South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-20
THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET AND
OUR UNWORKING POOR.

continues I'm need of the fun proceeds
Of S1.29 tax rate, despite the oisposi-
ton OF the city hall debt which has for
years utilized four cents of the amount
Councilman Hagerty's suggestion att
the council meeting Monday night was
By no means without merit. tt has at
least served to bring 10 the attention
OF the public that the city hall debt
has disappeared. or will have disap-
peared in advance Of TIE expenditure
of next years money. and that the
four cents formerly employed for that
indebtedness. aggregating approx
mately $4,000, is to be henceforth en-
ployed by the present administration
for other purposes.-among them to
Increase the board of safety miscel-
laneous fund. which 20 our mind. the
councilman was also justified, some
what. in his criticism.
II is well TO have somebody in the
council TO bring these things out. for
the public education, if nothing more.
II is where a minority party in all
government becomes an invaluable
adjunct. An appropriation to square
up the Quilhot investigation when
about the only one to be punished on
account Of it was QuilhOt himself.
looks rather incongruous. and rather
blighting to the wisdom of the board
OF safety. to say the least. If the in
creased miscellaneous appropriation is
calculated to finance REPETITION of
such wisdom; put on another such
fasco. we doubt very much if she pub
lie Will indorse the action Of the citi-
zen majority of the council. but. of
course. now that it has been done, the
most we can do is To hope for the best.
In all probability, South Bend will not
object so much tO~the retention of the
four cents. if the administration Will
be able TO show a wise expenditure of
it, but the increased efficiency and
the furnishing of more for the
money" etc, that was so prominent
in the republico- bull moose bi-parti-
san citizen platform, has not shown up
so glarinsly as YET. as TO add very con
siderably TO the public certainty.
True. we do read every once in a
while Of some great Jumps Of saving
that the departments have put over, as
for instance ia the case of the water
department. which periodically an
nounces the increased amount of water
pumped and the enormous saving on
coal, just rs though Il were Of the
present managements CONFERENCE.-The
the public is beginning to see through
these misaFpropriations Of credit and
it is really worse for the administra-
ton than il a course of honor were
pursued and the attempt were not
made. South Bend is not so short
memoried but that it remembers the
source Of the increased equipment OF
the water plant, charged against the
Goetz administration at some $3.50, 600,
and il remembers too that the saving
on coal is due 10 neT engines and
boilers for hich the Goetz admins
tration contracted plus contracts
made 10 effect a decrease in cost of
transportation. Not sign of economy
has been shown anywhere i'm the water
department for which the Goetz ad-
ministration did not pave the way. and
the same conditions prevails pretty
much everywhere throughout the city
hall. To get ont and bloat the public
up with hot air like the toad in the
fable Is one thing. but to CONCEAL that
hot air into acres of diamonds is quite
another thing.
Mayor Keller asserts that the four
cents is needed. because. for example.
when the new building code is passed
the city will have 20 have building
Inspector - another officer - but il
would seem that in an economy adj
ministration like the present one. hf-
teen hundred or two thousand dollars
year might be saved from some
where 10 pay that officer. without hav-
ing 10 levy a tax for IT, OF course. we
don't know. 1t merely looks that WY
10 US. We're prOgressing. yes. but ID
appears that under Mayor Keller's adj
ministration. same as an others
whether I'm the city. county. state 81
nation. this progress costs money. we
are not directing 20 10 so much as We
are 10 the fambuoyant hum buggery OF
those who are constantly seeking q
AAt-llAF titN IANA4f. NNAitNF tllAN ll AHll y
We must progress. or go backward
and we must expect TO pay the bill
whichever way we go. but the peopl,
have q right 60 the credit OF paying il
Councilman Hagerty we say accord.
ingly. did splendid service. in point
ing ont that with the city hall funt
eliminated. and the old tax rate main
tanned, Mayor Keller's administration
has IN effect increased taxes four cent.
by not decreasing them 10 that extent
which equals the former city hall fune
i appropriation.
At one point. however. in the coun
eilman's talk. we are determined tc
take him 70 task We refer 10 his as
4 sumption that a reduction OF the four
cents might be a relief 90 the poor ol
the city the coming winter and tend
10 avert a repetition OF the situation al