The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-09-30

The present condition of city
financial affairs is due to an as
tonishing lack of system and bust
ness prudence in disbursing APP
preparations by city hall depart
ments.
The rule has been to proceed
with the expenditure of funds al
lowed departments by the council
and when the appropriation was
exhausted to run along as far as
possible and then apply for de-
ficiency appropriations. Apparent
ly there has been little considera-
ton given the final reckoning for
such a course and the result de-
velops in the present demand for
twice as much money to spend
this year.
Instead Of carefully holding
down expenses to authorized limits
and meeting increasing, expenses
with a gradual increase of allow
ance each year the city's financial
administration has run along on
hand to mouth policy until
100 per cent increase is demanded
all at once to make up for past
deficiencies and care for future
eXigencies.
A most glaring lack of knowl-
edge of city finances on the part
of officials at the city hall has
been more clearly illustrated in
this matter of estimates filed for
the coming years expenses than in
anything that has presented itself
for some time.
1t is difficult to obtain any defin-
lite knowledge as to the why's and
wherefores for the increases other
than the simple statement that
4 We did not have enough money
this year" Hence the desire to
make it big enough next year.
When the allowances made for
deficiencies are taken into consid-
Grafton it will be found that the
city has expended this year over
100000 more than was appro-
priated by the city council last fall
in making the tax levy. The pres
ent rate of increase of expendi-
lures In the different departments
need not grow very much to bring
the total up to that asked by the
heads of departments for next
year.
Heretofore the city officials have
always had their acquisitions al
most cut in twain, and following
this old method of estimating ex-
penses have come in again this year
on the same basis.
Mayor Moore this morning began
work OH the checking up and re-
vision of the estimates Of city Of
ficials, as requested by the city
council last night. He had not yet
gone into the larger estimates and
was unprepared to state what
changes would be necessary. The
Mayor thinks that the growth of
the city needs increases and addi-
tions In some parts to care for the
business properly, and these he will
recommend. While he favors set
ting aside enough money for all
departments, run on conserva-
tive basis, he does not care to
make the taxes too burdensome for
the citizens.
Mayor Moore will be engaged on
the work of revising the estimates
for week, at least, during which
time the he7ds OF the various de-
partments Will be called upon to
show cause for the increases asked.
The defense of city officials for
expense estimates that call for
double the amount used last year
Is that property has heretofore
been assessed so low in Spokane
that when the valuations are
brought to the proper figure and
enough money Is sought to be
raised to run the city unreasonable
objection develops.
The contention is made further
that Spokane has been very nicely
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