The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-23

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
is WONDERFULLY ECONOMICAL.
Plans to Reduce Expenses in Many
Ways That VIII Cause the
Public to Suffer.

The Board of Public Works met yes
terday afternoon and discussed plans TO
reduce the expenses of that department for
the month Of September or until such time
as the revenues of the city will permit the
board to again do business on the same
basis as it has during the summer The
scheme as contemplated at the meeting of
the board yesterday afternoon will lessen
the expenses of the department from $4,000
to $4,000 a month.
One of the first questions considered by
the board during its dream of economy
was to reduce the street sweeping. Inc
business section from Ohio street TO the
Union Station and from East street to
Senate avenue, that is now cleaned hve
times a week, will only be swept twice a
week. The sweeping of the remainder or
the improved streets will be discontinued
entirely.
The sprinkling question was considered,
and. after discussing the matter pro ana
con and just what effect the discontin-
uance of the sprinkling would have on
the people, II was decided 1t would be bet
ter TO discontinue the sprinkling OF the
entire city, as it was thought 1t would be
a better political move to do this as an
economy dodge. Instead of throwing more
light on the city, the board next decided
to reduce the number Of electric lights on
streets, discontinuing five hundred lights
from various parts of the city. The board.
in its economical wave, did not stop there,
but decided to do away with the street
commissioner force. and no repairing Oh
streets will be done except In cases Oh
emergency, where there might be a washout
or rut in the streets which would be dan
gerous to life. The work of the bridge
department will also be discontinued, and
there will be no repair made except III
cases of absolute necessity.
Chairman Sahm said, after the meeuns,
that the board took the questions under
consideration until next MONDAY, Wnen una,
action will be taken in the matter. he SAID
as there is no money in the city treasury
to pay for the sweeping, sprinkllng, hgnts,
ETC., the board thought it better to do away
with the work rather than TO incur oep!S
which could not be paid at once. He said
the discontinuance of the work would con-
tinue until such a time as the city coulo
afford TO again resume the Work. nS be
enough receipts from fall taxes 70 again
resume the sweeping. sprinkling, etc;
Chairman Sahm said the Board OF WORKS
would not be the only city department 10
cut expenses, as he understood the Board
of Safety would decrease the expenses oy
cutting the police and fire forces, and that
also the Park Board would be stricken with
the same wave of economy and would les
sen the expenses by disseminating the work
on the parks.
Republican councilmen do not take the
action of the Board of Works seriously,
and say the city fathers are becoming so
reckless they will cut off their noses to
spite their faces. They say this action or
the Board of Works is the result of the
Council failing TO make enormous tempo
rary loans TO pay off debts of the city,
when the Council appropriated just enough
money to meet the current expenses and
debts 10 be paid during August. In making
the appropriation the ouncil made pro-
vision for City Controller Johnson TO use
the bridge funds under a ruling made by
the city attorney. But now the controller
says he will not touch the bridge funds for
current expenses of the city, as he may be
called upon at any time to pay the money
out for bridges rapidly nearing completion.
Republican councilmen say the Demo-
Gratis are really becoming desperate when
they threaten to discontinue street sweep
ing, cleaning and electric lights. for which
provisions were made by the Council last
tall in providing for the Expenses of the
various departments for 1900. They say
there was enough money provided to carry
out the contracts. and cannot understand
where it has gone If the sweeping. ETC.,
nave to be discontinued.