The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-29

IOlalS So. stZ.Ot ttll.ssO.to
Excess OF 1897 over 1896. ..........$ 1l3, 292S6
Controller Johnson estimates that the re-
ceipts under the present tax levy will be
$6s5.000 and that the miscellaneous receipts
will be s215. 600. making a total of $S5o.0Oo.
or s121, ss5.4S less than the amounts asked
for by the various departments. These
do not include two other items,
considered very important by the cabinet.
and for which it is expected there will
yet be provision made. This is a new sys-
tenn of police telephones and signal boxes
and the collection Of garbage. These Will
cost $50. 900. This would bring the total esti-
total does not include the balances which
may be left unexpended at the end OF this
year. which. according to custom. viii be
appropriated to the various departments,
hut as the estimates for receipts do not
include the balance that may be on hand
at. the end of the year, the two items VIII
sidered now. In 1895 the total expenditures
for current expenses were $S1o,3i3.s9; Tor
lS94. SI4I, 26S: for 1893. ss52,lls.22 ana Tor
1892. SIS. 1913 Thus the contemplated ex-
penditures next year run over 100000 more
than the expenditure for current expenses
In any year in the past.
This puzzle of making $500 900 pay
over 81, 900, 900 of expenses called forth con-
siderable Mayor Taggart re-
mersea tf Ia the he T tas s leVg' yb oRposs se 80 sai id
1T takes money to run a city like this
and | think that after the estimates have
all been pruned as much as possible and an
increase then seems necessary, II should be
made. This would not be popular. but Ii
Is the only thing left open for the city to
do"
Mr.. Downing, of the Board of Works,
thought the rate of taxation should be in
creased 10 cents, making 1T 20 cents on
All seemed inclined TO steer as far as pos
sible from an increase in the tax rate, but
it was the opinion of most of the members
IF the cabinet that an increase would he
necessary this year TO met the expenses.
One more effort will be made, however.
70 cut down the estimates so as TO allow
the appropriations to come within a reason
able amount of the receipts. Controller
Johnson will meet each of the boards and
will go over the estimates carefully with
will begin with the park board next Mon
day. According to the instructions OF
Mayor Taggart. he will then use the prun-
ing knife without the advice of the boards
until he thinks he has the figures about
where they should be-
CONTROLLER OFF IN JUDGMENT.
During the discussion of the situation
Controller Johnson took occasion to get in
a few quiet remarks d~erogatory to the
management of the city finances before he
took the reins In hand. He spoke Of the
fact that the miscellaneous receipts for
1895 were not as much by $4,000 as they
were the year before. He said he could
~ - S0Ca 1a'S-t va tA1
receipts should not increase each year. He
did not take into account the fact that the
decrease in liquor licenses. caused by the
Nicholson law, was within less than $500
of this amount. There were forty less sa-
looms in the city during 1896 than during
1894 He also spoke of the fact that the
slightly in 1888. and said that was an un-
accountable thing. and something that
should not have occurred. The true reason
Of the decrease of $500 was the fact that in
1894 all those who did not pay their license
fec within the time prescribed by law were
compelled 70 pay a penalty of 100 per cent.
which largely augmented the receipts Of
that year. Before the collection was made
for the year 1925 this section of the law
was repealed, making the only punishment
for a failure TO get a license a fine in Po-
| lice Court.
Mr.. Mcguire brought up the subject of
the fremen's pension fund. which has be-
| year by a little over $4,000 from the city
tbeing l cent tax on each $500 and by the
payment of l per cent. of all the salaries
of the members of the fire force. Mr..
Mcguire said there are now several men Or
the force who have been disabled by ac-
cidents and who should be retired accord
ing to the provisions of the law. Some of
them, he said, are mere membranes to
the department while others are yet able
to do duty as telephone operators and
watchmen.
Mr.. Lieber. in explaining why the Park
Board wants so much money. said the city
would have a much larger expense next
year than ever before in this line on ac-
count of the addition of several small
tracts of land 10 the park system and on
account of the proceedings which have al
ready be en- tegun to secure m CHI moe and
for park purposes. He also said il was the
intention Of the board TO try 10 secure
funds with which to purchase about ten
squares in or near the center OF the city
for park purposes.
The whole matter has resolved itself into
a question of the ability of the controller
10 put a bushel of wheat in a half bushel
measure. He wants to try to do it, but
Mayor Taggart says he would rather be
"cussed" a lit.ls ard increase the size OF
and furnish ample means for the city af-
fairs 70 he pronerly con6vpfed