The Detroit times., 1909-01-01
|bARNET7 PULLS OUT
OF RACE TO HEAD
.EsTIMATORs
SAYS PUBLIC DOESN'T WANT sA.
LooNkEEPeR FOR POSITION
NEW MEMBERS OF BOARD AT.
TEND SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION

New. members OF the board OF esti-
Hotel Cadillac. Wednesday evening.
for a school OF instruction and TO get
acquainted. But before they had I'm
ished, there had been very lively de-
bate and the inevitable question Of
selecting a president for the board
had bobbed up and been squelchod
only With difEculty.
James s. Holden. former president
OF the board. was chief instructor in
teaching the new members how to es-
Innate, but he was followed by Es-
timators Andrus aad Barnett In talks
that brought out the conservative ana
liberal views in dealing with the bud
get. and the new members disclosed
. few views themselves when IL came
e. final symposium
Barnett. when called upon, began
by declaring that he is not a candi-
Bdate for president.
The citixens and taxpayers of this
tctty do not want a saloonkeeper for
president Of this board" he explained.
FWhile j believe that a man in that
business II as good as any other.
DOW TO the will OF the people"
Z Estimator Armstrong. Of the Eighth
Eard, was selected as chairman. Mr..
oAden went into the details OF the
Hork OF the board OF estimates. He
Reecrtbed the manner OF bringing in
the budget. told OF the work of the
r1rlous committees and advised, as a
rule. that committee reports be fol-
Howod. Detroit officials are honest, he
batd. but there Is some waste and the
SArious departments are eager for
4unds TO carry out pet projects.
Don't pledge yourself 10 vote for
" special Item" he urged. Don't work
Tor the interest Of your ward alone.
gNork Tor the good OF the whole city"
I. His talks was listened to with keen
interest and several questions were
asked ON various points.
I Frank ID. Andrus, who followed, ex-
horted the members not to allay them
\ selves In factions He urged even
more strongly than Estimator Holden
against opposing committee reports.
Paraott, who followed. took a some
what different position. He declared
tbatloften chairmen of committees are
dictatorial and that prejudiced and
unfair reports are brought in. These.
he declared, should be opened Up and
shot to pieces" All three OF the old
CstimarorS declared that the aldermen
do not pay enough attention TO the
budget.
On motion OF George Brown, a reso-
liition Was adopted, asking the heads
Of departments to cut out all pad
ding" from their estimates at the
Htart, depending on the fairness OF
the beard CT estimates to Judge prop
4 efly Another resolution calls, Upon
Tue 6aBartment chiefs 10 submit a
written explanation with each section
4 of the budget showing the reason for
making each important item.
The presidency OF the board came
sup for attention when Fred W. Davis.
Of the First ward, suggested that. as
some OF the older members had held
4 caucus, the new members do ike
wise. There was m animated discus
s;uD,.!but Chairman Armstrong did not
cntertain the motion to hold caucus
and the matter was dropped.
James Swart. of the Cadillac, had
The last speech OF the evening. He
met several OF the estimators In the
lobby.
rThe taxpayers OF this city want
improvements and they are willing to
Sray . little higher tax-rate to get
! them" he said.
The withdrawal of Edward Barnett
(. 2eaves Ave candidates for the presi-
khency Of the board, and the talk after
fkhe caucus was that one or two more
may withdraw before Monday morn
lnx. Barnett,s remarks anent a sa-
6oonlreercr becoming president OF the
beard appeared to refer to John F.
fBehlow. who was chosen as a candi-
kdate at q meeting of some older men-
hers. Behlow runs grocery and Sc
roon. George Brown and Edward T.
h4ichols, candidates for president, are
lnew. members and attended the meet
ling.
w. w. Robinson, John F. Behlow
and Thomas C.. Craig were not pres.