The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-24
THE G. A. r. APPROPRIATION
Many Business Men and Heavy Tax
Payers Speak Strongly in Its Favor.
Ali Commend the Pending Measure as Being
Equitable IN Its Operation and the Most
Satisfactory that Could Be Devised.
MERCHANTS AND BUSINESS MEN.

tanning the National Encapment of the
Grand Army was obtaiIable. yesterday,
from merchants, bankers and others vitality
interested in every phase of taxation.
They were asked directly their opinion rel
alive 20 the act before the Senate to en-
able the city of Indianapolis to appropri-
ate $4,000 for the encampment and to raise
that amount by taxation. Without excep-
tion the expression was that citizens can
not afford to stop now To consIder the cost.
The eucampment Is coming, said they, and
the only thing for Indianapolis to do is
to pay the bill, and that with heart
mess that will leave no cloud
upon her hospitality. 1t was the opinion.
too. that il subscription to q fund to meet
oil the expenses accruing were relied upon
there would be failure to reach the neces-
ssry limit.
1t was found, also, that the workingmen
Of the city were just as enthusiastic and
willing to share the burden of taxation as
the merchant or banker. They see in the
appropriation an expenditure of money
from which they will derive q great
benefit Preparations for the encampmenr
Will increase the opportunities for work
and from that much of the APPROPRIATION
and other mechanics. The rate Of taxation
for this purpose, Al cents on the 500. was
considered very light, so light, In fact, as TO
be beyond all COMPLAINT; but whether light
or heavy, it was recognized that the ex-
penses of the campment had TO be paid,
and that by the people. No fairer or more
equitable way, 1t was urged, could be de-
vised. than that provided for In the en-
aElIng act.
This" said A. KIefer, of A. KIefer q Co..
10 nf Ia "a
the time To discuss the means of
paying for that hospitality. The bill
before the Senate Is right and should
be sustained. We must take caro- OF the
encampment, and l mean by We not the
few who have subscribed or would SUBJ
scribe to a fund. but everybody. We are
down for a subscription, and. in addition.
favor the tax"
There is but one side to this question.
en- In favor of the bill. If this State gives
Us the right to make the appropriation 1T
rests with us whether TO do it or not. 1t
should be made"
James r. Ross: Il am decidedly in favor
of the bill. There Is not q resident Of In
dianapolis who will not either directly or
indirectly derive some benefit from the
encampment being here. Therefore all
should share in the expense. 1t Is waste
of time TO talk of any other way of meet
ing the expense of entertaining the old
soldiers. All business men who have sub
scribed to the fund are willing TO be taxed
for this purpose because Indiana and In
dIanapolis cannot afford to have failure
in this enterprise"
NJ. b. Wilson. president Capital National
Bank: The bill should De passed. The
proper. cordial and most hospitable enter
tainment of the encampment is q
and the country: subscribed
$3.50 to the fund, and have estimated that
the tax will require from me $3.50 addition
al That will readily pay, but even If 1T
was more this is not the time to object.
We. as people. cannot do snything else
than to pay this tax willingly. and it is
silly to talk otherwise. 1t would be ruiDous
to the city to fail in meeting the eXpecta-
tion of visitors In regard to entertainment,
and in fulfilling the pledges We have
made"
Volney T. Malott. President of the In.
diana National Bank: The encampment
is coming and we must provide for It, We
must do all we can TO make 1t o success. i
do not want to see IL fail"
Judge X. N. Lamb: The bill appropriate
ing $4,000 to pay the expenses OF the
Grand Army encampment should be passed.
Not to do SO would impose upon the gener-
Gus few a heavy burden. The proposition
to provide for that appropriation by taxa
tion is as legitimate as one thousand 9TH
ers that have made calls upon the public
treasury. We are not strict construction
ists of law unless we want to be- and this
is q time when we should not be. Again,
the State also should not hesitate to aD-
propriate money to help In paying the en-
campment expenses The state Is as much
interested IN the success OF the eneamp-
ment as the city, and If indianapolis
willing to care for the encampment as
great as the expense may be, the State. If
the city is ready to tax herself for that
purpose, should not deprive her of the
Sterling II. Holt. President of State
Bank of Indiana: I'VE must not fail in this
entertainment The tax will reach all
property holders, and make an equitable
distribution of the expense"
John +. Cleland: I'VE have q big under
taking on hand. We must carry 1t through.
The benefits will be general, and the ex
pense should be generally borne. There is
no better means of providing for that ex-
pense than by taxation. Other cities have
entertained the encampments handsomely,
and we must do the same. l am in faver
OF tie bill"
7 Thomas M. Gruelle. editor of Labor Sig
nal: From the expressions l have heard.
tho worklngmen favor the appropriation
by the city. They say 1t Will benefit them
III creating work, and putting INTO circuIa-
tiOn from 100000 TO S4,OOJ,C00. Again,
they say that the SI5.00 raised by taxation
will not 90 out of the city. and that it will
all be expended so they will get the benefit
of ii. But they look beyond the preparing
for the encampment and the week OF its
duration. They argue that Columbus, o.,
Dy having Tue cuCamDIueuJ lOuE years ago
was gwen an impetus that has resulted In
great progress In building and other ways.
am in favor of the bill.o
V. NJ. Backus. County Treasurer: Ger
tainly am in favor of the bill. The city
Will reap q benefit from the encampment in
many ways. / have attended several en-
campments and observed the benefits they
brought with them. Detroit made a splen-
did reputation through her entertaining
the soldiers and the encampment there was
followed by period of prosperity. The
encampment here will leave between 3d.
O00 coo and S4.C00.000 in the city. If we
rely on subscription the money will not be
raised. The appropriation by the city
should therefore be made. and no one ought
to grumble about bearing his share of such
expense
Hiram w. Miller, ex-County Treasurer:
IL thought at first that the Appropriation
was not right, bat 1 have changed my
mind. The tax will be light, only forty
i've cents on each $1,000. 1t is too small TO
warrant any complaint. AS tho expense of
the enoampment has to be met, this Is the
most equitable way of meeting it. Every
one who Is to get benefit from the en-
campment, either direct or indirect. must
bear his share OF the cost"
Charles w. Smith: lit is clear to me that
there can be no constitutional objection TO
the bill providing for an appropriation by
the city for this purpose. or to
one carrying with it State ap-
preparation. 1 have had occasion the past
week, in connection with other matters, to
consider that question. The appropriation
mot by taxation is the most equitable
means of securing the money desired for