San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-09
BLACK REGIME
MOST COSTLY
Of ALL TIME
Mayor Seeks to Borrow
Money to Run City Until
Administration Goes Out.
TREASURY IS EMPTY
Two and One-half Million
Is Toll Of Lavish Expen-
ditures for One Year.

A total of $500. 900, the largest
amount recorded in the city's history
| will be required to operate the city
government for the current fiscal
year. according to figures contained
in the final budget which was sub
mitted TO the council Thursday after
noon.
No action was taken toward adopt
ing the budget, it being agreed that
il should lay over until next Thurs
day and that n conference will be held
on it next Tuesday at 10 O'Clock. In
the meantime. the mayor will con-
tinue negotiations with the banks in
an effort to obtain an additional loan
of 100000 with tibet delinquent taxes
as security.
In submitting the final budget. the
mayor pointed out that it is an in
crease over the tentative budget of
S2O0000. This was brought about.
he said. by an increase in the cost of
operation of several of the depart
ments over the amounts figured in the
tentative budget. Only one depart
ment. he said, that of Fire and Po-
lice Commissioner Phil Wright, is on
not need additional funds.
His own contingency fund, the
mayor admitted. needs $4,000 to run
il the remainder of the year. The
street department, which had the
largest tentative budget for that de-
partment in the history of the city,
needs an additional 100000. The
tax department. the mayor said, needs
an additional $1,000 while Commits
sioner Lambert needs S700 for the
rivers and bitches department. $780,
600 for the parks and $4,000 for the
garbage. An additional sum of ap-
proximately 100000, he said, will
cover the shortages.
Departments Out Of Funds.
Negotiations are now under way.
the mayor explained, to obtain an adj
ditional loan to meet these require
ments. He requested that action on
the budget be delayed until next
Thursday. during which time it is
hoped 10 reach a decision in the mat
ter OF securing the additional funds
Commissioner Pfeiffer agreed to the
delay, urging, however, that the final
budget be adopted on the date set.
Several departments, he said, are
without funds and immediate action
is necessary.
Commissioner Lambert asked the
mayor if the sum of approximately
S?S,OOO for the resurfacins of the
park roads was included in the short.
age noted for the park department.
The mayor replied that it was and
that he would allow the mark commits
sioner that amount from the con-
nngency fund as he had previously
promised. Commissioner Pfeiffer then
called the mayors attention to the fact
that he had been promised S14OO out
| OF the contingency fund to pay the
salary of rent collector, which would
| leave him short only S263.
Banks Have City at Mercy.
Although the MAYOR stated that
prospects are favorable for the city's
obtaining the additional loan of $780,
| UVO, some officials are inclined to be-
heve that. the banks will hesitate to
make such a loan. The mayor has
CANNED that enormous sums of delin-
guent taxes are owing to the city and
is offering them as security. The tax
| commissioner, however, has disputed
the mayors figures and nointed out
mat the bulk of this money is uncol-
lectable. The banks, if they loaned
the money, it is generally conceded,
would do so at their own risk.
Unless this money is Forthcoming.
the city faces the prospect of going
on scrip basis. The tentative bud.
get, according to figures compiled By
the tax commissioner already ex.
ceeds the city's available income and
with the additional 5000, 900 needed,
huge overdraft would be necessary
IL the banks loan this additional
S2oo,OOO all well and good. otherwise
city employees would face the necessi-
", OF accepting deferred warrants
winch in plain English is scrip.