The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-19
Blank books, stationery,

WE'RE MADE.
Mr.. Wynne and Mr.. Rhodes objected
seriously tot taking of 5000 from the
fund to clean and sweep permanently i'm
proved streets. They also objected to the
reduction of $500 in the engineers salary
account and the taking of $500 from the
appropriation for permanent improvements
in Riverside Park. AS to the $4,000 taken
out of the appropriation for public lighting
they did not make serious protest, Mr.:
Wynne rather believing that the item OF
S135, 900 was above the needs of this feature
of public service in view of the new light
ing contract that will be let next July.
is expected. They thought the smaller
items that had beeen pared had already
been closely figured and that, If the cuts
were made. there would be requests for
special appropriations later in the year
to make up.
The cutting was done without special in
formation, so far as stated in the COM
mittee. as to the items sacrificed. The
Riverside Park item has already passed
through practical humiliation In the con-
%troller's hands. The item for cleaning i'm
proved streets had also been closely figured
by the Board of Works and the controller
and the whole budget had been trimmed
by Mayor Bookwalter before he submitted
it to the Council. The reduction in the
salary asked for the city sanitarian Is
restoring it to the figures for this year.
The unanimity of the five members in
Dictated that the trimming had been pre-
pared solely to provide the necessary means
to pay the firemen's increase. However, un-
der the charter the Council cannot increase
a single item and hence the saving may
not be APPLIED to the fire force pay roll fund
until 1t has the recommendation Of the
mayor. Just how the Council is going to
force the increases through is not clear.
If the fourteen members repass the ordi-
nance over the mayors veto, should he
so act, and decline to approve the city
budget until 1t Is revised to provide for
the increase, the city would have to sub
sist on the appropriations for 1902. These
are VIGOROUSLY inadequate for the city's
needs.
ATTITUDE ON ORDINANCE.
Blu there is little probability of the
Council passing the ordinance over the
mayors veto. It is understood that neither
President Haldeman nor Councilman Hol-
liday, who were not present when the or
dinance passed, will support 1t at this time,
although they, like many others who OPP
pose 1t, feel that the firemen, as well as
others. should have increased pay when the
city Is able to pay 1t. Mr.. Rhodes last
night resisted the attempts to trim the es-
Inmates merely to provide for the increases.
While he would not express himself last
night, 1t Us believed he will not support an
attempt to pass the ordinance over the
mayors veto. This would leave the friends
of the ordinance one vote short of the
necessary twO-thirds.
Mayor Bookwalter has declined to discuss
the ordinance that is now in his hands for
action. 1t seems to be taken for granted
that he will veto 1t, but there is enough
doubt about his purpose to keep the Coun-
ell guessing. There is a probability that a
special meeting Of the Council will be held
early next week to consider the tax levy
and the budget. Before this meeting is
held Chairman Wynne is likely to call an
other meeting of the committee to discuss
the reductions agreed to. Mr.. Wynne thinks
that, IL reductions are to be made, the
saving should be used for the betterment
of the public improvements rather than the
increase of salaries. He believes that the
amount saved could well be added to the
fund for repairing permanently improved
streets. If a larger saving could be figured
out-and he does not think the one agreed
to by the majority of the committee is
reasonable-a reduction of the tax levy
could be made. AS a general proposition.
he believes that the tax levy and estimates
are approximately correct and should be
passed.
Councilmen Wynne. Grail. Wysong and
Rhodes have signed the committee report
in favor of the tax levy OF Sc cents for city
purposes and 4 cents for mandatory special
purposes, and this report will be made to
the Council Monday night.
The ordinance for a bond issue of 500, 0C
for the construction of boulevards was not
considered.