The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-24
$40 TAX RATE #
NECESSARY, SAYS
COMMERCE. BOARD
Committee Takes Stand For Ample
Budget After Discussion Of Funds
Liberal Treatment of Police
Estimates Urged.
Barnett Favors Increases For Teach
ers If Assured Boost Will Go To
Those Most Deserving.

Its not fair to assume that the
school board will do anything" SAID
Estimator Eddie" Barnett in the
meeting of the taxation committee OF
the Board of Commerce, Monday
noon, In answer to the statement BY
George w. Bates that the schoo
board could be trusted to make an
equitable distribution of the sum tina,
might be allowed for salary in
creases.
There is nothing to prevent them
from giving a $500 increase to 81,
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 II the
board of estimates could regulate the
way in which 1t should be distributed
but | do not believe the plan Of dis
tribution according to the schedule is
fair.
The school board never had a
better friend than l. A few years ago
went on the floor and put back
100000 on the roll that had been un-
fairly chopped off by the committee
OF which Tom Craig was chairman.
I think that the board should be more
than liberal with the common schools
I'm the poorer districts, where the
children are getting only half days
schooling, and we can better AFFORD
to cut out the new high school than
to 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 to the
committee on the budget OF the po-
lice department. recommended that
the commissioner be allowed leo 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 or
100 men to the police department and
an increase Of 800 year in the sal
aries of the men on the beat.
II think" said Barnett, that the
ONCE members OF the force. With one
or two exceptions, are getting all that
they can expect. l am In favor or
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
I'VE 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
with what 1t had received.
THE trouble with the board Of
estimates in the past" said Mr.. Bar
nett, has been that the estimators
from the first and second wards have
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 q record
for economy. l don't call that econ
omy. | am in favor of allowing all
the increase asked for the patrolmen
or none at all. If we allow them
half of II they will be right back
next year with 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
a five-cent piece for the teachers un-
less the estimators can recommend
what teachers Will get the increase"
The members Of the committee be.
fore adjourning took a vote on the
subject of increasing the tax roll.
and IL was the unanimous opinion
that the rate should be increased TO
$40 If necessary for an ample budget,
or even more.
The report Of A. ID. B. Van Zane on
thep arks and boulevards budget was
the opinion being that the
CONTINUED on page 81
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