Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-21
BunaIInr Of CIV Flnnnoes.

Already the City Council has borrowed
$4,000 for the purpose Of meeting the
current expenses Of the fiscal year ending
on June 8Oth and at Thursday night 5
meeting, an ordinance providing for a
similar loan was introduced and given
two readings. The amount will not be
specified in the ordinance until It's final
reading, but it is generally understood
that it viii be $4,000. This will make
a total Of $4,000 illegally borrowed by
the City Council for tho purpose Of pro-
viding for the expenses Of tho current
fiscal year. The result Of these two trans
actions, therefore, will be an illegally con-
tracted floating debt Of Ss5,0O0.
We say "illegally contracted" In this
connection, because, under the provisions
OF the city charter, the City Council has
no right 10 create a dollar Of floating in
dehtedness. The duty Is specifically en-
joined upon II 70 raise, by taxation and
from other sources, sufficient money 10
conduct the affairs Of tho city govern
ment for tho entire fiscal yoar upon a
strictly cash basis. This Is not only the
letter of tho law, but Il is It's positive
intent. For at the time Of is enactment
the city was tangled financially just as
Il is now, although not 10 such an extent,
and the law, after providing temporary
means Of relief, specifically ordained that
hereafter the City Council should not con-
tract a dollar of floating indebtedness in
this manner
lt may be asked; How docs tho City
Council seek TO evado this positive in
junction against borrowing money for
current expenses We answer, by a
subterfuge "a silly subterfuge that should
not deceive a child, much less men of
years and discretion. There is provision
in the city charter which aims TO guard
the city against the danger Of being left
helpless In the face Of grave emergency,
under which a temporary loan may be
effected with the proviso that it must be
paid out Of the receipts Of the fiscal year
next ensuing. That provision Is as fol-
lows; "Should some extraordinary occasion
occur, not anticipated at the passage OF
itho General Appropriation ordinance, and
further provision be required in addition
70 the appropriations TO be made as the last
stated meeting in May, as aforesaid, an
ordinance may be introduced making
such further provisions and setting forth
the extraordinary occasion for the same. '
Provision is further made by which thi,
ordinance may be enacted by a two-third,
vote. And this proper enactment is ad.
vanced as 10 justification for Council,
illegal proceeding.
Under the law, It will be seen, Il is in.
cumbent upon City Council to set forth
the extraordinary occasion not antici
pated at the passage Of the General Ap
priation Ordinance as a justification fol
borrowing money. And how does il d,
this in the pending ordinance ? An ex
tract from lis preamble will answer thi
question: "Whereas, Owing TO a defcienc,
in the revenues of the city of Wilmington
for the fiscal year beginning on the lst DAY
of July, 1905, and not anticipated at Oh,
passage Of the General Appropriation
Ordinance passed on the 25th Of Nav
1905, and due chiefly 70 outstanding taxes
a portion of which are in process of settle
ment and a portion Of which are in hti
cation, which causes have made ID i'm
possible 70 collect the same; and to tn
payment Of several bills, the payment O
which has not anticipated at the passag
of the said General Appropriation Ordi
nance, the city Of Wilmington has no
sufficient money in its treasury to NEE
the appropriation heretofore made by tn
following item; Incidental and miscel
laneous account; and, Whereas, This
an extraordinary occasion, not antici
pated at the passage Of the said Genera
Appropriation Ordinance, whereby furthe
provision is required" " &c.
Now, plainly and uneouivocally speak
ing, this declaration is a lie upon its fac,
When the General Appropriation Ord
nance for the current fiscal year wa
passed, in May last, the City Counci
instead Of being in ignorance, aa set fort