The Detroit times., 1909-03-01
BRE|TMEYER TELLS
EST|MATORS tn
Be LIBERAL
SAYS CITY COULD HAVE STOOD
HIGHER TAX RATE LAST YEAR
-eEHLow's FRIEND GETS COM.
MiTTEE PLUMs.

A reasonable Increase In taxes TO
care for the needs OF rapidly grow
Ing city. was the keynote OF a short
address which Mayor Breitmeyer
made TO the board OF estimates in its
meeting. Monday morning. The as
sembling OF the board at this time was
the formal meeting to elect chair.
man. John F. Behlow, nominated in
January. was unanimously elected and
named his committees
IL Is a rather unusual thing for the
mayor To address the board, but Mayor
Breitmeyer had been asked TO attend
He began by telling the estimators
that the people of the city desire clean
streets and added that he had request
ed Commissioner Haarer, OF the de-
partment OF public works, To put In n
sufficient estimate
With regard to paving. the mayor
said:
Last year. after your work was
completed, II was realized that the city
could have stood little higher tax
rate IL the money had been appro-
priated, II would have been spent
among our own people for necessary
improvements.
Il want to meet with your commit
tees and give you my views, as | am
interested In the matters that Will
come before them"
He called attention to the need for
Fairgrounds for the schools.
Estimator Craig made short adj
dress TO the president In which he
took a different view.
sented," he said The people hold
you responsible, Mr.. President, for a
reasonable tax rate. To avoid political
assassination, you must make good.
I'VE should have a low tax rate II
We can get IL without holding back
the various city departments" said
President Behlow in reply. With the
rapid growth of the city, We need new
schools. We also need clean streets
and alleys. | believe In keeping up
the parks, as they are great ad
vertisement for the city"
The committee appointments rather
favor the estimators who voted FOL
Behlow, none of his opponents secur
ing committee chairmanship, EST
mator Nichols. Of the Seventeenth
ward. who was candidate for pres
ident, was at first left of the list en-
tirely, but was later put on the paving
committee.
There was some comment among
the estimators over the fact that Esti-
nator Craig knew of this fact before
the committees were read. Craig was
himself mentioned for president, but
Joke and voted for Behlow, and IL
has been said that he had a voice In
,4s Hh.. NUh IN.
teenth ward is we'll taken care OF this
year, its two estimators being chair
men of committees, Wenzel landing
the craftsmanship Of the sewers com
mittee, which is particularly import
ant To that new ward.
The only contest was over the nam.
ing of a messenger. The name or
Glenn Van Ripper was presented as
the choice of the Newsboys' associa-
ton, and Estimator Ferguson made a
speech IN which he advocated this APP
rointment as tending 10 give the
young citizens a greater interest IN
city government. Estimator Smith 3
son, Arthur, was nominated by Esti-
matOr Adams, while Nichols named
Harry Lowtker son OF former estl-
uGtoT. On the vote, Arthur Smith
won by clear majority.
communication from the Detroit
Federation of Labor, asking that the
wages OF library employees be increas'
ed was laid on the table.
The committees are somewhat
changed this year, the repaving COM
mittee being done away with and Its
work merged In that OF another COM
mittee. The appointments made are
as follows:
General and recorders court funds
Emil Snyder, Cranshaw, Ferguson.
O'Neill, Fry.
Public lighting fund-Frish, Phister,
Tapert, Armstrong, Richardson.
General road and repaving funds
Cranshaw, Baumgart, Klebba, O'Neill,
Anklan, Peterson, Theel, Nichols.
Street opening. water commission
and garbage fund-Ritter. Kulwicki,
Mcqueen, Miller, Robins.
Fire commission fund-Wm.
Schneider, Delor. Baumgarth, Klebba,
Patterson
Board of education fund-Craig.
Robinson, Gambler Backus. Long.
Police and police pension funds
Smith. Brown. Delor. Wendt. Holtz.
Public health and poor commission
Wobrock. Richardson, Barnett,
Lipbardt, Davis
Park and boulevard and Belle Isle
bridge fundg-Andrus, Wenzel, Nc
Queen, Schneider, Feldman.
Public building, department OF pub
lie works. general and public enter
tanning funds--Fry. Palmer. Frish.
Klebba, Wobrock.
Public sewer fund-Wenzel, Ritter
snyder, Wendt, Phister.
The aldermen take up the budget
rext week and ii will be sent TO the
hoard of estimates the first week In
April.