The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-04-06
Controller Refuses to Sign
Ordinance Appropriating
$1,000, Thus Delaying Ac-
ton Two Weeks.
CITY SPENDS FREELY
Guardian of Treasury De-
cries Free-Handed Expen-
ditures-COuncil Will Pur-
chase Street Oiler.

An ordinance re-appropriating ST.
900 which had been set aside for the
purchase of steam roller 80 that the
fund could be used for the purchase of
street oiling equipment, did not go
through at council meeting last even
ing because City Controller McMahan
refused to sign it before presentation.
And thereby hangs a tale.
"City is head over heels in debt"
explained the controller today, "and
don't favor spending this money for
such purpose when there have been
petitions and guarantees filed for only
about twenty-five blocks. 1t don't look
like the people wanted the city to do
any street oiling."
Mr.. Marlatt of the board, and City
Engineer Charles declared that they
did not know who had prepared the
ordinance, but they presumed it was
President Bavis of the beard.
MeMahan Acts Slowly.
Controller McMahau said he was not
ah0wn the ordinance. until about the
time It was to be presented, and at
that time he was not prepared to sign
it. Il don't like to be bull-headed and
contrary" he informed reporters, "but
neither do like for anybody to pull
one over on me-
Council stands for municipal street
oiling. however, and Councilman Car
ters motion that an ordinance be pre-.
pared appropriating $1,000 to purchase
an oil springler and sweeper was un-
animously adopted. Council did not
know when this motion was adopted,
that the bill which Clerk Bescher had
announced McMahan had refused to
sign, and, therefore, could not be pre-
sented, was for such a purpose, be-
cause the clerk had failed to explain
it's provisions.
City Spends Freely.
Controller McMahan is very much
concerned over the free-handed ex-
penditures of municipal funds in
vogue this year. He said after the
council meeting that ordinarily the
city by curtailing expenses can live
within it's income from the first of the
year until the spring tax collections
are received. but this year, he assert
ed. the city has been compelled to
negotiate two temporary loans, each
for $4,000. and has drawn in advance
from the county treasurer $4,000 from
its share Of the spring installment of
taxes.
so you see," the controller stated,
"the city, which began the year with a
small amount in it's general fund, has
already expended $4,000 more than it's
income up to the present has been.
There has been considerable amount
spent for improvements at the city
building and for the construction of
the new crematory. and in thirty days
the city will have to pay out $4,000
more as it's share of the Morton park
sewer system, and the latter part of
May or the Middle of June the city
will have to pay out $4,000 more for
a aerial ladder truck. Yesterday l ne.
gotiated the second $4,000 temporary
loan, about three weeks after negotiat-
ing the first loan for the same
amount"
Favors Assessments.
Councilman Waterman, while ex-
" lCSolAS AIuHSCi1 aS UO1A5 III AdSO1 VI
the city. oiling streets, the property
owners paying only the actual cost of
the oil used, declared that his con-
stituents were against that feature of
the oiling play requiring at least one
resident property owner on the block
to be oiled to guarantee the city re-
imbursement of the cost of the oiling.
He said his constituents favored the
city doing the oiling and then assess
ing every property owner Lis share Of
the cost, 1t was explained by the
mayor that the assessment plan had
been tried last year and abandoned
this year because many people de-
clined to pay their assessments.
It is quite probable the board Of
public works will anticipate the pas
sage Of an oiling equipment appropria-
ton ordinance at the next council
meeting, and will proceed at once to
negotiate for an oiling wagon and a
sweeper so that no time will be lost in
oiling the streets.
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