The Detroit times., 1911-05-01
COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
| FINAL SAY ON
THE BUDGET
|Hally Digs Up Law Which Makes 1t
Uncertain Whether Estimators or
Aldermen Can Weld Pruning
Knife Last.
Friendly Suit To Determine the
Legal Tax Limit Will Likely
Be Started.

cornoration Counsel Hally was pusy
rMonday morning looking up the nm
Las TO what could be done 10 save .no
Ecitv from trouble over what ne SUN
considers a budget In excess Oh tue
limit. Among other things ne
Is looking up the meaning Vi 10
., tho citv charter which gives 10
1.-THE board" the final disposai ol .n
( city budget. AT the time the onai.I o,,
was framed, the common couno,'
went by the name OF the board ol u
Idermen. and he thinks there Is poo
sibility that the word may nave relei,
ence To this board and not 10 me
hoard of estimates, which would give
/ the common council power to 20 over
the budget and prune II. He mas no
very strong hope OF such soiulion'
however. a.
The hest course which he sees ID
friendly suit. II this can be prcush'
about. - ,..a
"No one has power to enjoin the
city from leyying any sized tax rate
that the officials choose said nc,
"hut individual suits can be prought
10 resist payment. II Is not up W
the legal department to take the init
alive We have done everything III
our power TO prevent the situation.
Anv action in the way OF suit must
he started by some tax payer.
Controller Heineman suggests tnat
n friendly suit might be brought 10
restrain the issuance OF some oohus,
such an those for the Ferry schooi
site. which could be advertised I'M
mediately, and the whole matter y,
The tar rate could be brought IN anu
tested out without waiting ror .he
completion of the assessment ron.
.If such a test case is practicaoie,
n ought to be brought within !"
days" said Mr.. Hally. -,
Mayor Thompson gave out the ioi
lowing statement relative 70 the
hoard of estimates passing what ne
insists IA an illegal budget:
~ am obliged to the estimator VINO
declared that Mayor Thompson was
the only man In Detroit who sought
"a xet a low tax rate. When the TAX
6avers come down TO the city hail.
next July. TO pay their taxes, VIII
have plenty OF company In my protest
apainst the high tax rate. IL may Dc
true that some commissioners VINO
want to get big Appropriation have
heard no objection to high tar rate:
their associates in the Yondqtega ana
the Detroit clubs, many OF wnom
maintain q residence In Crosse Pointe
where the Detroit tax rate doesn't
affect them, can well AFFORD 70 pay
taxes. But am thinking OF the
shawled women of the east and west
eides. who tramp down to the city hall
in July with their hard-earned saw
ings tied DIP In their handefkerchiels
10 nav their taxes. These people work
too hard and too long to have poiiti-
cal cabals play ducks and brakes Win
tbsir money; their lives ought not 10
be coined into money for swell auto
mobiles for public officials. Once up
on time, there was mayor In this
ONCE who said that the people ala
not mind high tax-rate. He's not
mayor any mores
particularly, deprecate the dis-
regard OF the law by those whose first
duty II is to uphold 1t. II the law re-
stricts the levy to the two per cent
limit. what a demoralizing example
IL IN to have the law contemptuously
ignored. by the officers of the law.
"My protest against high tax-rate
and against the exceeding of the legal
limit has been futile; but am salts.
(Continued on PaGe Two.)