The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-11
EST|MATORS
BEG|N PRUNING
Committees on Repaving and Resur-
facing Start on Tour of Streets To-
day-Mayor Sharply Questioned.

The first effort Of the board or esu-
mates members TO get appropriations
within The two per cent limit set by
Mayor Thompson and Corporation
Counsel Hally, was made Dy the
committee on streets, which started
out at o'clock, Monday afternoon.
The members assigned TO resuriacins
and TO repaving are working together
and are accompanied by Public Works
Commissioner Haarer. They VIII go
over all the streets marked oy inc
common council committee as needing
To be remedied. They will allow the
worst OF them and cut out the rest
The early start is made 10 enaoie
Commissioner Haarer TO start Wofk
on some of the repaving jobs as soon
AZ possible, borrowing the money IN
advance of the appropriation.
President Milton A. McRae OF the
Board OF Commerce has appointed the
following committees OF one 10 CO
perate with the various committees
OF the board Of estimates: with eou-
cationaI committee, George w. Bates;
lighting committee, j. c. Goss; nre
committee, Frank H. Bessinger; water
committee, c. s. Hannah; police com
mittee, r. NJ Grindley; parks and
boulevard committee, Wilbur Brother
ton. ID. p. w. committee, A. II. Finn.
These committees will be added 10
as necessary. and will have the CO
operation OF President Barnett and
the cher estimators.
The meeting held in the mayors
Office. Saturday afternoon, In response
TO a call sent out by his honor, devei-
oped into one of the most interesting
sessions ever held in the executive
Offices. Every department or the city
government was represented. Others
present were the chairmen OF the vari-
Gus committees OF the board OF estl'
mates, President Barnett, representa-
lives OF the Board OF Commerce and
citizens.
Mayor Thompson and Corporation
Counsel Hally contended that the
Hally opinion entailed no hardships,
but Commissioner Haarer, Superin-
tendent OF Schools Martindale, Con-
troller Heineman and. others showed
an unwillingness 10 accept this dictum
without sharp contest
The mayor read figures, which have
been given out at various times. to
show that balances have been carried
over from year 10 year, which migbb
better be used up. He said that the
department Of public works had mon
ey still on hand for sewers. and that
the city engineer had told him the
department could not use up more
than 5000 900 year for this purpose.
He said that the board OF education
had money for schools for which no
site had been purchased
Commissioners Haarer and Supt.
Martindale replied, Haarer saying that
in cases where sewers had not been
built, IL was because OF special rea-
sons. as In one case where an appro-
priation had been made for section
OF sewer above the outlet before the
outlet section was allowed
Controller Heinemen said that OF
the 81 900 900 in unexpended balances,
which the mayor said was In the city
treasury, the fact was that only $l0.-
600 was available for running ex-
penses, the rest being tied up for
work that had been contracted for
| Estimator A. f. Gordon. OF the
Fourth ward. asked the mayor some
| pointed questions as To his attitude
on teachers salaries and other mat
| ters. The mayor replied that sal
aries were not up to him
| Corporation Counsel Hally said that
the only way the estimators could get
away from the two per cent limit was
10 get special act OF the legislature
Estimator Andrus announced that he
would put In a resolution Monday
night, asking the legislature to pass
such an act, and would ask that a
committee take the resolution tC
Lansing and have II rushed through
before the close Of the Legislature.
AT the first, regular meeting OF the
board OF estimates. Saturday night
the quizZing OF the mayor was con
tinued. Estimator Gordon taking a
leading part. As a result, the session
which ordinarily lasts about five min
utes, continued over an hour.