The Sentinel=record., 1913-12-16

lie funds"
 On the question as to how to get the money to run bhe city government. Mr. $ A, Buchanan explained that part of it. about $37000, was from the regular taxes, about d similar sum from saloon licenses, and the remaind- er from police court, special taxes and other sources.
 In a discussion of the state tax, th,, speaker thought that taxes were paid for government benefits, and that d city should not be taxed to pay any. hing like so per cent for state gov ernment. He thought the county and state was using too large a propor- ton of the taxes paid. He also be- lieyed there should be some source of revenue from the baths.
 Mir Simon Cooper explained that there was no privilege or special tax permitted by the state. and that tha government was not helpful He ex. plained that when Central avenue was paved the government would not contribute one cent, regardless of the great frontage it had on Central ave. nue
 MT Laser asked how about getting permission from the state to double the city tax. without carrying any additional tax for state or county He thought that might provide addiion- al revenue.
 Dr. Hobbs brought the drumming issue into controversy by saying the government might cooperate with the city if the city would cooperate with the government He spoke of how the superintendent attended council meetings 10 urge saving the city from opening up the drumming evil.
 Alderman Petit. father of the drumming ordinance, stated that he continued to have the opinion that fine hotel men had rights, and that if every other business line in Hot Springs could solicit business on the streets he believed the hotel men had that right. However, he said that there were some indications now that compromis might be reached,
 MT Gus Strauss explained the financial situations briefly by stating the city expenses were now about $110.00o per year, and the revenue was S37 .O00 from legitimate sources, S37 .000 from saloons and enough from other sources to make the revenue about Sl5.OO0 short of sufficient 70 meet the expense.
 Former mayor of the city w. w. Waters, made an extended address.
 He said that he had come to hear he "citg doctor because he was the cities in Arkansas were handicap the cites in Arkansas were handicap ped by the lack of legislation, which he accounted for by the fact that the legislature is composed of people from the country and Vney did little to help the cities along. He told of being here when Hot Springs was Incorporated, and that he was elected 10 the city council in 1878. and while serving as mayor pro tenn, in the absence from the city of Mayor A. iR. Smith. he signed the water com pany contract. He said he opposed the terms of that franchise at that time,
 That is a handsome contract said Mir. Waters. We ought to have made stronger demands in exchange | for if The street railway franchise was the same Everything Hot Springs had of value was given away. The legitimate revenue of the city Is now about $95,00O per year. and it cost S1t0.000 to $120,000 per year 10 run the city. We owe the water com pany a large sum. That company takes care of the shortage and the deficit. I see only one way to meet the situation and that is to have the city administration pay it's necessary exppnses. and require that all the city street improvement and upk9ep axpense be met by the citizens in a general improvement district way which would enable the city to pay it's way, and still provide for the i'm movements necessary.
 "I say that the present administra tion can run the city as smooth as oil" said Mir. Walters. If the citizens will go into an improvement district for the care of the streets and bridges and take that expense rom the au ministration, and permit the money
 in the city treasury to be used wholly
 for the necessary city expenditures believe the city and government are cooperating now, and think we
 can work out our Ills here if we wouio