Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-21
COUNCILS MEET
TODAY TO PASS
BUDGET OF 1917
S86, ,S22,519 Is Allotment, as
Compared With $39, $50, ,44O
for Last Year
ECONOMIES ARE EFFECTED
Departmental Demands Unspar-
ingly Pared Down by
Financiers

The municipal budget for 1911. which
totals f3s,s29.bie was passed by both the
branches Of Councils today. Approximately
81 600 more will be needed to complete
the Sinking Fund appropriation. and this
VIII be forthcoming early In the year from
an expected surplus The pairing" done
70 the budget IL shown by the fact that
departmental heads asked for ii3st6,97b.7s
The 1915 budget totals t39,baO4to55.
While the city will not start out on jan
nary 1 with clean slate, the shortage In
revenues Of that date lH estimated at the
600 needed for Sinking Fund ac-
counts. This shortage win be wiped out by
january 20, when Controller Walton's an
nuai audit IN completed and tho books OF the
city are formally opened for tho now year.
The Controller has assured Councils thnt
thore will bo surplus Of at leas. 81 100000
20 care for the budget shortage This will
leave the city working balance Of from
f400. 900 TO $500, 900 instead OF deficit OF
several millions, ms has been the case In
number Of years past
FINANCIAL METHODS REVISED
For many months Chairman Gnffncy Of
Councils Finance Committee, has been
WORKING with the sole object OF putting
the city "on it's feet financially and tho
results as shown by the totals submitted
70 Councils today proved n pleasant sur
prise 20 many members who deemed the
situation nearly hopeless The revision Of
financial methodB so far accomplished iB
but preliminary TO much wider move 10
place the city on pay-aB-you-go basis
through operative retrenchments and the
obtaining OF new revenues by bringing
down TO date charges for services rem
dered to individuals by municipal bureaus.
Much OF the legislation that was enacted
at today's session has 90 do with plans
for new revenues that are expected to add
90 the half-mlllon-dollnr surplus already
In sight other bills will be held over
until next year for the approval of
City Solicitor Connolly. The measures 10
be taken UP early in 1917 include bills
taxing all vehicles and including automo-
blies. From those two sources II Ia hoped
TO Increase revenues by SlO00,000.
among the revenue producing bills that
were passed today that they may be-
come effective during 1917 are measures
Increasing the license fees for permits In
the Bureau of Building Inspection for
manufacturing. selling and storing acety-
lene and calcium carbide for the storage
and keeping for sale chemicals and com
bugtibles; for the storage and keeping for
sale OF high explosives To fix n charge for
the use OF registry plan books In the Blu
reap Of Surveys; TO Increase charges for
the erection and construction OF iron avn
ingB over sidewalks; to increase the cost
of sewer service and sewer connections; to
authorize tho city controller to charge for
r0ptes Of the manual and business pro-
cedure OF the city; TO regulate the charge
for the city solicitors work In the prepara-
tlon OF contracts; 10 regulate the fees for
the storing and keeping OF benzne. naphtha,
gasoline, etc: 10 regulate fees for Ming
plans with the Bureau OF Health for con-
atruction OF plumbing. house drainage. etc.
10 regulate tho hawking and peddling OF
fruit etc. and number OF others OF n
similar nature.
WATER MAIN EMERGENCY CORPS
An ordinance providing for n central em-
ergency corps properly equipped rapidly to
repair broken water mains was intro
ducsd at the request OF Director Dates
man, OF the Department OF Public Works
The idea 10 TO have tho city equipped to
care for sudden emergencies such as have
arisen several times this fall through
breakH occurring at inopportune times In
big water mains IN city service
Another bill which was passed was one
introduced some weeks ago by Select
councilman Seger at the request OF Con-
troiler Walton TO the effect that n clerk In
each OF the municipal departments be des-
ignated 10 draw pay warrant for tho en-
tire department and In turn to make dlHtri-
button OF the salaries TO the men entitled
70 the money The bill. according TO Coun-
Gilman Seger was introduced with View
70 saving Controller Walton the labor OF
signing each month or half month thousands
Of individual pay warrants The bill pro-
videB that the clerks designated as pay
masters shall he obligated To give a sum
ctent bond and many opposed to the bill
declare that II Is Intended merely to make
business for the bonding concern or which
Mayor Smith is the principal owner
Two sessions OF Common Council were
held so that every opportunity could be
given the heads OF the various committees
20 call up for passage all legislation that
they ars anxious 10 drive through before the
close OF the year II possible. no further
sessions OF Councils will be held until next
year. This being an "off year" Councils
will not have TO go through the formality OF
organising and selecting new heads and
clerks. For this reason the next session of
councils will likely not be held until the
nrSt Thursday in January. according 10 the
regular councilmanic calendar.