The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-03-22

tlemen pointed out that Mr.. Smiths
position was untenable; that he was
wrong in contendlng that. becaus'
the city's bonded debt Is a mere trltlt
and because its floating debt is
thing of many years growth, and be
cause the practice of issuing all man
ner of interest bearing paper q
meet the running expenses of the city
had been a common practice fol
years. therefore little or no concern
need be felt over the city's financial
con lition now II was shown that
the citys bonded dabt past or pres
ent had nothing to do with the case.
that the city's great ana increased
property wealth as an offset TO its
floating debt had nothing to do with
| the case that i was not the city. but
| the city government which is in dis
/ trcss. that the issuing OF anticipation
warrants and certificates of indebted
ness had increased to such an extent
that on the first day of next January
The city will probably have reached the
end Of that string and will be utterly
helpless unless something is done be-
fore that time: that It's paper even
now is being discounted at the
banks; that the city pays out from
$1,000 TO $4,000 in interest on Dor
rowed money every year which It'll
ought to save; that the city is prac
tically one year behind in its running
expenses with not the slightest hope
of being able to recoup itself under
existing laws and ordinances; that
the city needs badly an extended |
and improved service in its various
departments. having greatly out |
grown the service il has had for
thirty years past and that 1t can not |
get a dollar fer that purpose unless
its revenue is increased.
We are told that there is no need |
of hasty action Certainly not. What
ever is done NAV be deliberately
done. but it should be done in ample
time SO that the stale old argument
Of taking "snap-iudgment' on the eve
Of the new fiscal year, may not be
raised again to block all action Ii l.
stands to reason that the sooner ac-
lion is taken the better for all con
cerned. There's no occasion for
alarm" saws Mr.. smith This can be
granted only on the assumption that
here is nothing to be alarmed at If
, community has Inadequate policeI
a fire department which
an not even pretend to cope with
fire above village proportions and
With practically no street cleaning :
apartment at all to insure the
roper sanitary condition of the city. !
II is a matter OF easy calculation
hat to place the city in a position u
o pay off its SIS. GOO floating debt at q
he rate OF $4,000 a year so that the 5
rterest may be saved to the people /
0 establish the needed fire depart n
lent to save the citizens $4,000 an y
ually in Insurance premiums. and to +
insure systematic sanitary work on r
he streets of the city. not less than h
-H't|NN rr'AtfNNR
ually will he needed; and it is also t
matter of easy conclusion, after all o
hat has been said, where this money b
an be AMI must b. gotten Nor \
lfuttirl1 there he offered coca zion
= doubt that the mayor and a suf
Gent number OF aldermen will have
he courage and the craftsmanship 10 y
Sc to the needs of the situation and
i've the city of Cairo what so clearly
must have II It is to prosper The
hole subject matter is in the hands O
the ordinance and finance commit :
aes Of the city council, consisting of !,
ldermen Burke, Koehler, Magner. n
reaney Meehan and Ferguson-all <
zen of standing in the community. 7
len Of affairs and familiar with the c
tate Of things, who ought to be able 2
, present a measure that will do
hat is necessary to be done. Il