The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-21
A MILLlON-D DOLLAR YEAR
RECKLESS EXPENDITURES OF THE
TAGGART ADMINISTRATION.
Council Passes the Appropriations
Money VIII Have to BE borrowed,
Even with This sum.

penses of the city for next year, was
passed. AS the controller found it neces-
sary to make great reductions in the appro-
priations asked by the various departments,
and as many additional appropriations will
have to be made in consequence, Mayor
Taggart will go down in history as the
mayor who fastened 100000 administra-
ton" upon the taxpayers of Indianapolis.
This year it was found advantageous to
the administration to appropriate nearly
$4,000 more than the general appropriation
ordinance passed last September provided
for. If this is any indication of what Mayor
Taggart would do were he reelected, the
expenditures for next year would exceed
81, 900 600, as $685. 024.S3 was set aside last
night.
Besides laying the foundations for a
'million-dOllar administration" the Council
passed the ordinance fixing the tax levy at
go cents Notwithstanding the mayor, in his
message to the Council admitted that the
total revenues for next year, less the sum
of 81, 77025 set aside by law for the fire.
mems fund, would be but $500 943.75 from all
sources, more than $4,000 less than the es-
timated expenditures. Without giving any
figures to support his assertion the mayor
assumes that there will be more than suf-
l.
to make the difference required to meet all
appropriations" In recommending appro-
priations for the present year. the control
Ter left himself a margin of but $4,000 be-
tween the estimated receipts and expendi-
lures. Since then much money has been
appropriated in addition-notably $22, 900 for
the campaign fund. This would more than
exhaust his estimated margin, besides
uvhi ha of c1IIa1 IL
all their overdue and accruing debts have
required many more appropriations. In view
of these facts it is not clear how the mayor
figures that the available cash on hand
Jan. l, 1885," will be sufficient to cover the
deficit between the estimated receipts for
next year and the appropriation that he
asked and which was made last night. If
the controllers calculations are accurate
there will be no available cash on hands
Jan. /, 1898. 1t will require temporary loans
to carry on the business of the city next
year.
Nothing more ridiculous than the attempt
to establish a South Side market at this
late date has been undertaken by the pres
ent administration. Everybody is familiar
with the discussions and chickering's among
the Democratic councilmen who killed the
entire project because they could not agree
on a division of the spois. South Side
voters We're SO Disguised with the alminis-
tration that they openly threatened to bolt
the ticket and the organization of the Four
teenth Ward Anti-Taggart League was a
partial result of Democratic procrastination
and indifference on the subject. At a special
meeting of the Council last week an ordi-
nance approprating $4,000 for the use of
the Board of Public Works in purchasing a
South Side market was introduced. Last
night 1t was passed. Inquiries made at the
office of the Board of Works indicates that
the board has no particular site in view and
that the attempt to revise the scheme at
this time is simply devised to win votes to
the syndicate ticket.
The much-mooted plumbing inspector ordi-
nance was revamped last night. 1t was in
trOduced after much pruning by the Board
of Public Health and seems to have been
robbed of most of its objectiona BILE features.
The ordinance, in it's present shape, APP
pears to be simply designed to create the
of 81 200 a year. Persons desiring to have
plumbing fixtures placed in their residences
are required to pay fee Of $l.50 where the
value Of the work is 5000 or less and so cents
for each additional $l00 Those who are in
terested in building matters expect to have
the ordinance carefully investigated by un-
prejudiced and skilled master plumbers in
order to detect whether 1t contains any of
the monopolistic and Objectionable features
that were embodied in the old one. The or
dinance gives almost autOcratic powers to
| the Board of Health The inspector is to
be appointed by that body after passing
an examination as to his knowledge of the
| business before a board of three expert
plumbers, also to be named by the Board
of Health The inspector is to have the
right to order plumbing fixtures changed
where he deems it necessary, but new fix
| lures cannot be substituted by property
| owners unless they conform to rules to be
| adopted by the Board of Health and as re-
quired by ordinances. This would appear
| to give the board power to require fixtures
kept on sale by favorites to be purchased
| and to exclude others, even though they
might be equally as good Republican
members of the Council We're responsible
for the defeat of the old Objectionable or
| dinance, and say that they will give close
attention to the new one.
A resolution was received from the typo
graphical union, thanking the Council for
passing a resolution requesting the city
officials to see that the union label appears
on all printed official matter 1t was spread
on the minutes of the Council.