South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-09
CITY COUNCIL
ADOPTS BUDGET;
INCREASES LEVY
Pass Financial Bill For Com
ing Year After Grant
ING Raise.

After raising the levy from 1875
cents on the hundred to "a cents.
the city council Monday night adopt
ed the levy and budget for 1920
without a dissenting vote.
The levy and budget ordinances
were approved by the committee Of
The whole Of the council after the
committee had increased the levy
for the recreation fund from six
mills 70 one cent on the hundred
dollars at a meeting held just pre-
ceding the regular session Of the
council
Louis II. Hammerschmidt ap-
pealed for an increase in the recre-
alton fund. representing the recrea-
ton commission and the Federated
clubs OF the city Mr.. Hammer
schmidt declared that an increase
in the amount Of money TO be set
aside for recreation places in the
city was badly needed, declaring that
II was even possible that this fund
would lose 5000 contributed To il
by the school authorities
Mayor Sends Message.
Councilman G. A. Byers moved
that the fund be increased by rails
ing the levy from six mills 10 one
cent. This viii give the fund $l2,-
600 instead OF $500.
Mayor Carson addressed a mes
sage 20 the council in which he
urged the adoption OF the levy and
budget for the coming year. He
pointed out in his message that the
funds asked for are badly needed to
keep the city abreast of the expan-
sion program.
The mayor also pointed out that
every other city of the second class
in the state are making similar in
creases In their budgets for 1920.
He declared that there had been un-
just criticism Of the budget and levy.
and he said that this criticism had
been made without just investiga-
lion being first made.
Erskinc Favors Budget
a. r. Erskine spoke in favor Of
the adoption OF the budget and levy.
Mr.. Erskfne declared that it is not
the Studebaker corporation. OF
which ne is president, who would
benefit by the expenditure OF moneys
for betterments. but that it woul
be the entire city.
Mr. Erskine said that the corpor-
alton OF which he is the mead is pre-
pared to go ahead with its proposed
expansions and that by next April
an entirely new plant would be in
operation. employing at least 5000
men. He said that these men must
be provided with homes, and that if
persons owning vacant lots within
the present corporate limits Of the
city could not be induced to build
on them, the city would be com
PEELED to expand beyond its present
limits. He predicted an expansion
of the city in territory, and declared
that such expansion would mean
public improvements.
Mr.. Erskine declared that the
budget and levy in his opinion were
conservative, and he expressed the
hope that the council would see hit
70 adopt them.
Points Out Needs.
DR.. 9. A. Iippincott also spoke in
favor OF the budget and levy, declar-
ing them TO be conservative. DR..
Lippincott said that the manufactur-
ing interests Of the city are the real
producers OF the community illus
trating the need for more houses
here, he said that the corporation is
row at a loss how 10 md homes for
40 high class men whom the CorpOr-
alton Is bringing here oct. 1. DR..
Lippincott also urged the adoption
OF the levy and budget ordinances.
The council convened in regular
session Immediately following the
adjournment OF the meeting Of the
committee OF the whole. The tax
levy for the coming year was the
first 20 come up for action, and after
IL had been increased from 1876 20
"a cents on the hundred dollars. IL
was adopted Nine members voted
in the affirmative. Councilman viii
liam Hagey, who was present at the
committee meeting "a few minutes
earlier. left the council chambers.