Evening star., 1932-11-27
PHILADELPHIA TAX
PROBLEM IN CHAOS
Special Levy Question in
Face of 1893 Financial
Need Threatens Battle.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


PHIL LPHIA, November 26 (N.A.-
NA).-The financial program of the
Philadelphia municipal government for
the next year never was in more cha
otic condition than at this time and
with December Is as the final date
fixed by law Tor adoption of budget
and establishing. tax rate.
Although it is the consensus that no
increase in the tax rate can be folSteo
upon the taxpayers next year, there Is
equal reason to suppose there can ne
no decrease.
Briefly, Philadelphia's financial pro-
gram for 1888 will stand or fall on It's
Special taxation program, and the pros
uect is not one the city leaders lace
with optimism.
Under special authority granted by
the State Legislature, Philadelphia Is
empowered to levy special taxes where
there is no duplication OF state TAXA
ton.
OF all the emergency tax measures
that have been proposed, discussed,
and without exception vigorously at
tackled on ell sides, it is forcgone
conclusion that only part OF them Will
be approved finally by Council
Mayors Approval Needed.
Before that can be made effective.
the legislation must be approved by
Mayor Moore, who has maintained
noticeable reticence on the subject,
And further, there IS City Controiler
Hadley, the city'S fiscal ofnctT, VINO Is
the WATCHDOG of the treasury" and
the outstanding champion of sound
principles and economy in government.
He is dubious concerning the effective
ness of the special taxation measures,
If not the legality of some OF them.
And over what may be left after the
Council, the mayor and the controller
have had their say, there lmpeno legal
battles. These law proceedings would,
in all likelihood, be prolonged over Such
a period as to deprive City Council OF
additional revenue at time when 1t
is urgently required.
Among the measures expected to De
adopted finally is one levying tax OF
S cents on each admission to indoor
and outdoor amusementS, 1ncludlng
motion picture and legitimate theaters.
The special taxation program, If car
ried out in its entirety, it is estimated,
viii Weld from S10,000,o coo to S12,0CO,0O0
next year. If the program fails. even
in part, drastic cuts accordingly Will
be necessary in the budget, as the spe-
cisl taxation plus budget cuts. OF course,
must equalize the existing handicap OF
q $20,000,o00 deficit.
Money Raising Proposals.
Some OF the money-raising proposals
have been strange. There Is, Tor IN
stance. the suggestion OF taxpayer
that the city sponsor sweepstake sucn
as are in vogue in Ireland, sell l,OOO,-
Opo tickets a month, at dollar each,
retain half the proceeds and provide
the remainder as prizes.
The city fathers would be glad TO
obtain that theoretical S6,000,000 year,
but it simply can't be done legally In
Philadelphia. And what would Uncle
Sam say?
The % members of City Council have
taken a 16 per cent cut in their $4,000
salaries this year. Mayor Moore mas
taken a 10 per cent cut in his $4,000
salary. Controller Hadley has refused
to take the general 10 per cent cut IN
his $4,000 salary, although he receives
an additional $4,000 year as school
board controller. The controller STANDS
four-sauare upon the law which fixes
the amount of his salary as the city's
fiscal officer.
A 10 per cent pay cut is the least
city officials and employees can expect
next year. except perhaps the controller
By far the most obnoxious and bur-
densome tax yet proposed was embod-
led in the suggestion Of the Phllaoei-
pf1ia Chamber Of Commerce for wage
tax of one-half of / per cent on the
earned income of residents and non
residents geinfully employed in Phila-
delphia.
Measure Definitely Picked"
With the newspapers leading the
battle for the wage Garner, this meas
ure was effectively and definitely
picked four days after it had been
introduced in Council. And that in
spite of tie fact that when the bill
was introduced an informal canvass
showed the majority of Council mem
bers favored adoption.
The present total tax levy is $2.7712.
1t includes $1.8212 for each SlO0 OF
assessed real estate valuation and the
50 cents school tax. The school tax
rate will he continued during next year,
and, lacking bomt-proof shelters or
their equivalent, Council members are
expected to continue the present real
estate levy. They would increase 1t
if they dared risk the wrath OF the
taxpayers who pay.
As one Council leader observed re-
Gently: What are We going to do? We
can't operate without money. Nobody
has come forward with a helpful sug-
gestion. The people don't seem to
realize that government is the first to
feel the effects of a depression and the
last to recover!"
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