Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-04

| opinion OF businessmen, td%pay
meeting held Saturday evenin!
president of council. The tax
mills for almost ten years.
The high cost of material and
labor are given as the reasons for
the additional millage. Although
the awarding of a contract for the
! collection and disposal of the bor-
ough's garbage is not likely, the in
crease is compulsory, councilmep
say. A deficit of more than $4,000
incurred during the year 1917 must
be wiped out with this years
| money, it is understood.
President Nelly pointed out that
the taxation of the borough is
s6,O0O,00O and only $55,000 was col
lected in taxes last year In talking
of the finances of the borough last
year he said that the total expendi-
ture was s295,59S.76; money col
lected froTl all resources, $751;
s31O,72S.1S. On January 1, 1918,
there was balance of SIS. 5.129.42 on
hand. The 1916 balance was
S2S, 1868, which makes deficit of
SS,O27.51 for the year 1917.
1918 Resources Small
The total Indebtedness of the
borough is $4,000 with a sinking
fund of $90,569.25. This leaves an
actual Indebtedness of $351,43O.75.
The borrowing capacity is $4,000
of which 1851, ,430 has already been
borrowed. Now the borough can
only borrow S6S,569.25. Mr.. Nelly
emphasized the fact that the re-
sources of the borough during the
coming year would not be more
than $4,000, and that the budget
without an additional increase in
any department is listed at $780,
22O. He said it would be impos-
sible to run the borough on that
amount of money as officials will be
compelled to raise wages, meet the
increase cost of materials and make
other improvements that will take
money.
Frank Robbins Talks
Frank A. Robbins, Jr., general
superintendent of the local steel
plant in a brief talk said: "The
Steel Company was willing to do
anything to help the borough of
Steelton." He said that the garbage
cannot be dumped on the present
location on account of it being to
near the highway. He suggested
that the garbage be dumped back of
the cinder dump where it would be
covered up in a short time by
cinders.
Mr.. Robbins, said that the COM
pany would place in it's employe
drivers of fire apparatus as a move
to retrench in expenses. The Off
cial explained that the men would
be given positions as near to the
fire houses as possible and would be
available for service, at any time
Would Pay Higher Rate
The Steel Company, Mr.. Robbins
said would be willing to pay an in
crease in the water rates during the
coming year. The company consumes
about one fourth of the pumping
capacity of the local filtering plant
he said. This would mean an addi-
ton of about $1,000 to the income
from the water department. for the
coming year. Mr.. Robbins said he
favored an increase in the tax rate.
Robert NJ. Rutherford, president
of the Steelton Trust Company and
Steelton National Bank, suggested
an increase of three and one-half
mills. He declared an adjustment
in the assessments was the only
remedy Raise the valuation and in
crease the assessment at least twenty
per cent, was his advice.
Other Taxpayers Speak
William H. Nell, secretary of the
school board and president of the
Peoples Bank, favored a readjust-
ment in the valuation. He said that
an increase in the present millage
was the only hope for the coming
year.
NJ. A. Cumbler said that even with
an increase in the millage clean
housekeeping would be necessary.
Mark Mumma, county treasurer
said high mill rate looks bad for
any community, but it was the onlv
move council could take now. He
suggested that a board of assessors
be engaged by council next fall to
raise the valuation and make up a
new assessment.
Burgess McEntee did not approve
of tax rate increase. He said he
owned property in Wilmington,
Del, which was valued at one hun
dred per cent. and that the total
millage was fifteen mills. Steelton
property is valued at thirty and
forty per cent which would stand
considerable increase. He favored
Mr.. Nelly Entertains
Other speakers were: Borough
solicitor, Frank B. Wickersham: |
Justice of Peace Stees; NJ. ]. Kane, |
president of the Steelton Business
mems Association; John Malehorn. |
ard George w. II. Roberts. Other
taxpayers also voiced their opinions. |
Before the conference the men
were entertained at dinner by Mr.. |
Nelly The guests included: Frank |
A. Robbins, Jr., David ]. Bechtel. |
councilmen, John Craig, II. O. |
Smith, ]. w. Wanbaugh, Ira b |
Reider, Charles Reisch, E. c. Hem
derson, G. e. Keim and P. c. Black |
well; William Nell Frank B. Wick
ersham, NJ. A. CumbIer. Burgess
McEntee, George w. H. Roberts
William A. Keister, w. E. Chick
John Malehorn, NJ. ]. Kane. James |
P. Detweiler, Mark Mumma, Justice |
of the Pease. Stees. David J. Becb- |
tel, Robert Rutherford and po,,I n |