Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-08
MAKES
IT HARD FOR
NEXT MAYOR
Works Estimates for 1922
viii Compel Strictest
Economies.
SUDDEN THRIFT SHOWN

will cause the new administration COM
| ing into power next January, to observe
the strictest economy.
Jesse Eschbach, chief examiner Of the
State board of accounts, announced sew
eraI weeks ago that the State tax law
will be so interpreted from now on as
to mean that city councils have been
shorn Of their power to appropriate ad-
ditiOnal amounts or transfer funds once
the budget is adopted and tax Iev1es
fixed thereon. This means that the next
administration must operate upon what
the Jewett administration provides for 1t
and no more.
Two Of the biggest decreases are Sf0,-
$50 IS in the street commissioners sala-
ries funds and S25, 521.5O in the street
commissioners maintenance funds, max
! ing it apparent that the board does not
intend there shall be done any more
street repairing next year than has been
done this year.
BOARD CUTS
STREET FUND.
It was learned that Street Commits
sioner A. O. Meloy asked for S55,120 fer
the asphalt repair department salary
fund and that the board arbitrarily cut
Il to S45,1 and also cut the asphalt
plant salary fund from Mr.. Meloy's re-
quest Of S12,117Tj, to S9,1T77J. The
boards explanation for practically all Of
the decreases in street repair estimates
as compared to the figures for 1921 was
that materials are costing less and wage
schedules necessarily will be lowered by
passage Of the ordinance, now pending
in the city council. providing for an ap
proximate cut Of is per cent. If the city
council does not pass she ordinance,
which, for example, cuts the common la
Dor scale from 30 TO 3712 cents per hour
the next administration is going to be
seriously handicapped, those interested
In street improvements say.
The moves for economy, affecting the
expenditures Of the next administration
have caused some to ask why the present
board Of works has not given evidence
previously Of being imbued with the same
saving spirit. Such persons cite enc item
IN the new budget rs indicating that the
board has not been so careful in pruning
appropriations affecting its own expendi-
lures as it seeks to be in the role Of
watch dog over the funds Of the incom-
ing board. This item is the municipal
garage salary fund. For 1921 the board
lad appropriated S277OO. For 1922 it is
asking SlS,4O0 a decrease Of so, 900.
MONEY MAY
REVERT.
1t has been explained at the city hall
that the appropriation Of SCI, 200 for this
year was entirely too high and that not
much more than $4,000 viii be spent. In
Iact only $1,000 has been paid out OF
the fund in the first seven. months.
Friends Of the board say that no harm
has been done because. although the
money was appropriated 10 this fund. ir
VIII not all be spent and Will revert 10
the general fund at the end Of the year
I q
that the sum viii remain unsrent. 1t hav-
ing been observed by some to have been
tie general practice wherever one fund
. is too high to transfer the surplus to an
other and spend it anyway With this In
mind the dOubters wonder II the board
was indeed vigilant in holding other
funds to the minimum in the past keep
ing In mind, too, that every dollar added
20 appropriations means an addition 10
the tax levy.
While those interested In the upkeep
Of indianapolis streets are also con-
cerned that appropriations and tax
leytes shall be as low as possible they
primarily hope 10 see the millions Of
dollars worth Of paved highways kept
In such condition as not to make it neces-
sary to repave so extensively and ex-
pensively. Curtailment Of construction
and repair work during the war period
cities, several years behind in street
construction and repair work and the
good roads boosters desire nothing to
interfere with the movement to catch
up which, in all fairness, they say
the board Of works has undertaken. They
say they want to see the next board Of
Of works have the same chance to go
ahead with street repairs that the pres
ent board has had.
WATCH DEPARTMENT
WITH INTEREST.
Therefore, those who favor keeping
streets constantly IN repair are watch
ing the street repair appropriation with
great deal Of interest
While the chief concern is with those
streets which have been surfaced with
expensive pavements. a great many ciu
zens are interested in the proper grad
ing and graveling and patching Of the
unimproyed highways. The board has
been no more lenient IN Its reduction
Of funds for this department than on
improved streets. Offering the expla-
nation that the reduction Is 1ue to the
contemplated cut in wages the board IS
asking for S65. 222 SO in the uuimproved
street department salary fund, as against
SI5.S4160 for this year, a cut Of SlO-
1887. The decrease in the asphalt street
repair department salary fund is $751;
1922 representing the difference between
S45,12O for 1922 and 6O.572.25 now In the
fund. The brick and block department
salary fund is cut 81 ISL, from 5000 to
1913, while there is a decrease Of SS9190,
from secs to sf.SO7. in the cement walk
and curb department salary fund.
The cut In the city yards department
salary request is $500 90. from $40 97s io
50. $50 and the asphalt plant salary fund
reduction amounts to S5,91975, from S15,-
097.50 to S9177.75.
OTHER REDUCTIONS
ANALYZED.
Similar reductions are contemplated in
the maintenance funds for all but one
Of these departments. The unlmproved
street maintenance request is about so
per cent less than for 1921, the decrease
being $4,110 from SS,774 to S4,G34 The
budget explains that this cut is due
TO the fact that less equipment is to
be bought next year than this. Through
ont the Jewett administration there has
been complaint that Street Commissioner
A. o. MelOy has not asked for enough
money for the upkeep Of unimprOved
streets. Sometimes this has proved CON
venient, politicians explaining to irate
property owners that this or that street
cannot be graveled or chuck holes filed
up because no money was available
More often, however, it is said the false
ECONOMY of this policy has worked
hardship upon long suffering residents
along mud streets.
Another reduction which might turn
out to he a blow at upkeep Of gravel
streets is that Of s14 400 In the sprink.
ling department material and supply
fund, which the board says is possible
because Of lower price for road oil
The fund had 100000 in II this year. The