The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-30
What's Matter
With the Board
OF Estimates?

what's the matter with this years
board OF estimatesy
Too many new members. unfa-
miliar with the work" says Presi-
dent Nichols. :.
TOO many complexities In the
law saysnf.stimator Van SICKLE. q
new member and q lawyer.
Too much egotism on the part OF
three or four leaders" says promi.
nent city offcial.
Too many saloonkeepers trying
to defend their own business" says
Estimator Buchanan
Il have seen the last three boards.
and this Is the worst OF the three. .
says a newspaper man.
Compared with the general aver
age. TIA a pretty sssst, board" says
Estimator Palmer. 49, $500.
You pays your money and you
takes your choice.
President Nichols criticism was
referred to Raymond z. Van syckie.
who is serving his FIRST term
1T IL true that there are many
new men on the board" said Mr..
Van SyckIe. "but from what I have
seen OF many OF them. they are
hard headed business men who are
working eonscientiously on the bug
get.
Il admit that many cuts have been
made which In my opinion are In
judicious- There are several rea-
sons for these cuts. One Of them h
the fact that when the board FIRST
met. and even before the first meet
ing. II was Impressed with the nee
essity OF making deep cuts. Then
at the outset, 5000. 900 Of the bud
get was set aside for salaries. and
we were told TO keep our hands OF
that amount. So when we began TO
cut, we had only half the budget 10
cut from. and thus our task was
very dificult.
Another reason for the injudi-
cious cuts II the natural Conservatism
OF many OF the members. Take the
playground budget. for example. IL
was slashed because 10 many Of the
members are not alive 10 the neces-
stiles OF certain parts OF the city.
Either they have not seen these dis
tricts. or they think that the mod
ern idea OF helping the children 10
based on a false foundation. But II
the people did not want such men
as estimators. why did they elect
them7
DO you know how many charter
provisions there are referring to
salaries?"
Mr.. Van SICKLE brought out two
sheets Of typewriter copy. single
spaced.
Then there n the question OF our
power TO cut increases In salaries.
Controller Engei says the law Is one
thing; some OF us say that It's an;
other. Which way IL the nonlesal
member OF the board 70 turn1 Some
Of US insist that the charter amend
meut WHICH anDWb INC touiuob
council TO AZ salaries IL Invalid. be
cause the question ON the baiiot did
not give a clear idea OF all the pro-
visions OF the amendment. But n
you attack II successfully on this
ground, what becomes OF the play
ground amendment and all the 9th.
ers? The same condition applies 70
all OF them. What are we to do?
1T IL this confused state OF Affairs
which has made our work extremely
hard, and II is no wonder that we
have had divided opinions and q
great deal Of injudicious action. A
great many Of US don't know where
we're at. 80
"One great trouble with the board
in my opinion. IL that SO many OF
THE members believe that Il 10 .
Legislative body. and seek TO control
Legislation by cutting out money for
items which the people have do
ciared they want--for instance. the
program OF the recreation commis
sion.
But IN general. the situation q
this: We must cut, 10 bring the 'tss
rate down. The demshds Of the ct,
departments are %, great that ethics
the estimstors must CT greatly. oi