The Detroit times., 1912-04-19
SEWER FUND CONSIDERED
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Estimator McGraw Sharply
Criticised For Holding Star
Chamber Session

Homer T. McGraw. chairman OF
the board OF estimates committee on
the public sewer fund, took his COM
mittee into secret conference. We'd
nesday night, I'm discussing the ST.
100000 public sewer budget The
committee entered City Clerk
Nichols private Office, bolted the
doors. barring cut the newspaper
men and even attaches OF the city
clerks Office. McGraw refused To
diyulge what took place, and eau
toned the other members of the COM
mittee not to give IL out. after the
books had been locked mp. McGraw
refused to explain why he observed
such secrecy about the work. stating
that be would not discuss the matter
until the committee made its report
60 the board later in the week. This
was the first time in four years that
a, committee of estimators met in
star-chamber session and the action
caused much CONSERVATION among
other estimators. who criticised the
policy.
It's the publIc's money they are
appropriating and the public has the
right To know what they are going
to do with IT," said Estimator Bar
nett.
Barnett intimated that since there
Is q difference OF opinion between
him and Chairman Craig. OF the
committee on schools. the latter may
attempt to take the committee into
secret session.
"If that is done l will meet in the
open, pass on the budget to suit my
seff, allow all the school buildings
and additions asked for and hand my
report in as the minority report,
said Barnett 1T doesn't look right
when the estimators discuss these ap-
propriations behind closed doors"
The committee on parks and
boulevards cut approximately s73,-
600 from the departments budget,
wednesday night. The item or
$I50,O0o for resurfacing the boule-
ward was cut to 100000 and the
balance of the total amount deducted !
from the budget is made up OF minor |
and scattered Items. The sum OF
S23 900 instead of $2S,000 was al
lowed for the purchase OF four in
stead of Ave motor buses as asked
by Commissioner Hurlbut. The sum
of $500 was deducted from the
item of $4,000 asked for band con-
certs on Belle Isle and in Clark park. |
The appropriation as allowed will
nay for only nine weeks OF band con-
certs, the same as last year. The
committee approved the item of S2O,- |
600 for the care of city trees, for
which q number. OF PUBLIC spirited
men and women pleaded before the
meeting OF the board, Wednesday at
fernOon. The committee refused to
lndrease Secretary Busch's salary |
from S2,5O0 10 $4,000 as approved
by the council
The committee on the garbage |
fund met Wednesday night. and gave
a hearing to members of the santa |
tion committee OF the Board of Com-
merce In favor OF the proposition TO
bond the city for 100000 TO build
an incinerating plant. The commit
tee took the matter under advisement
although the majority seemed dis
posed to approve the item,
In the meeting of the board, IEsti-
mator Craig put in a resolution ask
Ing the corporation counsel whether
II would be legal TO issue bonds for
500, 900 10 reclaim the land at the
foot of Belle Isle. The corporation
counsel was also asked for a written
opinion as to whether il would be
legal to allow the item of S25,000 !
for Cadillaqua, as the appropriation |
is worded. The corporation counsel
has given a verbal opinion that the |
latter appropriation would be illegal
as stated in the budget for ENTER
tainment" purposes, inasmuch as the
entertainment fund is limited to ST.
500. An attempt will be made TO
change the wording in the budget in
time for the council to pass on il
and get it before the estimators In
time for consideration.
City Clerk Nichols was instructed
to notify X. NJ Grindley to come be-
fore the board and state il he pur-
poses withholding the Woodward
ave. frontage OF the ID. A. C.. grounds