The labor world., 1910-12-24

ter in this office with the following
inquiry:
II have been informed that the So
ciallsts have not been able to meet
the citys finances. and have plunged
the city into debt more than ever.
I would be pleased to know if this
IS the case, and to get any informa-
tion possible along this line"
Press dispatches have gone out
everywhere with statements that give
rises to. such inquiries.
In reply to all this we wish to say
that the situation about finances in
Milwaukee is as follows:
1. The city was $4,000 in debt
when the Social-Democrats came in
to office.
2. Whatever financial conditions
prevail in the city at the present
time are due entirely to the former
administration. The expenditures of
the city and the revenues of the
city during this year were fixed posi-
lively in the budget by the preced-
ing administration. The Social
Democrat administration under the
law has no power whatever, either
to improve or change these condi-
tions until next year. And further
more, the policies which have i'm
poverished the city and Its finance
will continue to effect the city for
years to come. and can only gradual
ly be corrected.
However, the present administra-
ton is taking a number of very i'm
portant steps in the direction of put
ting the city for the first time in it's
history on an absolutely sound and
scientific basis financially.
Among the financial measures be-
ing advanced by the Socialists and
which will be put into operation just
as far and as fast as the charter pro-
visions Of the city. and the laws Of
the state will allow, are as follows:
I. Very rigid and carefully con-
sldered economies. For example, the
comptroller reports that during the
first six months of the Socialists ad-
ministration the expenditures of the
city were on an average $4,000 per
month less than under preceding ad-
ministrations. Then again, the reor-
ganization of the purchasing depart
ing In such a way as to have ef-
fected already many thousands of
dollars of saving. A number of un-
necessary and high-salaried employees
have been dispensed with, thus saw
ing several thousand more. Several
very clever graft schemes have been
blocked that have saved the city in
one case alone over $4,000. A num-
Der of fake damage suits against the
city have been beaten, and thus the
city saved still other thousands OF
dollars. The total of these savings
will not be less than 100000 per
year.
?. But still more important, the
present administration is going after
the tax dodgers. It is not at all i'm
possible, as shown by the experience
of other cities through the use of
the Somers system. that in this way
two or three hundred million dol
lars worth of property may be
brought under assessment which now
escapes taxation. And in that case
the revenue Of the city from taxation
alone would be increased by hun
dreds of thousands Of dollars per
year.
3. The present administration Is
establishing the unit cost system. All
efficient business organizations are
using this system. Milwaukee IS the
only city in America 50 far that is
officially adopting it. Ry doing this
the administration will know exactly
What every piece Of public work and
public service should cost, and will
therefore bein a position to bring the
expenditures of the city down to an
absolutely economic basis Over
charging and grating will then be
impossible.
4. Cutting down bond issues The
bonds of the city bear per cent
and ~ per cent interest and run
for twenty years. On this basis every
dollar that is raised by issuing bonds
costs the tax payers of the city
s1.4O. In other words, every dol
lars worth Of material or service
that the city gets by the method of
Issuing bonds, costs the city s1.4O.
The present administration wants