The Detroit times., 1909-05-01
TAX RATE WILL Be !.
CLOSE TO s17.50
Estimators Finish Work, Leaving
Budget To Be Spread On Rolls At
$6,332, 752.76-Machines Win.

A tax rate of $lz-4o 10 $3.50 Is the
probability for Detroit this year from
the appropriations made by the board
OF estimates. which finished it's work
Friday night. This years budget foots
up to $7,113.696.16, of which $685.
1875 will be raised by direct taxation.
while the remainder comes from sale
OF bonds, state primary school money.
court fines, license fees, ETC.
When the board first met. a month
ago, II was realised that the low tax
rate OF last year. 1884,, could not be
duplicated, but few on the board an
ticipated the high tax rate finally
reached. II was the sentiment on the
board at adjournment that the city
had to have a big year on account
OF the policy of the estimators In pre-
vious years In cutting out items that
should have been allowed. and lower
rate next year In expected.
The final working session OF the
board. Friday afternoon. lasted over
four hours, and was turbulent and
scrappy affair all through. A dozen
different proposals were debated. The
the item authorizing voting machine
bonds to the amount OF $125,000. which
finally passed with very little opposi-
ton. only Estimators Kebba. kul.
wicki. Liphardt, O'Neill and Richard
son voting against 1t.
President <. A. Sumner, OF the
Board OF Commerce. made the prin-
cipal argument against the bonds.
Mayor Breitmeyer spoke for them and
a number Of others were heard.
Floods In Fairview. which put the
LiIlibridge school out of commission
and stopped the street cars, had much
to do with the allowance OF $4,000
for the purchase OF site and construc-
ton of q pumping station and sewer to
relieve fhe low district. This item
had been cut out at first. Aid. Trevor
spoke on the matter.
After being beaten several times In
his efforts to get new school In the
lower end OF the Sixteenth ward TO
relieve the Giiiies, Beiiefontaine and
schools, Estimator Miller
finally succeeded In getting the item
allowed. Eddie Barnett acted as moor
leader I'm the battle, but the board
cut down the amount allowed for a
site so that the school board cannot
purchase the site picked out on Clark
ave-, opposite Clark park.
There was constant fighting over
items In the general road fund, which
was taken mp for the first time. Most
bitter Wa the scrap oyer replacing
creosoted block as far west as Wash
lngton boulevard. The argument used
for this. was that the business men
along the street wanted Quieter
pavement and that the guests In the
Hotel Cadillac could not sleep early
In the morning. The item was de-
clared approved on the frst vote. but
the opponents or the plan were not
with the count and brought
It up again. winning decisively. An ef-
fort was made to secure its allowance
later, but II did not come to a vote.
AS the result of another spirited
fight, the street cleaning funds OF the
city were allowed en- masse without
a single cut from the figures Of the
common council. The estimators' COM
mittee had cut these funds. but Esti-
mator Barnett made a motion by
which all the funds were left intact
In previous years the estimators have
always cut these items and the alder
men have always had to piece them
but at the end OF the fiscal year by
money from other funds.
An item for steel bridge over the
Central at Fourteenth-st.
was cut out on the advice Of Corpora
lion Counsel Hally that the city may
be able to get a better bargain with
The company. Commissioner Haarer
that he would at once close
the bridge to travel as unsafe.
Estimator Andrus tried to secure a
cut In the salary allowed by the CON-
mittee to Supt. Aldrfch, In charge OF
The street cleaning and garbage col.
lection. He wanted II placed at $1,000
instead OF 1900. but was beaten. Then
The beoard turned about and opened
the park budget to increase the salary
of Bookkeeper Rich to $1,000. which
Increase Andrus' committee had dis
approved OF.
An item for repaving Fifteenth-st..
from Michigan-ave. south to the rail-
road. was cut out because Of uncer1
tainty as TO the plans of the railroads
Tor a terminal in that vicinity.
The heaviest cutting In the road
funds was In creosoted block pave.
ment. Originally. there was $2SS.000
Of creosote pavement passed by the
council, but less than one-tenth Of this
was approved by the estimators.
An evening session was held at
which the budget was formally approx.
ed and various resolutions adopted.
CITY Clerk Nichols and his stan, Sec
rotary Schreiter and others were given
their usual compensation for extra
work. Estimator Barnett tried to get
SIS extra money for each OF the eieva-
tor men. instead OF $40. but the lib
erality OF the board had reached It's
limit and he failed. There were no
final speeches. everybody being tried
out.