The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-12-01
NUMBER WILL BE REDUCED
Finances Of the City Are
Too Low.
Council Docs Not Agree With Auditor
Elllott's Figures, and May Refuse
to Enter Into Contract for the
Retention OF tho Sun yapor Gas
Lights.

lncandescent Light company, the gas
lights over the city burned for the
last time tuesday evening The con-
tract expired last evening and to all
appearances there is no money in
the city treasury with whb1h to pay
Tor the lights during the coming year
II a new contract is made.
The City Council held special
meeting to discuss the situation and
members OF the service board were
III attendance. During the progress OF
the the meeting councilman Benja-
min NAPLES, of the finance committee
declared that there was no money at
hand and that none would be coming
in next year to allow expenditures
on the same basis as this year.
DR.. J.. q. Setter, chairman of the
hnance committee of the Coum.il was
the first 20 be called upon by Chair
man Randall, who presided in the alb
sence of President 5. X. Rauhauser.
lie stated that he had gone over the
situation carefully and that ne had
found practically the same figures In
the matter as City Auditor Harry
s. Elliott, who thinks that there WILL
be sufficient moncy coming in next
year to allow ali the ordinary ex-
penses and that the lights may be
paid for. DIR. Setter sad that there
would be some money IN the other
funds but very little IN the service
fund which would be ABOUT $4,000
short at the end of the year. He
seemed to think that there would be
enough money IN the appropriation to
pay for the lights but advocated cut
ting down the number of them over
the city.
I'VE must know whether we can
get the money during next year
said Councilman NAPLES. I'VE must
know definitely whether the money
is coming IN and / know that unless
something ran be cut OFF IN our ex-
penses there will be no money COM
ing in Tor lights and challenge
anyone 10 tell me differently. | have
gone over the books of the auditor
and | know that the money is not
coming n next year If we keep up
our expenses at the present rate. You
gNntlemen. must think about what
we can let go of and spend that
money tor gas lights"
When Mr.. NAPLES took issue with
the statements OF the chairman OF
the finance committee and the audi
or. the latter declared that he had
also gone over the books and that
these could not lie in the matter, Mr..
Elliott states thatthe tax duplicate for
next year Will amount TO over 81
OO0, 100000 and that II the expenses
of the city are conducted next year
in the same manner as they have
been conducted this year that there
will be a shortage OF less than $4,000
in the service fund and that things
may be arranged by the Council so
that this deficiency may be done
away with by rearranging the money
in the separate funds.
The council present seemed to feel
that Mr.. NAPLES knew what he was
talking about and no one accepted his
challenge
I'VE must do away with something
IN order to cut down expenses said
Mr.. NAPLES Tine money VIII not
be coming IN" he declared with en-
phasis.
NAPLES stated that municipalities
may not borrow money for running
expenses and that every city mus'
1--we within ITS income. Marion has
not the money coming in next year
to pay Tor All OF the expenses oi
the city and something must be done
or the city Will be overwhelmed
with debt.
How would 1t be II we could sci
park or two?' asked j. c. Anthony
member OF the board of service.
NAPLES showed how that the none,
could not be used for the expenses oI
the city I park was sold.
Presid aat F. A. 4sslieb, OF thu
board OF service, stated that the ex
penses az the city parks could b'
cut down next year and saving o
about $500 could be effected. Thu
would mean that the work of Addi
son Balm, as superintendent OF park
must be done away with and tina
all work be discontinued at all OF th'
city parks.
DIR. j. - Setter gave a talk upol
the probabilities OF rutting down tn
expenses of the city and he though
that 1t would be a difficult matte
IN many particulars. I'VE have a 10
OF water mains an this city whicl
ought never to have been laid h'
said. They cost us each sfoo pc
year. We have many electric light
these are liked expenses which W
cannot wei get away from
During the early part OF the meet
ing last evening the members labor
ed under the impression that tn
contract could not be legally entere'
into with the gas company whel