The Washington herald., 1909-07-20
FIXED TAX RATE
CAUSE OF TROUBLE
Charleston Cannot Raise 1t
to Meet Expenses.
LAW LIMITS TO So CENTS
Prohibition Deprived City of Large
Revenue, and board OF Affairs Can
not Raise Tax Rate to Meet Dehcit.
"Wets" Claim City Faces bank
ruptcy--Drys" Say "E1aEEeration.o

Charleston, w. Va. July 1s-In the
midst OF prosperity and marvellous
growth that .trebled the population in
ten years this municipality faces bank
ruptcy.
With total property valuation OF $sO,-
100000, the board OF affairs OF the civ
states that there are not enough funds
In sight to run the city. and IN an ef-
fort to stave or bankruptcy has ordered
the city street lights turned or. has re-
duced the police force and the fire de-
partment to such an extent that life and
property are in danger, and has even laid
hands upon the health and cemetery de-
partments
The $1,000 residents OF Charleston are
now wrestling with the strangest prob
lem that ever confronted an American
municipality, and the eyes OF the coun-
try are upon them in their dilemma.
which prohibition brought about
The state legislature forbids the tax
loyy from being mere than 50 cents on
$lO0 The recent victory at the polls OF
the 'drys' has taken from the city the
usual revenue from saloon licenses This
is the crux OF the situation.
Can Charleston pay its running debts
and interests on bonds without the aid OF
the saloon license while the State law
limits the tax levy to So cents?
Says Town Is Broke
The board OF affairs says not. and or
dered the city lights cut or after July
j.. and pared down the police. street.
fire. health and cemetery departments
below the point OF efficiency, according
60 the belief OF ell parties TO the contro-
versy The cut amounts to a saving Of
S6s,36O.
On the other hand. a great many per-
sons, especially the "drys." say the
board OF affairs Is not competent TO run
the city and should step down and out
They vigorously resent the imputation
that the city cannot he run, current ex-
penses paid. interest on debt taken care
OF without issuing liquor licenses.
Al a meeting OF the Civic League OF
Charleston-an organization formed to
help officials carry out prohibition IN the
city-COuncilman Wertz made the state
ment that the board or affairs had asked
the council 10 cut or $4,000 OF the es-
tlmated expenses TO make up for the
10000 lost by failure TO issue liquor II
censes; that the council cut of $4,000.
or $4,000 more than the board OF Affairs
asked. Later when the board OF affairs
fixed its salaries al $1,000 each, and the
council pared them down to 81 200 each.
the board came back with the PROPOSE
ton that $65.S70 more must be cut. and
the lights 20 out. and all the depart
ments trimmed down.
"ExaREeratiOn,, Says Opponents.
To many. knowing that the board of
affairs IS in favor OF granting licenses. Il /
appears that the body is exaggerating
and trying 10 make them worse
than they really are in order to force
license.
Between the two contentious II is hard
10 find the actual facts, for figures seem
to be very elusive things when handled
by different persons.
In a public address the other night
former Mayor John B. Floyd calculated
from the police records under the wet |
regime and so far under the dry
regime that the saving in lookup keep
Ing expenses and a police force not overly /
reduced would come within $1,000 OF maxi I
Ing UP the deficiency caused by the fail /
uTe TO grant licenses.
The contention is made by those who 1
do not agree with the board OF affairs /
that the city must first pay It's current 4
expenses with the funds at hand. and then /
let the creditors proceed by mandamUs, /
the board Of affairs 10 lay an /
extra levy for the purpose OF providing /
for interest on the debt. &C, in which 1
,ase. the legislative prohibition OF a levy
above S5 cents would be imperative. as /
was held in case Of town in the south \
sru section Of the State, in which the /
council laid the levy up 10 the legislative /
limit for current expenses and made no /
provision for paying the debt Of the town, |
the court holding that the legislature
could not violate the obligation OF a con /
.ract.