Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-09-11
n INE BLUFF . ROaRESS
 ROSPERITY
THE CITY,S FINANCES.

The general opinion seems 10 exist among the business men and bankers that the police strike troubles may ke attributed to the fact that Pine Bluff and the state of Arkansas are going in the "dry" column on January l l. and the inability of the patrolmen to cash their warrants and get better discounts is due chiefly to the fear of the banking institutions and others who have been investing in city. scrip that the. city, without its present rev. enne in 1914 in coming years, cannot redeem it's time warrants.
 Mayor Bloom has been working de- tcrminedly to get the banks of the city affd- others to come to the aid of the city government ill the matter of car ing for it's monthly warrants, but he has only partially succeeded. He was in hopes of making satisfactory ar engagements for the disposition of the police department warrants when the patrolmen voted to walk out.
 The last annual financial report of the city government, under the Jor- dan administration, showed a total revenue for the fiscal year to be about $S5, ,OOO from all sources. includ- ing the saloon licenses and other rev enues that come to the city through the operation of the dramshops. Of this amount $16,O0O is annually de- duc,ed in discounts. This leaves a total amount available for municipal expenses of $64,000 The city pays the Pine Bluff Company annually about $24,0OO, which brings the amount of money for operating the various city departments down to $4C. 1000. -=
 The total amount derived at pres ent from saloon licenses and similar establishments is about $25,000. Take this amount from the grand total the coming year and consider the amount that is necessary to give the city light and water. and there is left from all sources about $16,000 with which to pay the police, fire, street and oth- CT department employees.
 The patrolmen, while they may seem justified in their action because of the poor pay which is given them by the city. may have acted too hastily in leaving the service on last night. Mayor Bloom has worked consistently to relieve the situation and had hoped to accomplish good results within tbe next day or two.
 While Mayor Bloom does not feel disposed to criticise the patrolmcn and believes that they are deserving of better pax-Syet he is helpless un- legs the e 1ncil acts on it's own ac- cord Mayor Bloom will in all prob ability decline to call special meet ing of the city council. He probably does not want to be in the attitude of dfttatfifg or wishing to appear in the flight q dictating to the aldermen and if q special meeting of the council is held to remedy the critical situation in the matter of police protection it will have to be held at the instance of majority of the members of the council.
 Pine Bluffians should have police proteCtion The city cannot hope to be free of thieves and disturbers if there are no policemen to patrol its streets. The public should demand fhat inc council take immediate steps to replace the officers. Pine biu1l cannot well afford at this time or any .timc to be without police protection. ft. has seen the day when 8 city mar shal and q few deputies could handle tlie situation with ease, but it has