The Detroit times., 1911-04-25
$40 TAX RATE #
NECESSARY, SAYS
COMMERCEB0AR
Committee Takes Stand For Ample
Budget After Discussion OF Funds
Liberal Treatment of Police
Estimates Urged.
Barnett Favors Increases For Teach
ers II Assured Boost Will Go To
Those Most Deserving.

Its not fair TO assume that the
school board will do anything. salu
Estimator Eddie" Barnett in the
meeting OF the taxation committee Oh
the Board of Commerce, Monday
noon. in answer 10 the statement by
George w. Bates that the school
board could be trusted to make an
equitable distribution OF the sum mat
might be allowed for salary IN
creases.
There is nothing to prevent them
from giving $500 increase 10 a W.
900 principal and leaving the lower
grade teachers. who need u the most
out OF II altogether continued bar
nett. Il would be in favor OF grant
ing an increase in salaries III the
board OF estimates could regulate the
way in which II should, be distributed,
but | do not believe the plan or dis
tribution according TO the schedule 10
fair
1.-The school board never had
better friend than l. A few years ago
i went on the floor and put back
$500 600 on the roll that had been I'M
fairly chopped on by the committee
of which Tom Craig was chairman.
think that the board should be more
than liberal with the common schools
in the poorer districts, where the
children are getting only half day
schooling, and we can better anord
TO cut out the new high school than
10 leave them without room. we
have done all that the city can af-
ford in allowing money for a site
this year"
r. NJ. Grindley. reporting 10 the
committee on the budget OF the po-
lice department, recommended that
the commissioner be allowed ltO men
and that as many OF the increases In
salary AS possible should be granted.
President Barnett said that ne was
In favor of allowing an increase OF
100 men TO the police department and
an increase of 500 year ~ the sal
aries of the men on the beat.
II think" said Barnett, that the
Office members of the force. with one
or two exceptions. arc getting al that
they can expect. | am in favor OF
increasing the salary OF the steno-
grapher and the license clerk. and a
few others, and, perhaps, we can in
crease the sergeants and lieutenants
but the patrolmen will get first con-
sideration."
President McRae urged that the
estimators should be liberal with the
police department
we are in bad shape compared
with other cities" he said. THE po-
lice protection has not been increas-
ed in proportion to our population.
We have fewer policemen per capita
and we pay them less than any other
large city Although | do not pre-
tend TO represent the sentiment OF
the Board of Commerce, speaking as
president of that organization and as
a taxpayer, believe that the require
ments of the police department.
should be met even IL the tax rate
has TO be increased over the late last
year"
Frank II. Bessenger, reporting on
the budget OF the fire department,
said that the fire commission was
satisfied with what IL had received.
"The trouble with the board or
estimates in the past said Mr.. Bar
nett, has been that the estimators
from the first and second wards have
thought that the only way to econo-
mize was to cut everything out, and
they were willing TO cripple any de-
partment of the city TO set a record
for economy. | don't call that econ
omy. | am in favor of allowing all
the increase asked for the patrolmen
or none at all. II We allow them
half of il they will be right back
next year with a request for more
In the matter OF increasing salaries,
| think that the policemen and fire.
men should be given precedence over
the teachers will never vote for
flve-cent piece for the teachers I'M
less the estimators can recommend
what teachers will get the increase.
The members OF the committee be
fore adjourning took vote on the
subject of increasing the tax roll,
and 1t was the unanimous opinion
that the rate should be increased TO
$40 If necessary for an ample budget,
OF even more
The report OF A. ID. b. Van Zandt on
thep arks and boulevards budget was
accepted. the opinion being that the
estimators had been liberal with that
department The report submitted by
R. NJ. Grindley for the police depart
ment was also accepted.
The committee of taxation Of tie
Board OF Commerce is composed as
follows Chairman at large. Milton A.
McRae; George w. Bates, board Of
education; Frank II. Bessenger, fire
department, David A. Brown, general
road fund; J. c. Goss. lighting com
mission; A. H. Finn, department OF
public works r. NJ Grindley, police
department; c. G.. Hannah, water
commission: A. ID. b. Van Zandt,
parks and boulevard commission; w.
.C. Harris, public sewer and market
funds The board of estimates was
represented by Estimator Henry G..
wobrock OF the Eighteenth ward. and