The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1912-06-28

ana tnere were not many more tnan
fifty present. were mainly business
men. There handful of people,
not doing business in the business dis
trict. present, and of these only one.
Louis Heckleman, 29s Truman avenue,
had the temerity to state that in his
opinion the in the business district
should pay for the extra electricity as
well for the installation.
City's Policy Outlined.
The audience was given facts and
figures by Mayor Smalley and City En-
gineer Peter j. Lyons. which. while
not yet absolutely definite. gives the
taxpayer an idea of the approximate
cost
In opening the meeting Mayor Small
ley stated that the administration had
outlined no course of action in the light
matter and that the meeting of last
night was called mainly to get an ex-
pressions from the taxpayers, not only
in the business district. but from those
outside of the business district, too.
Up to last night Mayor Smalley and
the board of public works had figured
on the city installing and maintaining
four lights at each street intersection
In the business district the additional
lighting cost to the city not including
the installation. being 1892, to which Is
to be added the 1850 which the city now
pays for Is acres in this section and
which could be eliminated.
Many Quotations Asked.
Among the questions that were
raised last night were the following:
While the city under the law has the
right TO erect lamp posts and levy the
cost against the benefited property.
has 1t the right to assess the property
for the installation of the conduit sys-
| tenn?
Should only the ccraer lights burn
after 10 O'Clock, or shall a light be kept
| burning each post all night?
What will the Northern Indiana Gas
& Electric Co. do about the old poles
| in case the new system is installed?
VIII they be removed?
| Providing the system is installed and
the city pays for the ..juice" how much
would the tax levy be increased?
| Who shall pay for the Juice. the BUSH
ness men in the business district or the
| whole city?
/ The question in a nut shell is: In
view of the fact that every progressive
| city has one main business district, in
which every resident of the city takes
pride. would the Hammond taxpayer
be willing to pay an additional 10 cents
| a year on each 500 assessed valuation
to help the city more beautiful?
Committee Appointed.
AT the suggestion of E. c. Minas.
| who by the way. was the only bust
ness man present, who said that he
| would gladly install posts in front of
his place of business and pay for the
| Juice" Mayor Smalley appointed a
committee of six property owners with
w. C. Belman chairman. The other
members of the committee are DIR. H. c.
Groman, Otto Knoerzer, Carl Kaufman
Louis Heckleman and F. c. Minas This
committee is to meet with the board OF
public works next Monday to discuss
the lighting plan in more detail.
Among the principal speakers of the
evening were the members of the COM
mittee, Patricy Kelley. John Pascaly
and John 1. Rohde. The latter said
that in his opinion 1t would be an in
justice to ask the entire city TO pay for
the lighting of the business district
and the indications are that he will
hold to this view until he is convinced
that a general levy will not be burden
some on all the taxpayers.
/ LegnI Question Raised.
City Attorney John A. Gavit raised
the question of the city being able tc
compel the property owners to pay fol
conduit installation, inasmuch as the
statute provides only that the city may
levy against the property owner fol-
posts. The consensus of opinion, how.
ever. was that some legal loophol.
could be found to evade this technicali-
ty, II it were one in fact.
1t was quite evident last night thai
If the city is to await unanimity o,
sentiment favoring the purchase OF The
Juice" by the property owners. that al
plans would fall through, and that the
only practical way to make the proJet
possible is by the city paying for the
light. One estimate had 1t that tn,
class of people who might object Il
this plan most would after all onl,
have to pay about 80 cents year Il
see the business district lighted II
this way.
Company Submits Figures.
The following propositions were sub