The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-09-15
BY JAMES A. CARVIN

Two weeks accumulation of
garbage will remain in back yards
next year if father or the boys for
get to have the container ready for
the once-a-week refuse collection,
which the city will make.
After tax relief organizations
slashed $50, 900 from the 1888 ap-
preparation request of the sanitary
board, only sufficient funds remain
for one garbage collection week
instead OF Two, Maurice E. Tenant,
member Of the sanitary board, said
today.
Collection of ashes this winter
only will be made once a week, he
said.
In making a saving of 70 cents
family next year in the sanitary
district budget, it is necessary for
the city to reduce garbage, ash and
refuse collections "one-half by
operating on once a week
schedule" Tenant asserted.
New Market Is Created
Whether the 70-cent saving
works for the benefit of the people
remains to be seen. There is one
item of expense, which in the case
Of numerous families, will more
than wipe out any savings in taxes.
Under the reduced schedule of
collections, personal pride, the
neighbors or the board of health
Will require purchase of at least one
additional garbage container be-
cause the one now in use probably
is not large enough to hold a seven
day garbage accumulation of the
average family.
AT a conservative estimate of 81
as the cost of a new garbage con-
tainer, and perhaps 81 for another
ash can, each family Immediately is
put to an expense of $3.50 beyond
the saving in taxes"
Tenant exhibited an advertising
letter received from local store
quoting prices on garbage and ash
containers.
This may a coincidence, or it
may mean that a clever sales man
ager realizes the new market which
has been created" he remarked.
Need Replaced Equipment.
Despite the fact that the sanitary
district had no appropriation for
the purchase of new equipment
during 1882, and only had $4,000
in 1881, our request for new equip
ment was cut to $4,000, sufficient
to buy three trailers.
Equipment of the sanitary dis
trict is in need of replacement, and
it will be necessary to repair and
patch freel yto keep the wheels
turning netx year. Tenant said.
The sanitary district requested
$4,000 for maintenance of equip
ment in 1888, but the appropriation
was reduced to $4,000, according to
the proposed budget now awaiting
city council action.
1T will require a large part of
our $4,000 appropriation to keep the
equipment moving, leaving only a
small sum with which to make
minor repairs which would forestall
costly breakdowns," Tenant stated
Doubts Benefit to Public
Possibility of discharging a num-
Der of employees now engaged in
garbage collection was suggested by
Tenant in view of the reduced COL
lection schedule.
IF these men, who have no means
Of livelihood but their labor, are out
of work, county, city and charitable
relief organizations will be forced to
support them" Tenant said 1.-The
70-cent saving a family will be ex-
pended several times by the in
creased cost of poor relief
If it becomes necessary for the
city to abandon its garbage ash and
sewage disposal service, the public
will realize acutely the cost of pur-
chasing this service from private
sources.
mo citizen could expect to have
this work done for less than $l2
a year, yet the city on its present
schedule does it at a cost of about
$343 yearly a family.
Il believe that the functions of
government should not be curtailed
unless the individual citizen actual
ly benefits, and it is doubtful if the
saving made in the sanitary district
in 1888 will prove of benefit to the
general public.