The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1949-09-22
Moae Abo4z The Bond 144I4e
By H. S. Douglas


earlier the the question opinion
would have got started.
Shorn of all vebiage and figures here the facts
Il them;
The Sweeney built up than million
dollar surplus mainly due the fact that which the
normally would have been spent had be held
the years and those Immediately following because of the lack
of materials.
In the last years Sweeney administration some
of the badly needed city undertaken the funds
coming from the butup surplus.
When the Mills administration took Office the first of
April they ahead with projects (not
vded for the budge and this of has dipped further
into the better than million dollars surplus until by the end of
this year, it will be practically wiped
This leaves the city the position of having million anda
hadoar Municipal Electric Light Plant nearing
completion without funds necessary pay for Hence the
administrations that the voters give them authority
Ito dollar bond with which
the of the light plant program
is water over the whether the present admins
ation should have gone ahead with their spending
gram The fact that they have done and it has
Ito be paid for.
The Mills administration pointed Monday that
the budget for I949 by the previous administration made
provision whatever for capital but the found
necessary undertake capital expenditures for the
totang 100000 further pointed that the amount in
949 budget $4,000 whereas
present order homes
within the limits that have been without for found
necessary spend the of $4,000 These items alone
expenditure of quarter million dollars the payment
of which had of the surplus
During the discussion of the bond issue Monday night
pretty generally agreed that the projects undertaken
by the administration of the budget
that vitality Here of them that
you Judge for yourselves:
The City Limits the North End and
provide for the housing development going
there underpas being built under Pennsy Avenue
the children attending Founandae School,
that deporab condition such the Devonsh Road
alongside the West Washington Street School, being built
the city limits that for years have been without
traffic lights have been put up the Memorial
Boulevard the South Potomac Junior High School,
Washington Street is being rebuilt from Mulberry Street the
Dual Highway
pointed that practically of these projects could
have been started had the administration attempted
strictly within the 949 budget by Sweeney
ministraton therefore, with the surplus being used for the
Provemens of city becomes necessary provide
bond issue to for the expansion of the light plant
which, in round figures, is million and half dollars
There in the minds of the question of whether
million and half dollars actually needed but City Attorney
Oner pointed the conference Monday night even
though the million and half dollars might be the
actual figure required will be better get little more than
actually needed than take the getting enough and
then having at later date through all the expense calling
another special election for second bond The City ATTORNEY
further pointed that if the bond the amount need
ed for the light plant expansion program any surplus would
have to be applied the of the and could
not be used for any other purpose.
That brings then the final question-Wha will the 1850
rate be the bond issue approved by voters?
On this question MIR Une speaking for the administration
stated that the bond issue his the city
could still with SO But pinned down
the question he stated that it impossible tell definitely
at this time whether there would have be
the for year. although that could be
avoided My opinion however will be slight
the 1850 though the bond issue IS an
proved by the voters base opinion that under
the new charter the budget by the present
administration Cor for that succeeding administration
that budget must be strictly adhered and Mayor
will be unable make that budget whatever
Because OF this the charter help but feel
that when the administration lob of setting ND
the 1880 budget they will make liberal provide any
unforeseen contingencies that might during coming And
since the only that they could possibly
he hu