Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1906-03-29


age Of taxation by sufreptltous trip I
Lansing, TO grease the ways for enabling
amendments without the knowledge OF
I per cent. of the voters.
4 And now. 10 be brief and explicit,
would suggest that, q suppose we are al
/ here 10 make suggestons) the way t
/ pay our running expenses and liquldat
our debts, is to follow, generally speaking
a progress along the lines herewith sub
mltted:
Pay nightwatch by private subscrip
tions and save $500 to the city thereby.
/ Cut off all park expenses except possl
bly, special officer Saturday afternoons
or Sundays in pleasant weather.
Cut off salaries of mayor and aldermen
Good men can be found who, for the priv
ilege of serving their city. will fill these
offices without money consideration, a
least under the present circumstances.
Sell the remaining half Of the city team
and dispense with the services OF tbs
driver
Employ a team owner or drayman ir
each ward to repair defects and wash
outs in the streets, and under direction o
the marshal.
Move the lock up on to the city lot, also
the hose house if moveable, saving there
by certain rental charges.
Increase the saloon license 81 rs year
making a gain to the city Of $500 and r
this connection would hold the number
down to four. To the best of my knowl-
edge and belief. the men now engaged ir
this business are law abiding citizens, anc
entitled to the protection and considera-
ton which they pay for; but as the busi-
ness in which they are engaged IS not a
necessity they ought TO pay small ad-
vance for the privilege of shutting out
competition.
Have bill rendered for every commod-
ty purchased. no matter how small, and
at the time the purchse is made this bill tc
he examined and checked by the chair
man of the claims committee and paid 10y
a city check, on order OF the proper offlc-
als, after the approval by the city COM
mittee, and bills filed in one safe place for
future reference, no bill to be honored by
the city unless IL contained the name OF
the person purchasing the goods,
Ascertain if the city council can legally
authorize by resolution, that the city clerk
borrow money on short time notes.
Ascertain if street lighting expenses can
be legally met by special assessments.
Authorize no more trunk sewer lines un-
I'll The floating debts are paid.
Ascertain II poll tax cannot be col
ected believe every citizen who has q
franchise ought to be willing to pay one
dollar per year for the privilege.
Stop all rebate payments on side walks,
at least for one year.
Save $4,000 per year for five years by
starting a sinking fund for the thirty year
bonds in 1911. This | acknowledge, is a
poor policy, .ut emergency requires heroic
treatment.
Opsn a popular subscription for thirty
Gays. the afno1nt subscribed 70 be used
70 defray the expenses of the city for the
ensuing fiscal year.
Appoint two well known accountants TO
plan and perfect set Of double entry
books, and compensate them for seeing
that the books are accurately used, and
for taking off balance sheet every thirty
days, and have the same published IN the
city papers. ! would suggest that accu-
rate accounting is the crying need of this
city at the present time.
Finally. believe that the city taxpayers
as whole. should finally resolve to live
inside our income, and pay our debts; hold
ing every expenditure down to the lowest
possible figure, making no public improve
ments beyond carrying out the sewer
work which is nov. contracted and keep
ing the streets and bridges safe for travel
until we are free from floating Indebted
ness.