South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-27
AUGUST 81. 1919.
MAYOR CARSON AND HIS BUDGET

Mayor Carsons criticism OF the state tax law
passed by the last legislature with reference tc the
power vested in commission TO revise local
budgets To- prevent them running away with the tax
rate in quest OF extravagant funds was very good
democratic criticism though TO the application.
toe cause his criticism answers It, Those who be
heve in home rule" very naturally dislike the state
revision feature of the law. many with reference
10 the power Of the commission TO raise lower
valuations as well as 10 revising OF budgets,
Never did South Bend have so many home rule
advocates it has right because Of these two
features Of the law ard incidentally. never
before were those features thought highly de
sirable
However when the city administration proceeds
TO the presentation OF budset calling foC so near
"a million dollars. doubling the anticipated cost Of
municipal operation. in comparison with former
years $ pretty to have revising pow
er somewhere OF course. it is stu within the power
Of the council to if it has the
and perhaps it will but if someone higher-up.
even at the capital certainly should. South Bend
naturally expects some increase in the cost OF
Icipai administration and under the present ad-
minstration expect provision TO be made
for some useless extravaganza. if not little bits Of
eraf, but a boost of s3500o0 naturally seems
trihe too much for ore swallow.
However aside from salary increases OF various
orders. while hot approving the amounts asked to
De- appropriated necessarily. in growing city like
south Bend. and expecting 10 grow even faster in
the next couple of years budgets for paw
ing Of street intersections for eNtenton of water
mains sewerase-matter of fact city improvements.
are Indispensable A budget calling for $75O.0O0
or 100000 might be exorbtant for must
bear in mind that South Bend is expanding. IL
IS proper and might be well that citizens com
mittee as suggested. say OF the Chamber of Com
merce should 20 over the budget and mark down
The necessities guidance of the state board
al least. that the mayors budget may not bo cut
too much.
Neither should il ne made APP. in order TO keep
within the maximum rate by sniping from the
schools need the schools infinitely more than
We need anything at the city hall barring perhaps,
The water department and the nre department. un-
der municipal administration these and "a place
pass upon our municipal lighting bills They
shut down she rest OF the city hall, and could
set along better than without the schools and in
this We include an anticipated improvements. Give
us light our ewes. enlightenment FOR our brains
something TO quench thirsts without having TO
patronize the bull pen" with the apparatus for put
ting out fires. and worry along-but no
such retrenchmeut is necessary.
such an increase of public expense. as Mayor
Carson seemingly wishes to indulge. particularly
az TO salary increases. when stacked up against
such a decrease in efficiency as his adnsinistra-
ton has displayed makes Of his budget so
gross an exhibition OF audacity as 10 make os0 al
most stop 20 wonder II he isn't foolins: If some
thins hasn't gone his head and has eguili-
brium. We will not raise The question OF adherence
10 his campaign promises OF economy: never
did take any stock in them. any more TO this
than did his promises Of law enforcement and
the elimination of vice.-but have him our
hands and must not cripple him beyond the posi-
biity OF doing anything