The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-07
Mayor BOOkwaIter Holds a Conference
with the Council Finance
Committee.
WILL REFUND TEMPORARY LOAN
WITH INTEREST THE OLD LOANS
AMOUNT TO S196,4oo.3S.
An Unexpected Indebtedness of $22,-
OGO and Appropriations Ex-
hausted-City Affairs.

Mayor Bookwalter called the members
Of the Council committee on finance into
consultation yesterday afternoon in regard
to the state of the city's finances. The re-
suit Of the examination of the figures pre-
scented by Controller Breunig, accounts be-
queathed by the Taggart administration,
disclosed a particularly unpleasant state of
affairs. 1t was known before the confer
ence yesterday afternoon that owing to the
recklessness of the previous administration
the city would be crippled for some time at
least by the load of debt which the new adj
ministration is compelled to shoulder, but
the extent of the burden was not realized
by the Council committee until the mayor
and the controller informed it just how
many bills incurred by the Democratic
administration had been presented and the
amount which they represent.
1t was believed that the Republicans
would have to take up a load of $4,000
worth of bills, but the mayor and the con-
troller placed before the members addi-
tional bills amounting to 500, 900, the exist
ence of which had not been known pub
licly and of which during the last municipal
campaign the citizens of Indianapolis knew
nothing. The disclosure of the hidden in
debtedness, the greater part of which is
made up of items for street Sprinkling and
electric light service. proves the statement
made by Mayor Bookwater during his
campaign that the city's Indebtedness was
greater than represented by Mr.. Taggart
or shown by the books. In examining the
details of the accounts presented ii was
found yesterday afternoon that although a
part of the appropriation for salaries in
the engineers department was supposed
"a 10 hos nratfp Ok
hausted.
LAVISH IN EXPENDITURE.
The amount provided for special police
service was used and it was found also
that the money for the street commission
er's pay roll had all been spent; large
share Of it in the three weeks just preced-
ing the election The whole tenor of the
examination went to show that the Old
Taggart administration had spent the
citys money particularly lavishly in a
short period of time before the election
took place The members of the commit
tee were amazed at the figures presented
10 them and declared that they had no idea
the citys finances had been left in a state
so shattered.
Yesterdays conference developed TO a
certainty that, estimating the receipts of
the city department as high as possible,
and figuring all expenditures as low as
possible, there will be a deficit for this
year of not less than $174, OO0 and the state
ment was made yesterday by party TO the
conference that a new temporary loan will
certainly have TO be asked for to square up
the debts of the Democratic administra-
ton, debts some of which during the
mayoralty contest were unsupported by
the general public. Just how much Com
troller Breunig will have to ask the Coun-
ell for is uncertain. 1t depends upon the
hgures which the treasurer will present in
a few days; but the probabilities are that
1t will be more than 100000. possibly as
high as $4,000. In addition there remains
the old temporary loans contracted by the
city, winch must be met on Dec. 2. With
interest the old loans amount to s196. AS 49,
and 1T was practically decided at yesier-
days meeting to refund them at once Be-
fore final action is taken as to asking for
new loan and refunding the old the mayor
will further discuss the situation with the
members of the committee