The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-09-10
Owing to the City's Financial
Condition, Appropriations
Had to Be Sliced Mos,
Vigorously.
RELIEF DENIED TO
CITY LIGHT PLANT
1t Is Decided Not to Pay for
Street Illumination Again
Next Year, Are to Pave
Two Streets.

will remain the same. $1.10 on the
hundred dollars of taxable property.
seven cents to go to the sinking
funds, and the remainder to meet the
general expenses. The city will spend
about s172.s65.5S next year; II will
not pay for its street lighting: the
street department Is slightly increas-
ed for q red light alarm system; the
hospital appropriation was cut from
$4,000 to $1,000. although $4,000 was
asked for; $4,000 of the $4,000 in out
standing street improvement bonds
will be called in. and South Eighth
and North Third streets win be
bricked.
The above are the principal feat
ures of the meeting Of the city council
and board of works last evening when
the 1913 budget was made up. and the
tax rate fixed.
Council and the board met with the
heads of the various departments at
eight o'clock. The first question up
for consideration was the troublesome
street lighting problem. Sinking Fund
Commissioner O'Brien advised against
the city paying for it's lights and
thereby causing the taxes to be rails
ed. After much discussion a vote was
taken and all but councilmen weis-
haupt and Bartel voted in favor Of the
city receiving free street lighting next
year.
Plea For Light Plant.
II was shown that the light plant
is making comfortable profits. putting
away enough to pay on fits bond In
debtedness Of $4,000 when these
bonds come due; saving enough mon
ey to build an $4,000 extension In
1914, and holding its business without
the city paying for its street lights.
which amounts to about $1,000 per
month.
Competition against the. Municipal
plant. 1t is anticipated by the officials.
will cease in a few years. The Light.
Heat & Power company's contract ex-
pires In two years. Mr.. 0'Brien ask
ed council to refuse Ii q new contract
on the expiration of its present con-
tract, and thus give the City light
plant q clear field. He stated that
the Light, Heat & Power company is
dying a slow death. and is selling its
light and power at rates now ranging
fran 2% to 8 cents. according to the
amount of electricity consumed by the
patron.
Let well enough alone" said Mr..
O'Brien, "the light plant can take care
of itself. Don't pay any attention to
what the newspapers say, they were
wrong in their stand when we built
the plant"
rWhat can we say when they say
to us that patrons Of the Light. Heat
& Power company are getting free
street lighting and patrons Of the
Municipal plant are the ones who are
paying for the street lights~ asked
City Engineer Charles.
Suggests . Remedy.
Don't answer them" said O'Brien.
'1f they are not public spirited enough
to help make the light plant q better
paying investment, and to help In
crease it's business by patronixing II,
they are not worth considering"
The mayor seconded this opinion
BY a vote IL was decided that free
street lights should be the order for
1913.
City Controller McMahan, on whom
the burden of making up the prospec-
tive budget for the falls, then got out
his trimming axe. The street depart
ment was the first to suffer. The ap-
preparation for this department was
cut from 367.4oo to $500. The pay
roll was cut from $31. 900 to SIS. 600.
The crushed stone appropriation was
left the same, $1,000. and the city's
share for the cost of streets and alley
improvements was cut from 327. 400
to a scant $4,000. Street improve
ments win be few and far between In
1913.
The hospital appropriation was next
taken up The appropriation last
year was $500 and when this amount
was given, IL was stated that the mon
ey asked for in 1913 would not exceed
$500. However, the hospital board
asked for $4,000. Council and the
board cut this amount to $1,000 II
was stated by the hospital board In
a communication. that the annual den-
cit 10 about $1,000. The nsw laundry
which is to be placed In operation
soon Will reduce this deficit. it fs be-
lieved But the old boilers for the