Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-29
MONEY NEEDED;
COUNCIL WORRIED
Moline Commissioners Face Necessity
Of Paying $4,000 Appropriated
by Emergency Ordinance.
ALSO HIT BY NEW STATE LAW
Deprived of so, 900 for Park Purposes
by Recent Legislation-HoldC Con-
ference with County Clerk.

Necessity this year of paying sl0,-
600 which was appropriated under the
emergency ordinance with the idea OF
improving the River road, in addition
to an approximate shortage of SCI 900
as result of the state law governing
park funds, is a source of considera-
Bile worry to the Moline city council
The total shortage is s31, 900.
The $4,000 appropriation for River
road was made for double purpose
that of improving the road and also OF
providing work for the unemployed, OF
whom there were very many last win
ter, when the ordinance was passed.
Under the state law the city coun-
Gil is empowered to make such emer-
gency appropriations by two-thirds
vote of members of the council. In
| the River road case the vote was I'M
! animous.
| AS to how an emergency appropria-
| ton shall be made up, however, there
| is difference of opinion. Some at
torneys, among them City Attorney
/ James Johnston, contend that the
money can be collected by increasing
! the tax rate, holding that to increase
this without vote Of the people is
/ legal when an emergency question Is
involved. County Clerk Hubbard, on
the other hand, is understood to be of
! opinion that, regardless Of whether an
emergency proposition is involved, the
rate, which is IL in Moline, cannot be
! increased without a vote of the peo-
pie.
| City officials, unaware Of Mr.. Hub
| bard's idea in the matter had expect
ed that when the tax levy was an
nounced 1t would show the slight in
crease in the tax rate for the purpose
of making up this $4,000. The tax
rate has now been issued, however,
and Mr.. Hubbard did not make the
increase.
Too Late Now for Increase.
At a conference yesterday afternoon
between Moline city officials and the
county clerk, it developed that, as the
rate has uUW D6bH Sclf IL 10 wv luICy
regardless of whether Mr.. Hubbard is
right or the city is right, to make the
increase.
AS result, the city is out $4,000 in
this years funds, for the $4,000 must
be paid in some manner. 1t will mean
that appropriations in all departments
will have to be trimmed to the tune
of $4,000, as total, when the appro-
priation ordinance is passed next June.
! This would not ordinarily be of great
moment to the city, were it not for the
fact that the state legislatures action
in regard to park funds makes it nee
essary to trim appropriations by the
additional amount of s21 900, which is
approximately the sum which the city
would have received this year for park
purposes, had it been possible to make
the usual levy for park purposes.
City is $4,000 Short.
In other words, when the next ap-
preparation ordinance Is passed the
city will have to figure on $31 900 less
than usual. In the park fund, unless
expenditures in other departments are
cut drastically, Commissioner Mac
Beth will have only about $1,000 to
spend next year If the deficit in his
department-which is not his fault,
but is due to action of the state legis-
lature, taken without knowledge OF
city authorities-is met, it will mean
that advance in all departments will
be at a standstill
What can be done to increase rev.
enue is now the main topic of CONVEX
sation at the city hall