The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-03


effect any saving. What can be done in thesef
IA contract already exists with the Indianap-
oils Gas-light and Coke Company for lighting
the streets, which expires in the near future.
That material saving can be made in this de-
partment after that date, there is OF course,
little doubt There is much to consider in con-
nection with this subject of future street light
ing L hope the committee on public light will
give the matter their immediate and earnest at
tention, so that the question of future contract
for street lighting will be fully UNDERSTOOD De-
fore the present one expires.
I'm this connection the committee should not
forget that the vapor light contracts nave neen
rapidly accumulatine. until what it was at nrst
stated should Fever ccst to exceed few nun
dred dollars q year, have now increased TO as
many thousands. AS fast these contracts ex-
pre the number Of lights should be reduced, as
well as the price Of those retained. Tnere are
many of these vapor street lights that nave
never, as I believe, been OF any practicai vaiue
to the city.
'.It has been apparent to all who have given
the subject consideration that the fire depart
ment has cost the city too much In propoctlon 10
its receipts, in years past. The expense OF MAIN
tanning this department out of all proportion
to many of the others. 1t consumes more than
one-seventh of the cty's income, without includ-
ing the thrty-odd thousand dollars paid annu-
ally to thewater company the bulk of which Is
also properly chargeable to the cost OF fire pro-
lection. This department has for so long been
the pride of the city, however, that the puoilc
woSld be loath to see anything done TO impair
its efficiency. And yet, the large expense OF main
tanning it has become so serious ouestlon, on
account of the cty's cramped financial condition.
that the time has fully come for the Council TO
carefully consider the question of how it can be
reduced with the least detriment to the service
1.-THE pay of the officers and men employed
not fairly be cut down; for, taking into con-
sideration the hazard and character of the work
required of them, the salaries are low enough
And with the amount of apparatus now in use
the number of houses maintained, and men en-
ployed, L do not suppose the cost of sup
plies can be lessened; for L believe the
chief engineer has been as sparing in his de-
mands possible under the circumstances
Hence il would seem that any saving to be
made in this department will have to be brought
about by reducing the number of men employed
the number of houses maintained, or BOTH
have heard il stated by we'll posted in the
management and affairs of the department. that
one man can be spared from each of the seven
engine companies without detrment to the ef-
ficiency of the department.. l have also heard
the opinion many times expressed that at least
one house can be closed without serious injury
to the service / cannot vouch for the correct
ness of these opinions, but 1 ask the fire COZ
mittee to carefully consider these suggestions,
and any other matters occurring TO them, keep
ing in mind the past high standard of efficiency
of the department on the one hand and the con-
ditIoE of our finances the other. AS
said committee can make such Investigations
they think proper and sufficient l recommend
that they report to the Council, SO that final
action on the matter of reducing the expenses of
this department. may be had at the earliest prac-
ticable time"
In returning to the question OF the city's tax
limit the Mayor said: ''At the time the 90ce
limit law was passed, the assessed value of
property in indianapolis for purposes of tax
alton was $780, 456 POI. and the rate was 81. ID on
the 500 for general city uses. For some years
prior to that the valuation of property and rate
OF taxation had both been even higher. The
cut of % cents on the 500 of valuations, as re-
turned for the year 1876, perhaps all that
was intended by the Legislature, or desired by
those who recommended the passage of the bill.
But assessments were lowered from year to
year, until, IN the year of 1885, the total valua-
MS ned a q
S55. 759, TAG. This sum, at 80 cents on the 800
(makine allowance for delinquency, would
have yielded 1901, 1897. But after the assessor
had made his return. above. the county Board
OF Equalization arbitrarily cut down the values
fixed by him on real estate 20 per cent,
leaving the total value of all property,
real and personal. for that year, S4S, 756, COS,
yielding but $43S, 500. loss the treasury of
500. OPS. These reduced values on real estate,
thus fixed, cannot be increased for five years
yet, the law requiring assessments for taxation
of real estate to stand for six years. The statute
says that real estate shall be valued for pur-
poses of taxation, at it's full. fair cash value,
estimated at the price it would bring at fair
voluntary sale" Tested by this rule it may be
questioned whether the values fixed by the
SCISSOR on the property in this city, in 1886, were
too high But admitting that the board of
eq ia liZation was justified in its action at the
time, the increase in values since has been
much or more than the reduction then made;
and il real estate advances, we all confidently
expect from now on, do not doubt that its.
"full, fair cash value" by the time another as
sessment is allowed. will be almost double that
which its owners will be paying taxes But
to say nothing OF increased values what the
per cent of increase will likely be for the next
five years. an amendment to the present law, in
creasng the limit In the same ratio that the
values for taxation have been reduced since
1877. would still leave the aggregate amount of
taxes collected the same. and would yield
more revenue for city uses than originally
intended. In saying what have this sub
ject, do not wish to be understood as recon-
mending that the law be amended SO as to in
crease the rate of taxation over the limit
fixed, unless it becomes an lmpertlve necessity,
in order to save the city FROM disgrace. 1 have
only tried to show that the city is now COM
PEELED to much less revenue than it Ga
ten years ago, and that, too with largely in.
creased territory to support If, at the end of
the present year. you should see that the city
cannot be decently maintained,
longer attempted to be with safety TO its
credit on the tax rate now allowed, you then
lay such facts before our Senators and Repre-
sentatives in the General Assembly as will fully
advise them of the citys financial condition,
and make such recommendations to them d you
may deem to be your duty as the peoples repre-
sentatlves. I believe those who wear
out the streets should at least keep them in
repair after the abutting property owners have
once built them. With vehicle tax sufficient
TO keep our streets in repair. and as much moro
to go into the general treasury derived from
some other special source, the city could likely
get along without increased property tax
for years to come. hope some such relief will
be given, for the value to this city of maintain
ing low tax real estate not be over
The Mayor also reviewed the legislation in re-
laton to the Citizens Street-railway Company
and it's failure to comply with ordinances that
have been passed. He called particular atten-
ton to the company's failure to build the Missis
sippi-street line and report of the Council spe-
cial committee in last June, in which various
were made for the improve
ment of the service. He suggested that consld
GRAFTON should be given the committees report
by the new Council He also referred to the
use of mules as means of propelliDg the cars,
and said that the city had grown too large to
longer tolerate such service. public senti-
ment," he said, SHOULD begin to assert itself
this subject, and. aided by you, should not cease
n.il the managers of the company are forced to
replace WORKOUT mules with horses"
In speaking of the water company, the Mayor
said: 1.-The question of the adoption of more
equitable rules and prices by the Indianapolis
Water Company for the benefit OF private con-
sumers should be investigated by you. There
are many complaints by those who the COM
panv's water, and still more by those who do
not because of their inability to get the same,
for the reason that they are unable to pay
~I,a llinrx 4ne ,lxy