The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-20
DOLLARS AND CENTS SIDE
SAFETY BOARD WILL CONFER WITH
CONTROLLER TODAY.
Financial Prospects of City VIII De-
termfne Largely the Question OF
Improving Police Facilities.

AS indicated in The Journal three weeks
ago in an interview with Mayor Book
walter, the Board of Public Safety will to-
day take steps for the establishment of sub
police stations. The mayor, Chairman Kel-
Ter and the other members of the Board of
Safety. City Controller Breung, Superin-
tendent Taffe and Captain Hyland. of the
police department all favor immediate ac-
ton toward the enlargement of the po-
lice facilities. by the establishment of three
or four sub-stations-
"The city is not In condition financially to
warrant the expenditure of enough money
at this time to establish all the sub-poice
stations we need. said City Controller
Breuning But we can begin the enlarge
ment of the police facilities now and carry
out the plan for establishment Of sub-sta-
tons wherever they are needed as rapidly
as the city's finances will permit. l am
in favor of sub police stations and think
something should be done in the matter
now"
At their meeting this afternoon the men,
bers of the Board of Safety will have a con-
ference with the city controller. Mr.. Breu-
mig told The Journal last evening that he
will to-day explain the situation to the
Board of Safety along the above mentioned
| lines.
| Mr.. Keller estimates that it would cost
about 10000 a year to maintain three sub
| police stations. He says the old West
indianapolis police station in the rear OF
| the fire station on West Morris street could
| be made use of for a sub-station. The OF
| ficers in this station could look after all
| the territory west of the river, Mr.. Keller
| and the other members of the board think.
I Mr.. Keller says there should be a sub-sta-
| ton in North Indianapolis. Part of the
| new Irvington. fire station has been set
| aside for use of the police department with
| the two sub-stations in West and North In
| dianapoliS and the small station In irving
| ton, where prisoners could be held until the
could go after them, Mr.. Keller says. the
police department would be i'm first-class
| condition to look after the city's interests.
GREATLY HANDICAPPED NOW.
1.-THE police department is greatly handi-
capped now" said Mr.. Keller, "and the
| urgent need of several sub-poce stations
| is most apparent. Think of a large city
| like this being covered by just one po-
lice station. 1 don't think the city can es-
| tabish right away ali the sub-stations we
need, but we can get started and carry
out the plans to entirety later. Next year
| the city will have more money. think, for
| the real estate appraisement has been in
| creased about S12. 900 and the personal
! property assc ssment about 100000 The
| Increased revenue from this source Will.
| OF course. not be available until next year.
| Mr.. Keller has a plan under considera-
| ton to facilitate the work of the police
1 department, if it should be decided by the
| board and the controller that the city can
not afford 10 do anything in the way Of es-
| tablishing sub-stations at this time. He
| proposes that the station at Pearl and Ala
bama streets be equipped with a light one
| horse wagon for short hurry-up runs. Mr..
| Keller said yesterday that he thinks the
| city is not compelled to deliver prisoners
| TO the workhouse. II don't think 1t is by
! law that the city is doing this, said Mr..
| Keller, but 10y custom. This work re-
quires the wagon and the time of two men
| about two hou;s every morning. Now if
| the county were to do this work and the
station were equipped with a light wagon
for quick runs the department would be In
| considerably better condition.
| Mr.. Breunig says he does not think the
citys revenues from taxation will be in
creased to any extent by the increase OF
| Sl2O00,O00 in the real estate appraisement
| 1.-The tax levy is almost to the limit now,
| said Mr.. Breunig, land / think there is a
| likelihood of the rate being lowered Sc
this increase in the appraisement will prob
ably not increase the taxes much. But this
| will not hinder the city from establishing
sub-police stations, for they are needed
badly. If the people, want them they will
| be established"