The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-28

UOTTOWeU, o. WHICH WIS
paid out of the current revenues, obtained
during that year. There was expended by
the present administration during the year
1896 for permanent improvements $1i9. 062 It.
$4,000 of which was borrowed money. The
expenditure out of current revenue for
permanent improvements in 1886 was $49,-
OoZl6, only 1868 10 more than it's Republican
predecessor expended for permanent inn
proVements the preceding year. And there
was the four per cent. interest to be paid
improvements. AS $4,000 of that sum has
been paid | compute the interest only upon
$4,000 for the year, which was $1,000. This
same Democratic report shows that these
bonds were for improvements of the hos
pital and fire departments
| call further attention to the fact that
the ordinary expenses for police protection
ana Tor hospital purposes were not any
greater, with the possible exception of a
very few dollars, in the year 1886 than they
were in the year 1895. and | CO trther at
tention to the fact that in the 1895. a
shown by the Democratic repo ere was
expended for permanent jmpr, ,ents by
the Department of Public Vol $14, 0S6 %
paid for out of the current expenses of
1885, while there was but So. 771.40 expended
for similar purposes in the year 1896. Every
one of these figures ! take from the report
of the present city controller, and we'll does
he say in his communication TO the mayor
ton is respectfully directed TO tables in this
report which contain much information that
is valuable to every taxpayer"
INCREASE OVER sizes.
This comparison shows that the present
administration, in the year 1896, expended
over Sos, 900 more than was expended the
preceding year by the Republican admins
tration and for similar purposes and with
out having shown any Improvement in the
administration of the city's affairs, and
having no permanent improvements to
which it can point where this additional
expense has gone. 1t is claimed, however,
that by a change in the law an expense
for the sprinkling of the improved streets,
amounting to some $4,000 now falls upon
the current expenses that formerly was
discharged by the property owners. We're
this true it would still leave over $4,000 I'M
accounted for, and the natural growth OF
the city in twelve months could not be
given as reason for this increased eX-
penditure AS / have indicated the ex-
penses of the police and Health Depart
mentS were not greater in N96 than they
We're in 1895, and / call attention to the fact
that the law relative to the payment for
sprinkling the improved streets went into
effect during the year 1885, and in a large
portion of that year this was PAID Ior py
year which l have not taken out OF tne
expenditures in this comparison. l chal-
lenge contradiction of these hgures, ana II
is my authority, then the present admins
tratiOn is not a business Administrations
and is not manifesting a business sagacltS
ent bid for votes at the October election.
The affairs of large city should be adj
ministered economically, yet with a true
sense of the progress which should always
characterize the growth of great city. l
would in no instance have one backward
step taken, nor one dollar improperly ex-
pended nor one dollar improperly withheld.
But the record of these two years shows
conclusively that the affairs of this city
have not been conducted by the present ad-
ministration with spirit of economy and
progress. There has during the past few
months been added to the city new re-
sponsbilities by the annexation of the
towns of North Indianapolis, Brightwood,
Haughville and Mount Jackson. These
towns which have come into the city are
expecting fair administration and consid-
Grafton. They are entitled to increased
benefits without increased taxation If the
present administration, without these re-
sponsbilities, has failed to administer the
business of the city in a proper manner,
what can be expected when new response
bilities shall be added?
want to call attention to one additional
failure the part of this administration:
There were issued in June last $15O0OO of
bonds for the purpose of constructing
new station house and improving the IA
cilities of the police department. The first
step made by the administration was to
sell the bonds, obligating the city to the
payment of the principal and per cent.
annual interest. The money. was actually
deposited in the hands of the city treas
urer before steps were taken for the con-
of the building / admit that un-
der the terms of the charter the city was
obliged to first make a provision before it
could make the contract for the construc-
ton, but the additional real estate for this
station house cost but $4,000 and the con-
tract price for construction was only S54,-
$780, Was it good business policy TO bor-
row $4,000 at per cent. rate OF inter-
est for the purpose of meeting a contract
for $74 900? Would an individual in the
conduct of his own affairs have borrowed
$3.50, 000 obtaining the actual cash and plac-
ing it to his credit at the bank, when he
was only to pay $4,000 for the contract?
In my judgment the city would have been
under the charter to issue bonds
sufficient for the purpose of the purchase
of the additional real estate and the con-
of the building, and thus have
relieved the city of the interest on the adj
$4,000. But it is claimed, perhaps,
that the expense of the equipment of the
Gamewell contract would also nave to be
provided for before thu contract for the
extension of that system could pe let.
am informed that the Gamewell contract
step in the execution of that contract is
possible to be made until the completion
of the station house / find no city official
who points to a single thing looking
towards the fulfiilment of that contract
which will necessitate the expenditure of
a dollar until after the station house shall
be completed. 1t may be further said that
the remainder of the $150,000 is necessary
for the substations and the furnishing and
equipment of the station house itself. But
it goes without saying that you cannot fur
niSh building until after it is completed
and there is no more sense IN the borrow
ing of money, obligating the city to the
payment of interest, for the equipment of
the station house until after the house Ell
ther has been completed or is nearing COM
pleton than there would be to borrow mon
ey in anticipation of all the permanent inn
provements. How different the manage
ment upon this point is the course pur-
sued by the federal government in the con-
structiOn of federal improvements IT has
been, and still is, my hope, in my feeble
way, to aid in persuading the federal gov
to construct new federal build
ing in this city. 1t is my intention to pur-
sue this course until success crowns our
efforts. But if the federal government in
tends to construct a new federal building
in indianapolis, VIII she issue bonds for
million and half dollars and Obligate her
self for the payment of interest on that
before she begins the construction? Not at
all. The government first authorizes the
and to obtain bids for the construction Of
such a building, and then. as the construc-
ton progresses, appropriations are made
from time to time so that the least possible
interest obligation is incurred. An indi-
vidual business man. about to expend $780,
600 for the construction of a building, not
having the ready cash with which to pay
that expense, would borrow the money
only as 1t was needed, and meet the con-
tract as the building progresses and hon
eStly believe that under the terms of the
city charter the present administration
could properly have issued bonds only for
the amount sufficient to pay for the addi-
tional real estate and construction of the
building, and then issue, afterwards bonds
for the purpose of meeting the expense of
the Gamewell contract and equipment of
the substations and the station house
proper.
MAYOR AND THE CHARTER.
This is merely an example of the lack of
business policy pursued within the last
eight months. 1 desire to call attention to
me other example and for the purpose of