Evening journal., 1911-07-01
COUNCIL ENDS
$4,000 SHORT
lconlInuea lIom FIrst Raga.l

NiolAiNutu II oW flfhl idEt.l
interest was charged on the note but
Council paid 1t twenty days ahead of
time to make sure that there would be
less than $1,000 left in Onion Bank for
the new administration
President Of Council Banning sign
ed the checks for the wharf and so
pay Union Bank. but didn't sign the
pay rolls for the police department.
Council employees. etc. They could
wait for their money.
BY failing to sign these checks the
$4,000 Of bills and obligations which
they covered were thrown over into
the new Republican administration to
pay out Of its cash and also to try
to make the Democratic Councils
deficit appear $4,000 less
Figures Of Defcis.
conservative estimate Of the
deficit this morning, compiled from
the figures Of Council and in the
auditor and treasurer's Offices Is:
Amount owed Union Bank on loan
contracted by Council S2l 900.
Amount owed on pay rolls passed
last night, $1,000.
Amount owed Department Of EIec-
tions on bill passed last night, $4,000.
Amount owed on miscellaneous
bills passed last night, 100000
(eStimate.)
This makes n total shortage Of
S57,O 900 now 10 be charged mp against
the Council, and does not include the
$4,000 il diverted from the bond is
sue and premium and applied TO cur
rent expenses by Council II will be
seen that II this $4,000 was not takon
the retiring Council would have been
somewhere about 100000 short OF
meeting It's expenses.
When William c. Taylor. Republi-
can, retired as President OF Council
he signed the payroll checks before
going out OF ofIlce
City Treasurer Ross last night sent
statement to Council showing tho
Juggling Of finances by Council. but
the Democratic members would not
let be read Instead fhcy referred n
to committee They did allow ono
statement Of Mr. Ross 10 he read.
however Tho statement tho Demo
cratic Councilmen would not allow
read is.
Mr.. Ross Statement.
funds made up Of borrowed money 10
purchase park lands within the CITY
limits. but used for current oxncnsos
$6.73i premium on park loan 10
provide funds TO purchase park lands
within tho city limits, but used for
current expenses
Sl9,302.5o deducted from tho last
quarterly appropriation 81 the Street
and Sewer Departmentfand used for
current expenses.
SlS03.S6 withheld frJm tho Board of
Education appropriation and used for
current expenses.
$9.7S3 taken froV6 the sinking fund
appropriation THe sinking fund an
preparation proTided for the redemp-
ton OF S37aoo (of sinking fund bonds.
April L. lastf but s27 400 only was
taken up, $4,000 remaining to be
taken up October /, next
$43,21L03 transferred from various
funds to be used for specific purposes
but used for current expenses for the
year oGdlng Juno 30. t911. thus re-
ducmR tho deficit for current year by
rfnpr amount OF this total
Read Ross letter Only.
Tn addition 10 this statement Mr.
Ross sent a communication 10 Council
which was read, but not accepted by
the Democrats II was referred 10
the finance and law committees. The
letter follows
"Iuno 20 1911
ITO the President and Members of
City Council
"Gentlomen without any thought
or desire TO overburdon the chairman
of the law and finance committees in
the closing hours Of a most memoir
able Council desire 10 submit a
few pertinent questions herewith CON
cernlng tho city finances for tho
thoughtful consideration OF their re-
/ spoctivo committees
"Is It not a dangerous precedent to
permit of over $4,000 TO be taken
from any particular account or ac-
counts i'm The citys active bank at
the fancy OF a majority Of Council
without the counter-sienatures Of the
City Auditor and City Treasurer
which the city charter requires to the
withdrawal Of any funds9 As a mat
I ter of fact neither the city auditor nor
city teasurer saw any OF the follow
! ing checks Withdrawing from the
Mayor and Council Special Accounts
and voted by a mere majority TO the
use OF their current account TO cover
up the deficit at the snap meeting
called for that purpose. June 10. and
not one Of these checks ever passed
through either Office
"S46.721 was voted out of the park
funds especially borrowed for the
specific purpose Of purchasing park
lands within the city limits and
S39,674.45 was voted from the water
redemption fund. Also $4,000 taken
from the current account without any
formal vote whatever to pay the
temporary loan arranged by the chair
man of the finance committee at the
Union National Bank just previous to
the recent election MAY 29) without
any formal action on the part OF
Council. and $4,000 also taken out
OF the current account without any
formal vote 10 reimburse tho hank
for another temporary loan to enable
the bonds falling due June 1. to be
met together with S10t64 interest for
use of borrowed money.
"As the city auditor Is required 10
bond for $4,000 and the CITY treasurer
Of $4,000 was il not the idea of the
trainers Of the city charter that the
city finances should be safo-cuardod