Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-02-02
FESLER OFFERS
CRITICISM IN
EXPENSE BILL
Sees No Need of Large Force
in Assessors Office During
Two Months.
COUNCIL HEARS PLEAS

Criticism by County Auditor Lee
K. Fesler of Township Assessor
Michael L. Jefferson maintaining a
large office force during the months
of November and December, the con
sideration of appropriation or
dinances totaling $141, ,677.50 and the
ordering of the cost of building a
hospital annex at Julietta as well as
the making of an investigation to
determine the advisability Of com
bining a number of the county in
stitutions by establishing a farm
colony, were the high spots today
of a special meeting Of the Marion
County Council.
Assessor Jefferson appeared before the
council and asked that S22679 be ap-
propriated. in addition to S+S,5C0 which
has already been appropriated, to cover
the salaries Of those employed by the
assessor for this year
ASSESSOR JEFFERSON
OUTLINES EXPENSES.
Mr.. Jefferson said his Office force for
1921 is as follows: Twelve office depu-
ties at SO a day, total, $3. .536; one chief
clerk, S2,GS5; three extra Office deputies
for ten weeks, 81 800; four evtra deputies
for ten weeks, $500; making the total
Of this class Of help ct s27,451. or that
amount 10000 was appropriated hst
September. A balance Of 81. 451 is needed
In assessing the township this year
/ Mr.. Jefferson claims he will need III
district men, working seventy five days,
total So, 800; six real estate men, sew
enty five days, total OF S2,4O0; four men
for seventy five days at a total Of 81 ,20O
and one outside deputy for a year, total
81 SIS: making a grand total of S39. .97S
for this class Of work. or that amount
S25, 600 was appropriated last Septem Der
and S14.97S Is needed.
Mr.. Jefferson's salary is fixed at
SO, $50, of which $500 was appropriated
last September. An extra $3.50 Is re-
CURED
Auditor Fesler said he could not see
why Mr.. Jefferson needed large force
In his Office during last November and
December. The assessor said 1t was nee
essaTy to maintain his force as ii is and
was
Fesler found fault with the estimate Ct
valuations given him by Jefferson and
SAID the AUDITORS once VIII submit III
the future no estimate Of valuations to
the taxing units until the books are In
the hands OF the auditor.
jefferson challenged Fesler's remarks,
and stated that the chaotic conditions Of
the present taxing system was one Of
the causes.
The council took under advisement un-
til Thursdays session all requests for
appropriations.
Representatives Of the Indianapolis
Humane Society appeared and asked that
the society be given an appropriation
of $500. Action Will be taken on this
request Thursday, as well as all other
Appropriation requests, totaling Sl4l,-
6775O.
Auditor Fesler became the champion
Of the proposed consolidation of the poor
farm. Julietta Orphans Home, Colored
Orphans Home and the Detention Home,
by selling the present sites and relocating
all of the named institutions on large
tract of land. The plan is known as the
farm colony plan. The councilmen decid-
ed to have Robert E. Tracy of the bu-
reau of municipal research Of the Indt-
annapolis Chamber of Commerce to report
on the success of such colonies in other
States.