Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-07-07
CITIZEN PLEADS
FOR BOND ISSUE
Continued From Page one.)

Of the tax board regarded these contracts
with some disfavor They were carefm
not 10 question the ability OF Mr. Snider
but there seemed 20 he a tendency 20
regard the payments made under them
az very liberal
Attorneys for the school board pre-
sented elaborate sets Of figures 20 show
that on four buildings under discussion
the Snider & Rotz contracts would result
IN a saving Of 81 064 20 the city over the
system in use before the Snlaer & Rotz
contracts were entered into.
These figures showed that architects are
paid per cent for school work here
This Immediately brought out "A series Of
rapid fire questioning from members Of
the tax hoard during which 10 developed
that one Indianapolis architect who has
been getting the customary per cent
for school buildings In this city recently
took 4 contract for the erection Of
Courthouse tn an Indiana town 10 8 per
cent. The figures also showed that un-
der the old plan a clerk OF the works M
a salary Of $1,000 4 year was employed 20
supervise the work. This Interested Mr.
Hough greatly and he az once wished TO
know why IL was necessary 10 employ a
81 600 clerk Of the works 90 supervise
when that work was covered 10y the archi-
rect's fees In answer to the statement
that it was customary be said well Il
may be customary, but that does not
make it sound business policy"
QUESTIONS TOUCH
on EXCESSIVE COST.
All the way through the hearing mem
bers Of the tax board kept ashing ques
tions tending 10 show that costs IA Indi-
annapolis We're excessive. when the state
ment was made that a certain kind 81
brick could be obtained IN indianapolis
at $i4.50 +. 0. 3 cars here. and il costs
$50 thousand to deliver them 10 the
job, Mr.. HoUgh said. THAT is getting
down 10 somathing like reasonable fig
ures 1t is almost good as at Mohawk
Ind, where the brick is delivered to the
job at S1450"
Merle y. a. Walker. attorney for the
Better schools League, insisted that con
sideration Of the Suider and Rotz 4
Snider contracts had been Withdrawn from
the tax board by the action of the state
board Of accounts but members Of the
board did not agree with him Mr.. Walker
was In an aggressive frame Of mind all
through the hearing aud failed 10 get
along either with the tax board or with
attorneys for the remonstrants with any
degree OF success. Mr.. Natson. on the
other hand. was able to present his case
without arousing antagonism. In this
respect he met with far more success
than did Mr.. Walker.
Considerable excitement was caused
among members Of the school officials by
number Of statements regarding costs
Of school buildings In other cities made
by Philip Zoercher, member Of the tax
board. These figures purported to show
that buildings in Evansville, Muncie and
other cities were costing considerably
less than Indianapolis buildings. Attor-
neys for the board demanded to know
less than indianapolis buildings. It wa,
shown that the figures for the proposed
new buildings here are based on fire
proof construction OF the most approved
kind which might make them cost some
what higher than the type for smaller
cities.
Attorneys for the board demanded to
know where the figures had been obtained
and were told that they had ben sup
piled by Miss Alma Sickler of the League
Of Women Voters.
This seemed to cause intense amuse-
ment among certain members of the
school board, but the amusement was
not shared by the tax board, for Chair
man John j. Brown said that the board
had the figures and had gathered some
very valuable information from them.
WALKER PUTS
QUESTION.
This brought Mr. Walker to his feet
In hurry. How is the board to deter
mine this question - he asked. BY un-
signed letters, hearsay, gossip and other
things Of this character, or by evidence
properly introduced?
"One of the determining factors will be
what you are able to do as compared
with what other cities do If you cannot
do as well as others, we will be mighty
slow about giving money to people who
cannot spend it judiclously. We want to
be shown what you can do Give us in
formation on this point. We certainly
are not going to authorize expenditures
far beyond what they ought to be. We
realize there is : great shortage of room
In the INDIANAPOLIS publi, schools but