The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-11


year. fnds demand for more and
quicker work. The council should NOT
permit single thoroughfare 20 occu-
W more than one season for the CON-
Negotiations should forthwith ensue 10
procure contracts for the separation OF
grades In all sections OF the city
street Opening Assessments.
ON the extreme east OF the city, on
the north and north west. >and on the
west. great stretches OF territory nave
been added TO the municipal DOMAIN.
For years TO come streets ana hlSn-
ways now In existence in Detroit VIII,
In many places. have TO be EXTENDED
through this added territory. In some
has been imposed upon the owners OF
property by burdensome street opening
assessments. The charter should ne
amended so as TO tighten this puruen
by spreading the payment over mum
Der OF years. The assessment couiu DC
collected with the annual city tax Inc
necessary funds for the awards eouin
he obtained by the sale OF bonus IN
much the same way as bonds are ls-
sued under the compulsory paving act
Separate Elections.
The experience OF American NUM-
cipalities has demonstrated the eNil ol
same day as. and as part OF, state
and national elections. Unfortunately
for the best interests OF our city, on,
city charter still contains That bansrui
feature OF the notorious Ripper" leg
lslation OF 1901, and our citizens are
compelled TO confuse purely local rnat
ters with partisan issues OF a state or
national character, III we are TO sus-
tain our character as a prokressNy
community. We viii speedily abolish
this system. and adopt a progrnininie
whereby municipal elections VIII DC
held entirely distinct from national or
tions and candidates will receive TAR
er and fuller consideration imam When
they are confused with national ana
raf. ha nannlR
"a shorter ballot The count OF .ne
votes will he made much more raplIIy
and accurately. and above an the
voter viii learn that important lesson
OF municipal patriotism, TO vote Tor
men. not labels. for principles. not poll
tics | favor the submission 10 tne
people OF such a charter amendment
as will place the election OF the city
officials at large on the nrst Tuesday
after the first Monday OF November II
the odd years, and the SELECTION OF az
dermen. and esttmators, one at time
In the fall election OF each year
Taxation.
The growing burden OF taxation mas
become "A source OF indignant com
plant In 1909 the tax rate Was sis.o.
per thousand. in 1910 II was Sle3t per
thousand Those charged Win MAKING
up the budget, ought 10 remember that
they are trustees OF the taxpayers
funds. and the aldermen ana eslmat-
ors who are called upon to review me
budget ought TO be keenly conscious
OF the fact that II Is much easier TOT
them to vote big budget upon the
! backs OF the taxpayers than II Is for
the taxpayers to pay II AT tax-paynS
time. -
Economy and retrenchment are In
nv Judgment vital principles OF thr
citys progress at this time. j think
that a municipality ought TO exercise
! the same policy that Is exercised by an
/ individual namely; rctrenCh lts eN-
/ penses to meet us income. IL an indi-
! Vidual finds himself short OF money
/ ne goes without. many things WHEN
perhaps he ardently desires 20 possess,
( He would be considered reckless ana
/ eXtravagant II. Notwithstanding his
, financial necessity. he continued 10
! crafty every within and desire. am
| personally satisfied that the income OF
! the city derived from the contributions
OF the taxpayers ought 10 be Limited 10
not more than $3.50 per thousand or
the assessed valuation. that this ngure
| Is all that the individual taxpayers can
AFFORD 10 pay at any one time. | urge
upon the aldermen and the estimhtors
such wise retrenchment In municipal
expenditures as VIII keep the burden
OF taxation down TO this point.
IL occurs TO me that vast amount
OF work can be done for the ten mt
lion dollars which has been the annual
appropriation; and this brings me TO
the question which | consider OF hrst
importance In municipal expenditure,
namely: Is the taxpayer receiving
dollar OF service from the munlcipal
\
contributes 10 the treasury In some
eastern cities educational exhibits nave
been held at the expense OF the munich
pality, in order TO inform the public as
| TO the method In which, and the pur-
poses for which, the taxpayers money
| Is expended. with the end In view;
| doubtless, that such publicity VIII
work correction OF extravaganza and
! waste.
| Commission of Municipal Research.
| There has also come into vogue In
some eastern cities plan whereby a
board OF municipal research caretully
| canvasses the operations or the seNerdi
| city departments, with view TO as
J certaining the methods OF transactlng
! departmental business and instaliIns
economical systems OF operation. The
/ war on waste and extravaganza Is one
which vitality concerns every taxpayer.
! I am firmly convinced that ~ dollar
| OF service was rendered 10 tne tax
| payer for every dollar OF taxes that he
/ contributes, all OF the work now being
done from the annual appropriations
/ could be done with substantial de-
crease in the annual appropriations. u
seems TO me that the municipality
| ought 10 copy the wisdom OF large In
dustrial enterprises which spend thou
| sands OF dollars In devising and Install
ing economical systems OF prouuction.
! To that end and copying the example
J OF other cities. | suggest that an hon
orary commission of successful masters
| OF business system be created Tor the
/ purpose OF liC oPt ihtioh
! all city departments, and making such
| recommendations as, in their good
| Judgment, will conduce TO prudent re-
| trenchment without impairinB depart
| mental efficiency. | have no doubt
! that there can be found many public
| spirited men I'm our community who
will give OF their wisdom and expert
ence for the City's progress.
| further recommend that there shall
| be printed on the back Of each tax
/ receipt given to individual taxpayers,
/ a schedule OF the various city depart
ments and of the several appropria-
| tions allotted TO them. so that every
taxpayer may have an opportunity or
/ knowing for what general purposes his
money is spent
| further recommend that the Mayor
| OF the city shall he given a power
similar to that given to the Governor
| OF the state by the last constitution.
namely. the power TO veto all municipal
| appropriations.
| bear only the current expense of munich
! pal maintenance Permanent improve
ments should be provided for by bond is
sues so that those who get the benefits
from them will bear the burden OF their
expense from year 10 year.
Increased bonding Limit.
Contingent upon the people sanction
Ing an Increase OF the limit OF bonded
Indebtedness I'm the year 1910. the Com
mon Council and the Board of Estimates
authorized series OF appropriations
which would require the Issuance OF
bonds In the sum OF si.2S5.000, At the
time time action was taken the limit OF
bonded indebtedness had been reached
Ii has been impossible TO make the inn
movements contemplated by these bond
Issues II Is to be presumed that they