The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-04

If any increase. This favorable con-
dftion has been accomplished by en-
larging the light boundaries and in
stailing lights in territory where the
income Is greater than the cost of
service The natural increase in
property values and discontinuance
of some minor charges have also
materially assisted in accomplishing
this result While it is possible with
out any decrease in the number OF
lamps. to make the income equal ex-
penditures. yet the liquidation of the
present deficit of s3,401.34 is prob
lem to be worked out in the future.
as it automatically works as a bar
against the installation OF any new
lights except in territory outside of
the present light boundaries
The Fire Fund.
The actual condition of the fire
fund on April 1. 1914, was as follows,
to-wit:
Oyerdrafts and accounts due and
unpaid-s11, O27.34.
This amount does not include $4,000
transferred from the general fund In
1912, which TO that extent accounts
for the crippled condition Of that
1T tIllS Odtc- Dut lOl tulS u aus
fer the true deficit in the fire fund
would have been April 1, 1914-$14,-
027.34.
At the inception of the commission
form of government April 1, 1910, the
new council assumed an Indebtedness
which operates as a credit to the ex-
tent Of S1,354.6S.
Leaving net deficit in this account
for the four years previous to March
81, 1914, of s12,67266, which is the
true deficit to be charged to the pre-
vious council, or an average annual
deficit of $3,168.16 for that period. A
continuance of this policy not only
meant bankruptcy to the fund, but
disaster to the fire departm ent, there
fore we were forced to Immediately
adopt some measure to guard against
such dual calamity and provide for
liquidating the old debt. Our prede-
cessors in an effort to remedy the
situation had increased the levy for
this fund by six-tenths OF mill
which was to our advantage, but this
without any reduction of sundry ex-
penses added to the trouble. The
situation from a financial standpoint.
as well as safety first" one was
a problem. as the efficiency of the
fire department must be maintained
regardless of cost. By materially re-
ducing the sundry expense, and with
the additional levy of six-tenths OF a
mill. during the first year, the previ-
Gus annual deficit of SO, 1915 was
not only overcome, but there was
paid on the old debt the sum of
s1.77265, reducing the same by March
81. 1916, to s9.25469, which was the
debt of this department at that Date
the pawn ent of which must be pro-
vided for. So far we have discovered
no way by which to pay this indebt-
edness other than by taxation, and
the reason taxes are now AZ mills
is because the old debt must be PAID,
therefore in September, 1914, while
the annual levy on all taxable prop
erty was reduced one mill, the Hre
fund was increased during the same
period by one-half mill with the fol-
lowing results, to-wit: We increased
the pay of the firemen flve collars
nor month. Reconstructed their quar-
ters at the Sixth street station b.
painting. papering. refiooring and
covering the same with linoleurl.
We also purchased new beds ana bed
dr. ard installed an electric ian
which will enable the men to obtain
their needed rest during the heated
term. In addition to these extraor-
binary disbursements, we met all OF
the ordinary expenses during the
second year and reduced the old debt
bv about $4,000. making total re-
duction during the past two years OF
s.. 1856. thus placing this fund on the
road to solvency and making 1t pos
sible TO reduce the levy for 1915 by
one mill which we have done.
Distinct Funds.
The fire apparatus account is dis
tinct from the fire fund account. Nor