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Show TUE TREASl KEK'S REPORT. Very properly the annual report of the city treasurer occupies the tirst place in the series submitted to the, city council at its recent meeting. The taxpayer tax-payer will naturally turn to it tint of nil as it touches him in the most vital part of his outer anatomy, which is the pocket. Mr. Walden has devoted much care to tho preparation of his report, and being a skillful writer there u nothing ambiguous about it. Some information in-formation of a statistical kind, presented for the first time in this manner, is of rare inttv-ot and much of it of considerable consid-erable value. We wish to call the attention of the taxpayers to the, statement made by thn treasurer that had it not been fur the sale of city lots just prior to the retirement retire-ment of the old government the liberal administration would have entered upon its duties with a delicit of $0.-.7IA-f.'i on its hands. This is important in view of the constaut claims made by the defunct party that it left a plethoric treasury behind, (ircat as the present expenditures may be, owing to thn improvements im-provements inaugurated or contemplated, contem-plated, the city will not be compelled to barter away its possessions in order to make a good surface showing, but it will bo sustained by its ordinary re- sources. To do this with a clearer understanding understand-ing the suggestion of the treasurer that yearly apportionments to the various departments by the council bo made, should be adopted. There is probably no difference of opinion opin-ion as to the excellent recommendations recommenda-tions with regard to merchant license,. It should be abolished. It is an incubus incu-bus at once unfair snd annoying, a relic of primitive days. What Mr. Waldeu says concerning liquor licenses is in tho iuterst of morality mor-ality antl good government. We believe be-lieve with him that if the license of 1200 were made payable annually in advance, instead of quarterly as at present, pres-ent, it would force tho low dens to go out of business aud place the trallic in more responsible and theruloro more orderly hands. Of less importance perhaps, but of no less justice, is tho proposition regarding pawn brokers. They should be distinguished from general brokers and their places of business designated desig-nated by the customary sign of three balls so that he who enter there may know what to expect. One more suggestion strikes us as specially worthy of notico aud that is an ordinance requiring all departments of the city government to make a complete com-plete settlement with tho treasurer once each month, or ofteuer if required by him; said settlements to be duly audited by the city auditor. Further, that the auditor and treasurer make a full and complete report to tho mayor and council once each month, that they may at all times know the exact condition condi-tion of the city's finances. The people agree with Mr. Waldeu in this proposition. propo-sition. Altogether the report of the city treasurer is a practical and sensible document replete with figures and ideas deserving to bo perused and pondered pon-dered over. |