The Detroit times., 1912-04-27
'ESTIMATORS GET BUSY
WITH AK AGAIN IN EFFORT
TO KEEP DOWN TAX RATE
Big Cut Is Made in Road Fund
and $4,000 Cadillaqua
Item Eliminated
SALARY BOOSTS IN DANGER
Increases For Department Sec
retaries May Not Be Allowed
Billy" Dooley in Luck

The board of estimates committee
chairmen conferred with President
Backus, Friday Afternoon, when it
was agreed that the chairmen. with
members of their committees, should
again go over the items in the various
funds with view to suggesting cuts
wherever possible in an effort to re-
duce the budget
The board must complete its work
Monday night and considerably more
than a million dollars must still D.
|trimmed from the budget to bring
down the tax rate to approximate the
present rate OF $1S.15. A resolution
was adopted by the board. Friday
night, requesting the assessors TO ap-
pear before the board, Saturday night,
to give an accurate idea of the In
crease in the assessed valuation of
the city. Assessor Nagei has given
an off-hand opinion that the increase
would not be much over $35,000.000,
while the other two assessors have
estimated il at from 60000 900 to
/, $50 100000. Members of the board OF
estimates are inclined to accept Mr..
Nageps figures, In which event there
is no chance of the estimators trim
ming the budget sufficiently to bring
the tax rate to within dollar OF the
present figure.
Funds tentatively passed on in CON-
mittee of the whole will be re-opened
for consideration. Saturday and Mon
day nights, President Backus depend
ing on the chairmen to assist him in
pointing out items that can be trim
med or eliminated. The board passed
on the general fund, Friday night, and
agreed to- allow all the salary in
creases. except the increases for the
department secretaries, which will
come up for discussion, Saturday
night.
The board In committee OF the
whole also cut out the estimate OF
S25.000 for a stadium on Belle Isle
as permanent feature in connection
with Cadillaqua celebration. Arthur
L. Holmes appeared before the board,
Friday night, and urged the estima-
tors to allow, the appropriation, but
the board thought II was good point
from which to start its economy pro-
gram.
The committee having In charge
the general road fund met in Com.
missioner Haarer's private office dur.
ing the afternoon. The meeting was
secret, even the commissioner being
requested to step out. The commit.
tee does not announce its decision
Item by item as that would give the
aldermen In whose wards proposed
street paving was cut out a chance to
lobby and seriously hamper the work
Of the committee. The committee,
however, announced at the conclusion
of the session that II had cut out
items amounting to 100000. Then
the board In committee OF the whole
cut out the item OF 5000 for extend.
ing the eastern market building. The
board, however. allowed the estimate
of $4,000 to start the work of improv.
| ing the Ferry field. and increased the
salary OF William Dooley, grade seper-
alton clerk. in the city corporation
counse's office, to $2,500 The com
mittee placed the salary at $4,000, an
Increase OF $500 over the amount he
now receives.
Corporation Counsel Lawson gave
an opinion to the board, Friday. that
the salaries OF Chief Assistant Atkin-
son is fixed by charter at $4,000 and
the salary of Bernard F. Weadock,
assistant counsel. is fixed at $500.
and recommended that Increases OF
$500. which had been asked for each
OF them, be cut out The same char.
ter limitation applies 10 the salary OF
Porter Murphy. secretary OF the de-
partment of public works. which was
increased by the board from 1880
to $4,000 Similar increases for Sec.
retary Walters. OF the police depart,
ment; Milton r. Palmer. deputy con-
troller. and E. r. Schreiter. council
committee secretary, may also be cut
out.