South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-02-24
COUNCIL TURNS
DOWN ORDINANCE
Measure Seeking ApprOpria-
ton For South End Sent
to School Board.

Residents Of the fifth and seventh
wards failed Wednesday night in
securing the passage Of the ordi-
nance appropriating money for
gymnasium 20 Doe erected near the
Franklin school A large number
OF Interested parties were present in
the city council chamber After a
lengthy consideration Of the matter
during which City Atty Seebirt ex-
pressed the opinion that the appro-
priation could not be legally made.
the ordinance was referred TO the
school board 10 viii come up again
before the council at the next COM
mittee meeting on March 2.
In the opinion Of City Atty. See
brit. the appropriation could not be
made for recreation work for the
reason that maximum tax levy Of
two percent had already been as
sessed for recreation work. He ex-
planned that the city WIS forced 10
abide strictly by the state law in all
such matters through the work Of
the state board Of accountants. In
answer to the argument that. mas
much as the city had appropriated
money with which to equip the
oliver Fairgrounds. which did not
yet Selong to the city. the city could
appropriate for the south side build
ing. Mr. Seebirt pointed out that
when The oliver field was equipped
the city had not then made the
maximum assessment of two per-
cent for recreation.
G.. y. Haslanger. Spokesman.
Gus r. Haslanger president of the
Elder Civic club. was the spokes-
man for the citizens who were pres
ent at the meeting He recited the
facts that have been given on sew
eral occasions showing how the
south side had no suitable place for
Fairgrounds or for public gather
ings OF any sort. He explained how
the school board approved the plan
for a gymnasium and how the board
was willing to erect the building if
the money were forthcoming. Ten
tative plans were submitted to the
councilmen showing a building $50
by "a feet and 20 feet high and hav-
ing sides which could be raised.
DIT. II. +. Nitou also spoke in
favor OF the ordinance. declaring
that the south side had not received
ifs Stare of public improvements.
MiSs Edythe ]. Brown. principal OF
he Franklin school called attention
20 -he fact that the pupils of her
s,hool had no other convenient
place than the street in which To
play.
ComCiImen Speak.
Councilman Miller of the fifth
ward spoke in favor Of the ordi-
nance. Councilman Lang also fav-
ored the project although he an
nounced himself somewhat doubtful
OF the advisability Of erecting such
a building in view of the fact that
the Franklin school building would
have 90 be replaced i'm the near
future by a more modern building.
Councilman Goebel Of the seventh
ward called attention 20 the fact that
the Franklin building was unsafe for
athletic purposes. Councilman Sci
fert OF the fourth ward objected 10
the ordinance on the ground that
what was done for one ward would
have TO be done for every other
ward, mCiSding his own
Ordinance Would BE Void.
City Atty. Seebirt gave his rea-
sons in detail for believing that the
ordinance would be void if il were
passed. He was answered AZ some
length by Haslangcr who main
tanned that by following past actions
the council could appropriate the
necessary $500 from the general
fund regardless OF the fact that the
TWO percent tax limit for recreation
had been reached. He intmated
that in falling to appropriate the
money when there was sufficient i'm
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