The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-03-08
Mayor Points Out That Pro-
posed Public Work Now I'M
possible Because of Demo-
cratic Policy.
ALL APPROPRIATION USED
MONEY OLD ADMINISTRATION
PROVIDED FOR WORK THIS
YEAR. USED TO DEFRAY Ex.
PENSES OF PAST YEAR,

Citizens need not anticipate that
there will be any public improvements
made during the present year i'm this
city. without first meeting with oppo-
sition from Mayor w. W. Zimmerman.
who, while strong advocate for pub
iic improvements, is nevertheless int>e-
ested in the financial end of such Ahat-
ters. and, at the present time. ii is not
clear to the chief executive how money
can be raised TO meet.the city's portion
Of the expense of additional improve
ments without adding to the public
debt
Mayor Zimmerman announced n,
council meeting last evening that he
would veto any measure for public i'm
provements which would involve the
city financially. Consequently. those.
including councilmen. who thought
that the improvement to North ~
street from the Doran bridge to Fort
Wayne avenue. would go through with
whoop and hurrah. were doomed To
disappointment After the necessity
OF the improvement had been depicted
/ in glowing terms by Councilman En-
giebert. Mayor Zimmerman quietly re-
ferred to the financial condition of the
city as being 10000 worse off than
nothing" and that it would be his poll
ey to oppose improvements which
l-o f.~ .se
to borrow money.
Wise Democratic Move.
The appropriation for improvements
to streets and alleys. made last Septem-
ber by the old administration. was eur
very low in order that that administra-
tiOn might make the city tax > cents
lower, to give their ticket in the cleo
ton last November. some campaign
thunder. The campaign thunder
move worked so disastrously that all
of the 5000 appropriation for i'm
provements this year had to be used by
the new administration in meeting ex-
penses of improvements last year II
was even necessary to borrow 81 OO1
in addition to the appropriation, that
bills for last years public improvement
might be met.
| The tax rate of s1.05 per hundred
dollars assessed valuation has been fix
ed and can not be raised. However.
Mayor Zimmerman has been asked tn
meet with certain official. whose
name he refused TO divulge. and at this
meeting. the official will try to show
the mayor how the money can be
raised. Another method 81 raising
funds for the street department Is the
vehicle tax. and il is to be expected
that an ordinance will be introduced
within the next month or SO. which
will provide for such a tax. Council
men talked over such a measure last
evening and it seems certain that the
ordinance will pass. n ever presented.
unless the owners of conyeyances Wis
it the councilmen and convince them
that such a measure would be unfair.
North D Street Matter.
/ The Improvement to North D street
has been considered for several years
and always put off until the next year.
The street is SO frequently used by
heavy haulers that macadam cannot
stand the wear and tear Brick, ce-
been suggested for it's Improvement.
and it is also argued that the street
should be made wider by commencing
the street curbs and cutters at the
point where the sidewalks end.
Two other apparently necessary i'm
provements were brought up before
council last evening. One was the i'm
proyement of North Fifth from Main
to d. streets, by the construction Of
cement curbs, cutters, and sidewalks.
The other was the reconsideration OF
the vote taken three weeks ago. rela-
tive to council expressing approval Of
the improvements to the National
Road west of West Fifth street
Last fall the council announced that
the improvement to North Fifth street
would be considered this spring. The
brick sidewalks are practically worn
out and it is common opinion that the
street Is badly in need Of such repair