The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-05-02
0UnCIL MAY HAVE
FINAL SAY ON
THE BUDGET
hlly Digs Up Law Which Makes 1t
Uncertain Whether Estimators or
Aldermen Can Weld Pruning
Knife Last.
Fiendly Suit To Determine the
Legal Tax Limit Will Likely
Be Started.


pnday morning looking up the law
To what could be done TO save the
~ from trouble over what he still
nsiders budget In excess OF the
WIS limit. Among other things ne
looking up the meaning OF a clause
the city charter which gives 10
he board" the final disposal OK the
BY budget, At the time the charter
rs framed, the common council
ent by the name OF the board OF al
rmen, and he thinks there Is u pos
bility that the word may nave refer
ce TO this board and not TO he
lard OF estimates, which would give
Z common council power TO 10 over
y budget and prune II. He has no
ry strong hope OF such a solution
wever.
PThe best course which no sees is
friendly suit. II this can be brought
Eout.
E'No one has power to enjoin the
~ from levying any sized tax rate
Bat the officials choose, said he,
hut individual suits can be brought
resist payment. Ii is not up TO
e legal department to take the Until
1--we. We have done everything in
IL power TO prevent the situation.
|hy action in the way of suit must
started by some tax payer"
|ControIler Heineman suggests that
! friendly suit might be brought 10
Strain the issuance OF some bonds,
kch as those for the Ferry school
lie, which could be advertised i'm
|adiately. and the whole matter or
he tax rate could be brought in and
{sted out without waiting for the
|mpletion OF the assessment roll.
|''If such a test case is practicable,
ought TO be brought within ~
VS." said Mr.. Hally.
/ Mayor Thompson gave out the fol-
living statement relative TO the
Bard OF estimates passing what he
sists Is An Illegal budget
III am obliged TO the estimator who
fclared that Mayor Thompson was
lie only man in Detroit who sought
get low tax rate When the tax
hyers cor , down to the city hall,
Ext July. TO pay their taxes. | will
hve plenty of company in my protest
kainst the nigh tax rate. II may be
hue that some commissioners who
|ant to get a big appropriation have
BARD no objection TO a high tax rate;
\ cir associates in the Yondotega and
lie Detroit clubs. many of whom
'aintain a residence in Crosse Pointe
here the Detroit tax rate doesn't
Meet them, can well afford to pay
.xes. But | am thinking OF the
hawled women OF the east and west
|des, who tramp down TO the city hall
July with their hard-earned saw
hgs tied up in their handerkerchiefs
pay their taxes. These people work
DO hard and too long TO have politi-
hl cabals play ducks and brakes with
heir money; their lives ought not TO
'e coined into money for swell auto
hobbies for public officials. Once up
|h a time, there was mayor in this
|fice who said that the people did
lot mind high tax-rate. He's not
hayor any more.
Particularly, deprecate the dis
egard of the law bysthose whose first
|uty II is to uphold II. II the law re.
tricts the levy TO the two per cent
Init, what demoralizing example
Is to have the law contemporary
|Rnored by the officers of the law.
MY protest against a high taxrate
Ind against the exceeding of the legal
init has been futile: but | am salts.
led that I have done my duty. The
for the high tax rate
not at my door; those who caused
Will have to answer for It."
Disregarding the opinion of Cor.
,oration Counsel Hally and the ad-
nonition OF Mayor Thompson with
egard to the two per cent tax limit,
he board of estimates, in its final
Iession, Saturday afternoon, passed
he big budget for 1911 substantially
IS II had been submitted by the com.
nittees having the various funds in
,harge. Apparently the members were
Wiling to take a chance that their
lction would be upheld in court, in
,ase any question is raised as to the
egality of the tax levy.
The action came as somewhat or
surprise in view of the decision
reached by the leaders the night be-
ore to follow the mayors advice and
,lash about s1,0O0,00O from the bud
get. Powerful influences had been at
work In the meantime, however, In
he interest OF several OF the depart
ments. whose budgets had been mark
I'd for slaughter. and when the estl-
majors took their seats at 3 o'clock,
the word was passed around to
stand pat"
The estimators made some slight