Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-01-17


under the terms of which authority
is distributed, and responsibility di-
vided. The major and every subor-
dinate entity plays its part-besides
the state imposes very fixed DEGREES
upon the counties. municipalities,
townships and school districts anc-
exacts certain standards of admins
tration in education, public health,
preservation of the peace and the
| protection of life and property. Fur
| thermore, the state names certain linn
itations within which the local activ-
| tiles of government must operate
financially. There is beyond doubt
an insistent majority public opinion
that these limitations shall be OBJ
served, so that means must be found
and methods provided to bring relief,
in full recognition of the principal of
the Smith i per cent law.
Cleveland an Example.
Dealing with the purely municipal
problem, let us take for the purpose
of illustrating conditions, our largest
city, Cleveland. Much has been said
about recurrent bond issues there
and the continued accumulation Of
both expenses and debt. Frankly,
most of the state is unfamiliar with
the great questions thrust upon city
whose growth each year in itself
would make place larger, probably,
than any one of two-thirds of the
4 =. 20
the difficulties attendant upon the di-
versified racial elements that are
present. Probably every language
from the civilized parts of the world
is spoken in Cleveland. Customs,
prejudices, habits that have been
generations in their making. must all
be assiIhilated, harmonized and
brought into a composite lavender
standing and law-abiding whole.
In the levy which totals 1885 mills
we find two items: City operation,
$50 mills, and city sinking fund, 3.25
mills. It is apparent therefore that
more money is spent each year on
the debt that has accumulated than
for city operation, and in a center
having approximately 100000 popula-
ton.
Cleveland has a property duplicate
of over $1,0OO,OO0,OOO, and yet in
1916 the receipts from general tax
we're less than they were in 1911
This is. Of course, occasioned by the
difference in the rate. The outstand.
ing thing, however, is this-the city
received from the source of general
tax in 1911, $2,756,717, and but So,
637, ,2S6.OS in 1916. In the interim the
city had grown from an estimated
population of $4,000 to 10000.
Very recently a deficiency bond is
sue was voted for $2,500,OOO. One
million Eve hundred thousand of this
will be used to pay money sack that
was borrowed from the banks Nov.
to pay running expenses. With the
$1.000,000 left, the city finds that il
has given certificates of Indebtedness
to the sinking fund amounting tC
$2.973.0OO, so that If the million-dol
lar payment is made. there is still
a deficit Of $1,97S,OOO. Under thai
handicap the new year starts. Lei
us see how it promises to end
The cost of operating the city il
1918, after radical retrenchment hat
been made, including reduction il
police force, was $7,217,OO0. TIL,
mayors budget for 1919 requests $40
100000 for expenses, yet the incom,
now in sight under the methods o
taxation in vogue, is but $5,500,00O
The loss from liquor revenue is $500
900. So that If the expenditures TO
1919 are no more than in 1918 ther
is a twelve-month deficit of $1,717
900, to which must be added the ur
paid current debt present Jan. 1, 1915
of $1.973,00O, making an aggregate
deficiency of $S,690.0OO. 1t would b
I ! necessary to make both ends meet, t
| impose levy of 20 mills.
: Situation In Cincinnati.
D In the second largest city, Cincir
. natl, at the beginning of the yea
!. 1918, the excess of estimated nece
Z sary expenses over estimated re,
\ enues was sS50,000. The borrowin
of money or issuance of deficienc
bonds seemed inevitable. Howeve
service and improvements were CT
e to the very bone, and the city live
l. on it's income. In 1919, however, Gil
S cinnati will lose 100000 from liquC
g tax Speaking of this circumstanc
e the mayor in his annual report says
It ITO lost that amount in addition [
It the, great shortage Of funds undt
g which we have been suffering, ado
T. greatly to our difficulties
g Cincinnati was fortunate in havin
IS invested from its resources mar
h years ago a sufficient sum to bui
1, the Cincinnati Southern railroad. F,
u a considerable time it has been ope
d ated under a lease, and the tern
o. yield a net balance to the municips
N ity of a little more than $1,0O0,0
of above all charges.
A dramatic event in Cincinna
Il during the last year was the thres
* ened disruption of the police fore
s. The men of that department, fac,
D. with heavy living expenses, were u
|
n cause the city did not have Ii
H. money. A protest was registered
OF the patrolmen leaving their posts.
%. is "a very grave peril to havs tn
es visited upon any community the pt
We sibility of such an episode. Anythi
ci- that demoralizes the police organi,
ne tion Of any large city is most har
al full. The policeman is militant /
ng pressive figure in our urban life
* maintaining the silent watches of t
nd night, and an experience such as t
In one described is practically the bre;
ing down of local governmental
M ganizatioi.
IN Three very definite developmeI
MS have contributed to the financ
ms stringency Of cities. Just about
he time the supreme court decision "
M made, Aug. 4, 1916, compelling, a
let | very nronprIv sO fha IoooI suhdi