January and
July OF each year, make out and
spread upon their records, a full
and detailed account and state
ment OF the receipts and expendi-
lures and Indebtedness of the city
for the half year ending December
31st, and June 30th, preceding the
date of such report, which account
and statement may be published
in some newspaper in the CITY,"
This section of our ordinance is
an exact copy of Sec. 5912, of the
Revised Statutes of Missouri, un-
der which this city is organized
and governed. Both the law and
ordinance are compulsory, except
a to the publication of 6" such re-
port" in city paper. The board is
authorized to so publish it. There
can be no doubt as to the meaning
of the section.
A full and detailed account
q nd statement of the receipts and
expenditures" would show all the
money put in to the treasurp and
for what or on what it was paid;
and all the money paid out and
for what it was paid.
WhatIare our sources ofrevenue?
Don't we have real estate tax? A
personal property tax? A real es-
tate delinquent tax? "A personal
property delinquent tax? PEN
alties on delinquent tax
An ad-valorum tax? A street
tax? Have we tax on water
conducted into buildings? Is water
sold at the hydrant? A statement
showing the costs of material,
work, and repair on the well and
water fixtures, together with all
receipts for water might please
some of the people who pay the
bills. Such showing would be
attractive even to those who pay
their shares and mites but receive
no benefits from the system but
long for the introduction of reform
if not economy. Then too, 1t
might instruct, if not comfort,
those who may have sent their
children to the widely famed hand
pump at the we'll for small por-
toin of that cool, healthful water to
wet fevered brow or cool a parch-
ed tongue, and we are panied to
see the little ones return with emp
ty vessels or purchance little
water dipped from the tub where
horses, mules and cattle have ac-
cess. Time was, for years that
people arriving on trains late at
night would go to the pump for a
cup of the recuperative water be-
fore starting to their countryhomes
or even to their homes in this city.
Many coming to depart on early
trains enjoyed like Accommodations.
Stock men bringing Of loading
herds for shipment at night, and
farmers delivering oats and wheat
in summer nights tanked up at the
pump. Then they thought it a
benefit to live near a good town
governed by wise men. Now they
know it. That favorite we'll which
cost so much money and COM
forted SO many people that it
oould not be estimated in dollars
and cents was allowed to become
unservicable to the public for a
long time has been loss to those
who appreciated it so highly.
People say they heard positive
pledges that it should be put in
order and restored to use If q GER
tain election was carried affirma-
lively. And some of them will
hereafter require bonds with good
security in GASES of such men.
Pledges may not be available next
time.
But I am talking about revenue.
A source of revenue may be oc-
casioned by the sales OF filing,
brick, old lumber or damaged