The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-24
Public Improvement Burdens.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal
The constantly increased revenue which
our municipal government is collecting
from various sources, taking into consider
alton that the principal expenditures for
public improvements (streets and sewers
are paid by the individual, which brings up
the question, What are we to receive in
return for the vast sums of money which
flow into the public Golfers, swelled of late
years very materially by new assessments
(wagon and wheel tax unknown in the
times past, when the city still paid a good
proportion of all public improvements?
Naturally, we are disposed to ask if this
increased revenue is really expended in the
interest of the community or if it simply
furnishes means for the creation and main
tenance of offices made necessary for the
collection of these additional taxes. Among
these new officials are a number of So
called inspectors, for many purposes, filed
by men who, as a rule are unqualified to
fill their positions, generally appointed as
a reward for party services rendered with
out regard to their fitness, and I am dis
posed to believe that the community is not
receiving an adequate return for this partic-
ular expenditure, for, as a rule these in
spectors do not inspect. The best evidence
to prove this assertion is the fact that we
are constantly finding that we have been
defrauded in the making of streets and in
the building of sewers, when completed and
the final estimate has been made, in spite
of the services of the high-priced officials
appointed, ostensibly for the purpose of
watching the work as it progresses. 1t
looks to me that in a system, although
based on our much-lauded charter which
makes it possible for such conditions to ex-
list, there must be something radically
wrong, and L trust that the forthcoming
tabulated schedule of public expenditures
promised us will enlighten us as to where
our money goes.
In connection herewith 1 desire to call at
tention to the fact that under our present
unjust system of taxation, which compels
the individual TO pay for public improve
ments which maze the enactment of the
Barrett law an absolute necessity - as it
could never have been put into execution
without it-that the community will forever
be debtors to Eastern bondholders, for the
reason that, although our streets are very
expensive. they are specifically and care
lessly built, and will require rebuilding lust
about at the time when the last payment
ten years. has been made compelling us
to. again assume new Understanding
debt, thus keeping us continuously behind
without hope of ever extricating ourselves
from the eXactiOnS placed upon us without
equity or reason. The principle of our pres
ent method of collecting for public improve
ments is entirely wrong, and has not one
being at once unjust and arbitrary in its
application. l years ago advocated that
municipalities be authorized to borrow Suf
cient funds to make whatever public inn
proVements are contemplated, no matter
how large the sum required; that they have
the privilege of bonding this Indebtedness
for period of forty or fifty years, which
would enable them TO raise these sums at
a very low rate of interest, possibly 3 per
cent. BY creating a sinking fund and as
sessing the general public with only . per
cent. on the sum borrowed the principal, by
compromising the interest, could be pald on
in d comparatively short time, ana no one
would be impoverished in trying 10 meet
an assessment of this character--at the
same time giving our posterity, VINO VIII
enjoy the improvements made probably
longer than Will, an opportunity 10 con-
tribute towards their maintenance as WELL
There is reason why the present genera
ton should practically pay cash for perma-
nent improvements $50 caled), creating a
hardship in very many cases when there is
no necessity for il, and when those who
come after us should have opportunity to
add their mite as well towards the build
ing up of the city, which is certainly but
a reasonable demand based on justice and
equity. This plan. however, is not a new
one, and is successfully carried out in 9TH
er cities after which we could pattern with
profit. The fact that many have already
paid for these improvements should be no
bar to changing a wrong principle. for
some method OF reimbursing these parties,
or of crediting them on future improve
ments could certainly be devised In order TO
adjust this item properly.
Another very important feature which
speaks against our present system OF as
sessing for public improvements is the fact
that they are all Inquired at least 10 per
cent higher than necessary in ORDER to en-
able the contractors To float the bonds is
sued for the purpose. which, under different
conditions, would be saYed--an item which,
considering that we have OF late years ex-
pended about So, 000 for this purpose
shows that we have practically thrown