South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-04
Keller, in Second Annual Mes
sage, Recommends Imme-
date Negotiations With
New York Contra Lines.
WOULD RAISE SCALE OF
WAGES FOR LABORERS
Points Out That 17Ia Cents an
Hour is Too Little For Men
With FamilieS-ReferS
to Gas Fight.

Mayor Fred W. Keller issued his
second annual message Tuesday
showing the accomplishments of the
present administration during the
year Of 1915 and making several sug-
gestions for improvements.
The message includes a summary
az the financial condition OF the
city comments upon the most inn
pOrtant legislation enacted by the
council during the year. the decrease
in electrical rates and the effort TO
secure lower gas rates. public i'm
provements such as streets, sewers
and parks. glowing praise OF the
successful operation OF the water
works department. discussion Of the
work Of the recreation committee
and the various municipal boards
and departments and recommended
tions for the elevation of the New
York Central tracks in the near fu-
ture and an increase ia the wages
Of workmen employed by the city.
Referring TO the track elevation
suggestion and the recommendation
for higher wages Mayor Keller's re
port reads:
The city will have a track eleva-
ton fund at the end Of this year Of
approximately $4,000. would
urge that negotiations for the eleva-
ton Of tire New York Central tracks
he pushed as rapidly as possible and
that the portion between Michigan
and Chaplin SITS. he elevated as soon
as possible This will take care of
our busiest and most central streets
and will allow the building of new
depot TO conform 20 the new grade
of the railroad. This is an improve
snent much needed by our city.
Wants Wages Higher.
"At the present time the wages
paid in some Of the departments Of
the city for 1aborers is only 171k
cents per hour. This is not enough
for man with a family. especially
when II is considered that the city's
work Is outside and a great deal Of
time is lost on account Of weather.
7 would recommend that the wage
scale be increased"
The city saved S14.S9O25 during
1915. according TO the mayors mes
sage. which shows the income TO the
general fund as S3S9.792.41 and the
expenditures as S374. 9O2.16-
The expenditure Of S374.902.16
divided by our population as est-
mated by the United States census
makes cur general fund expenditure
for the past year $3.50 per capita. g"
SAYS the report. The per capita
expenditure from the general fund
last year was $3.50. This is the low
est expenditure OF any Of the 16
cities in the United States nearest
our population as given 10y the Ia
test government statistics
THE average annual expenditure
per capita for the past two years
has been S5.74. The average ex-
penditure for the two preceding
years was $62S. equivalent TO Is
per cent more than the expenditure
o. the last two years.
Refers to Building Code
The mayor also points out the
building code and the jitney ordin-
ance as two of the most important
bits Of legislation enacted during the
year 1915. In his comment ON the
lower electrical rates the mayor
makes il plain that ne has lived mp
20 his promise 10 secure better
prices from the Indiana and Mich
iEan Electric Co. while he discusses
I'm ? moderate way the fact that sim
liar action is being taken TO secure
better gas rates.
In referring 20 the franchise
granted 10 the ST Joseph Heating
co. which will supply certain parts
OF the city with steam heat the
mayor asserts it TO be one OF the best
franchises ever granted by the city
inasmuch as 10 gives the city a sub
stautial annual income Cor the use
or the streets The Michigan ST.
trunk sewer and plans for paving
this street and Anshawaka av. and
Eddy st. are pointed out as import
ant improvements for South Bend.
Mayor Keller suggests that the
standpipe on Nistula av be dis
pensed With and the property there
sold. he states that the ground
might be used for the erection OF
The proposed coliseum.
Water Department Statistics.
The total receipts i'm the water
department for the past two years
have increased S2T.552.39 over the
Two former years" the report says.
This increase is equivalent 60 over
IL per cent
The delinquent accounts have
been reduced in the same period
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