Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-11-26
OPPOSE STREET
PAYMENT PLAN
Say Property Owners and City
Should Share Cost.

Opposition to the proposed bill to put
the total cost Of street resurfaciDg upon
the city instead of upon the property
owners, where 1t now rests, was expressed
today by George Lemaux, president, and
Mark H. Miller, member Of the board of
public works. Both said that If the
present system is 10 be changed they
favor putting 80 per cent Of the cost on
the property owners and 80 per cent upon
the city, which is done in Q number of
large municipalities of the country.
The proposed bill is being sponsored
by John L. Benedict, indianapolis at
torney and representative in the General
Assembly.
Resurfacing ana maintenance Of per-
manently improved streets would he
financed by municipal funds in cities Of
more than 100000. after the first cost
Of paving has been borne by abutting
property owners, by the terms Of the
bill
A special levy OF 10 cents on each 500
Of taxable property would raise the $685.
600 estimated annual needs of carrying
on the repair work, according to Mr.
Benedict
Other provisions of the bill will CALI
for creation OF a special resu facing and
general repair fund and considerable ad-
oitions to the municipal asphalt plant
and working force.
SEES POSSIBILITY OF
POLITICAL MACHINE
Fear that by placing the responsibility
OF doing all the resufacing work and
the direct expenditure of $6O0.0c a year
upon the board Of works would create
the possibility Of the establishment and
fH.HaH .ff IL
machine was expressed by Mr.. Lemaux
The work which Mr. Benedicts bill evil
IDENTIFY would he intended to provide be
done by the city is now being done by
six private contractors, and it would
be necessary for the city to add hun
dreds Of employees to its present pay
rolls II II were 70 do all resurfacing, Mr..
Lemaux pointed out.
The board president stated TINT he is
In favor OF giving the city the power to
bid against contractors on resurfacing
Jobs as Is done IN other big cities, not
ably Detroit, with great success.
With this provision in the proposed
bill IL would be possible for the city to
hold contractors down to the lowest pos
slble prices and at the same time do oil
the work itself ar give that share Of II
which the city is not able economically
TO handle TO the private contractors.
II special fund for street resurfacing
Is raised, Mr. Lemaux favors making
the levy for this purpose upon land
alone, asserting that he does not believe
that personal property should be com
PEELED TO bear the expense Of enhancing
real estate values.
BENEDICT CITES
ITS ADVANTAGES.
In speaking OF the advantages afforded
under the bill, Mr. Benedict pointed out
It's elimination Of controversies and re-
monstrances which tie up Thoroughbred
aud the more regular improvement o.
streets.
The bill is not an administration
measure. according TO Mayor Charles ".
Jewett, who says the present laws are
sufficient TO care for the citys streets
md that under the operation u the bth
the city's treasury would be emptied In
a short time.
Samuel Ashby. corporation counsel,
said such legislation would he unfair %
many property owners who already have
paid for paving and resurfaciug and
would be forced 10 pay FOR improve
meuts beneficial to others
The bill will be turned over to As
sistant city Attorney Harry E Yockey
for revision. according to Mr.. Benedict.