Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-20

Bill Requires Preparation of Es-
timate Before Philadelphia
Tax Rate Is Fixed
PROPOSED OTHER LAWS
Introduces Mandamus Resolution and
Project Affecting Mercantile
Levies
BY a stag corresponden,

HARRrSBURG, Feb. 20.---A measure re-
Quirfng the preparation of n budget before
the philadelphia tax rate is fixed is before
the Senate today as one of the three COM
panion bills making up the proposed char
ter revision acts IL was introduced by
Senator Edwin II. Ware, who also introduced
the other two bills, which would restrict
the issuance of mandamuses and give
State mercantile taxes to counties, cities,
boroughs and townships
The bills were drafted by william
Draper Lewis, for the Charter Revision
Committee, and Joseph p. Gaffney, chair
man of Councils Legislative Committee
The budget bill provides that within the
hrst fifteen days of October of each year
the Mayor of Philadelphia shall submit to
Councils budget which shall include in
formation, estimates and recommendation
regarding all finances over which Councils
have control. All departments. bureaus,
commissions. officials and others whose sal
aries and expenses are paid out of the funds
under the control Of Councils shall furnish
the Mayor with information desired in
making up the budget.
The measure further provides that IL shall
be the duty of Councils to consider the
budget in open public meetings, and that
between December l and g il shall in one
ordinance apportion tho appropriations
among the departments, bureaus, etc, for
the ensuing calendar year and in the same
ordinance Councils shall fix a tax rate which
will provide revenue to eqnal the total esti-
mated expenses of the ensuing year and the
estimated excess. II any, Of the expenses Of
the then current year over the applicable
revenue Of such current year
The bill also provides that no money hor-
rowed by the city shall be applied to any
purpose than that for which it shall have
been borrowed.
The bill restricting the issuances of man.
damuses provides that no court in the Com.
monwealth shall have the power to issue a
writ of mandamus TO the treasurer of any
county. township, city, borough or school
district TO compel the payment of money
whether in satisfaction Of n Judgment or
otherwise) for the salary, wages or other
compensation Of any officer or employe ::
fo- supplies; for rent for any real estate or
fo- the purchase of real estate for any mu-
ncpality or school district unless the body
having jurisdIction over the finances of
such municipality or school district shall
have authorized the liability to be incurred
Also. no court shall have the power to Issue
writ of mandamus to compel bodies
having jurisdiction over finances to make
an appropriation for any OF the purposes
above specified unless the Legislature shall
have so fixed.
Senator Ware also introduced a bill pro-
viding that all mercantile taxes shall be
retained by the counties, and after the de-
duction of fees and other expenses Of col.
lection they shall be divided among all
cities, boroughs and townships within the
counties. Part OF the tax now goes to the
State.
The bill embraces mercantile taxes col
lected under the act Of May . 1899; bill
lard, pool and shooting gallery taxes coll
lected under the act of May %. 1907 ::
brokers' license taxes collected under the
act of May 7. 1907. This bill affects the
entire State and has the Endorsement of the
Philadelphia Councllmanic Legislative Com
mittee.