The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-13
PERPLEXING PROBLEM.
The Municipal Authorities Vainly Striy-
ing to Avert Big Deficiency.
Evidence ELECTED at the Financial Committee
Meeting Last Night Showing Discrimina-
ton in Rates by the Water Company.

ton in Rates by the Water Company.
The Council finance committee cannot get its
financial brain fairly on the problem of cutting
down expenses unless it has the quietness OF
secret sessions. 1t appears to this able body
Ahat mistake was made in reducing the real
estate appraisement. because the duplicate OF
next year will not yield a revenue to meet city
expenses at the old rate. There is certainly
only one way out of the difficulty, and that is to
lower expenditures Members of the committee
meet and after agreeing that this must be done,
struggle into perplexites and doubt as to where
to use the financial knife. One man does not
want the fire department touched, another
thinks some other department cannot bear the
pruning process, and it goes until nearly every
avenue of expense finds protection. The gentlemen
Ignore the proposition that the way to cut Is TO
cut It is doubtful whether the committee will
recommend to Council any interference with
the Recommendation as to water prices under
new contract with the water company. 1t may,
but if it concludes otherwise, 1t will be in fit of
desperation to make some showing at reducing
Dutlaya
When Mayor Denny asked Chief Webster at
the meeting of the committee last night, with
the water committee present, if there was any
Ehance of reducing fire department expenses,
that officer said mo- He believed there would
be slight excess in salaries over last years ex
penses for four men, who then worked only six
months of the year and who are now in the
Bervice the year round. This was
the only increase he saw It Is prob
pble other expenses will not be
rs great. nor is there any need of increase
Is to be considered only in unlooked-for con-
Mngency. He did not think he could spare a
man a horse without impairing the efficiency
Of the department..
IL we cant begin there, said Mayor Denny.
81 don't know where we can. 1t Is just this: If
something is not done we will find ourselves, at
the end of next year, $240 900 short
"But we have got rio, replied Mr. Thalman,
s'of the city hall expense, and believe, with
This out of the way, we come out all right.
However, was opposed to the reduced appraise
ment / did not think the taxes were too high,
and with the ninety cents levy and the old value
We could have got along nicely"
Some one suggested that Council ought to be
Rparing in its action regarding street improve
ments, which led Mr. Thalman to says II am in
favor of having every ordinance OF that kind ac-
Eompaned by an estimate OF the cltys expense
In the proposed improvement"
II do no see, when people petition for i'm
proved Streets" said the Mayor, land offer to
tax themselves for portion of the expense. how
we can refuse, but tell you it has to be DONE"
I'VE can do without street repairs" said Mr..
Fhalman LET the streets 60 until we have the
money to spare"
In this brief detail is comprehended all that
was said and done in searching for a solution of
the problem of reduction, as long as the report
ers were allowed to remain in the room. Two
or three gentlemen were anxious to have their
financial talk 60 themselves, while Councilmen
Pearson and Smith graciously consented to have
the people know how the committee wrestled
with the perplexity of getting enough money
out OF reasonable and equitable tax valuation.
It was determined, though, to have an executive
session
Before the reporters went however, they had
stacks of notes what was said regarding an
Interesting phase of the water question A num-
Der of gentlemen in the interest of the water
company and several citizens were there The
Irregularty OF water rates and the proposition to
have council regulate them caused their presence.
D. M. Bradbury, the attorney, was presentas
the representative of several gentlemen WHO had
complaints of this kind to make After re-
fsriug to the clause Of the charter ordinance,
providing for the fixing of water rates
by council and the company, and if they cannot
Bgree, by Ave disinterested citizens. he submitted
the affidavit of w. 81. Morrison. corner of Penn
Bylvania and Vermont streets. This atlantis
grievance concerned the ompany's wish to
charge him $3.50 for sprnkling water while
his neiGhbor, Mr.. Eden, got 1t at So per year.
when there was no difference in the condition of
the two corner properties, relative to frontage
and depth Mr. Morrison has been for three
months trying to get the charge fixed for his
property reduced, and in the meantime he has
been without the use of the water. Mr.. Brad
bury said no power was given the company
under its contract to make fish of one and fowl
of another, nor did it have any right to charge
per lineal foot He could present other affda-
Wits relating to like determinations but ne had
not the time to prepare them.
He had another. though, of different sort.
II came from MIR. Strong, of Aneshaensel &
Etrong the plumbing firm This afiant said
ahe water company demanded bonds from the
Drm, guaranteeing an observance Of its rnles re-
garding connections and extensions. Ine iirfn
refused to file such bond because the company
had no reght to require it. After this the firm
was refused permits to make connections and
extensions and when it's patrons went to the
company's officers they were told that the afiant
and his partner were incompetent. irresponsi-
BILE and untrustworthy.r This, Mr.. Strong
claimed, injured the business OF the firm.
Ed Shiedler complained that the water COM
pany would not allow him to lay an iron pipe to
carry water to the rear of his yard, so he could
sprinkle the grass there He wanted this be-
pause it would be cheaper than buying $50 feet
Of rubber hose. He paid SO per year for sprink-
ling privilege and Sc for house service.
Mr. Hickman, OF the water company. asked
PR Shieder If he did not let his neighbor
his hose. That gentleman said he did, but 1t
was because fresh sod had been laid in his neigh
boris yard, and he wanted it sprinkled over. He
did not think anyone would refuse such small
favor, but the companys representative thought
differently. This occurred in the statement of
Mr Davis. vice president of the company,
who said the old company had sus-
tanned the actual loss Of 81, 900, 900,
and that the sprinkling service was not remu-
lucrative the old charge of So, then at $40, nor
ut So the stincluding house connections, In or
der to secure greater number of consumers
The company made no money, for he found lot
of fifty feet. The company then adopted the
charge of $40 for fifty foot lot and less aud an
additional 10 cents per foot for all over that
number Of feet. A number of old contracts
were being carried, contracts made with the old
company at Sc rate. West street, that has 5000
feet OF pipe. had for five years but one consumer,