Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-03-11
MUNICIPAL STUDY PR0VES]NTERESTING Attendance Grows Larger and Entrants Are Yak
 ing Copious Notes.
 TO MEET WEEKLY.
TO MEET WEEKLY.
Members Are Making Systematic Study of Civic Conditions as Laid
 Down by Survey Report.

That there has been much progress made and that there is a growing in terest in municipal affairs was settled last night when there was a largely increased attendance at the meeting of the Municipal Study Class at the rooms of the Young Mems Progress sive League last night Under the di- rection of Rabbi Joseph Jasin, the class is undertaking a systematic study of civic affairs. Meetings are to be held weekly on Tuesday at o'clock.
 The class, armed with note books in which to record details, took mp the study of the section of the recent city survey report which is known as a summary of recommendations that may be put into effect immediately An interesting point in this conne(- place the city on cash basis at once and how the scrip system might be done away with in the course of the next seven or eight years. The tota indebtedness of the city is regarded as very small, much smaller than is the general impression as to such. The study points covered at tht class meeting as taken from the sur vey report, were as follows:
 l. That the city cease to pay il lump sum for the construction o permanent improvements out of cur rent revenues. In 1913 the city spent $1000O for storm sewer; in the middle of December it looked as ii the citys receipts for 1913 would have equalled it's expenditures were it not for this single item.
 2. That the city at the beginning of the year let contracts, after com. petitive bids, for furnishing the city with supplies and materials. Experi- ence in other cities would make il seem that Pine Bluff could have say ed $4 1000 in 1913 by using this method of purchasing.
 3. That method of property as sessment be employed that will resul in an accurate and equitable assess ment. In 1913, because of low ant negotiable assessments, the city wal deprived of approximately $19,0Q0, fol municipal purposes.
 4. That, until the city's revenues from general taxes are sufficient levy taxes on business and specia privileges enjoyed by citizens in thu use of public property.
 5. That the city (a) cease to issu scrip in payment of current ex penses, (b) determine the number o years in which the present indebted ness of the city. ($155,O0O) shall b paid off, Co out of each years reve nues pay off that years proportion of warrants outstanding, (d) re-issu scrip for the amount of warrants out standing not paid at the time the are due, such scrip made payable a such time as will distribute tn amount of the outstanding warrant equitably over the period decided up on for their final liquidation.
 6. That a committee be appointe' for the purpose of learning what Pin Bluff will need for 15, 20 or nor years to come in the way of street to be paved, repaved, oiled or graded sewers to be constructed, parks t be purchased and laid out, etc., ant the specific permanent improvement to be undertaken in each year.
 z. That the city as a whole b. formed into an improvement distric for the purpose of constructing th
 improvements recommended by tn city plan committee, the plan ant construction of all permanent i'm provements to be in the hands of on
 board of improvement. such board o improvement to make use so far a
 possible of the existing city organiza
 tion for engineering services, ac
 counting, collection, care and pay
 ment of money, etc.