River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-04-01

Knowles SIS, sol. 80 of general funds,
The funds of the city consist of
general funds which can be used for
general city purposes and also wat
er works, water power and electric
light funds; the last being funds
raised for payment of bonds as the
same fall due, and not available for
general purposes. No taxes were
ever levied for a bridge building
fund, but the City Fathers, prior to
April, 1908, had accumulated money
iii the general fund, by careful econ
omy, available for use in building a
bridge, and this fund was on hand
when the Council of 1908-1909 took
their seats and must be the fund
from which the expenditures set
forth in such article were made. AS
there was no other fund available
the taxes of 1908 were levied and
certificates of Indebtedness immedi-
ately issued against the same.
Third. The writer states, eve
have lost the $4,000 saloon revenue
and yet the tax rate this year was
but $2.47 on the 500 as against
$2.42 last year"
In quoting the rate the school,
state and and county taxes are in
Guided. AS we know the school tax
for 1907 was one mill higher than
for 1908, this is misleading and un-
fair. In 1906 the City Council levied
city tax for general purposes of
$4,000; in 1907, $4,000; total for the
two years Immediately proceeding
1908 of $4,000 for general purposes.
In 1908 the Council levied a tax of
$4,000 for general purposes; equal
to the levy of the preceding two
years; 6625 per cent. more than the
tax of 1907; one and one-half times
as great as the levy of 1906. The
increase is apparent to the eye.
Fourth. The writer states: "Be-
sides, the treasurer will close the
fiscal year with about $4,000 more
on hand than he began the year
with"
An examination of the City Treas
urer's books show that the treasur-
er received from the outgoing treas
urer as general fund, the sum of
$13, 501.3O. The treasurer reported
TO me on the 25th inst. that there
was on hand in the general fund the
sum of $2,207-a decrease in the
general fund of 81, 294.3O.
Upon the circulation of such
pamphlet, l publicly stated on the
streets of the City, that the article
was incorrect, in that there was
ST., 900 less money in the treasury
at the present time than when the
old Council went out. Such state
ment seems to have aroused the
animosity of the author or authors
of such pamphlet, as there is now
being circulated in this city an un-
signed pamphlet, containing modi-
fed statement of the City's business,
which said modified statement, as
have above shown, is misleading
and incorrect in many particulars,
in addition to which the following
is added:
1.-The story recently circulated
through the city that there IS
$4,000 loan still unpaid, and that
the city is about $11, 100000 behind
in it's finances for the past year,
should be branded as dual-headed
whiskey subterfuge given for the
express purpose of deceiving the
public"
AS this last statement seems to
have been woven by the writer with
easy facility from my remark that
the first article was incorrect, IN
that there was $11 900 less money in
the treasury at the present time
than when the old Council went out,
in Justice to myself and to the
voters of the city l respectfully
present this article for your con-
sideration, and ask that you COM
pare the same with the records in
the Clerks office and judge there
from AS to the truth of my state
ments as compared with the state
ments made in the two unsigned
pamphlets. Yours truly,
w. F. Houston.
Yet five days, and then election.
T., 4ba avniter1e1t over local m alters