Tax Budget Is Less Than It Was Last Year

The tax budget for the year In Ann Arbor was made up at the council meeting Monday night. The amount to be raised is somewhat smaller than last year. The general city tax, 50,000, is the same as last year, but the bridge, culvert and crosswalk tax has been fixed at $15,000, a reduction of $3,000 from last year. when it was $18,000. Besides this $1,250 is to be raised to pay the city's share of the paving bonds in District No. 3,. the same as last year, $1,500 for District No. 4, the same as last year. and $1.500 for the State streel district and $200 for the Ann street district. The city tax levy will show a somewhat smaller rate per $1,000 assessment than last year and yet the finance committee hope to have the city funds in much better shape at the end of the year than they are at the beginning.

The $50,000 general tax is divided among the various funds as follows: Contingent $5,500, Street $9,000, fire $9,300, poor $2,500, water $5,000, police $3,500, sidewalks $1,500, park $500, lighting $9,500, storm sewers $3,900. This last is the first appropriation ever made towards paying up the big overdraft in the storm sewer fund made some years ago by paying for storm sewers without making any appropriation for the purpose.

The mayors veto of salaries for the mayor, president and aldermen was the first thing read to the council, and the only action was to receive it and place it on file.

Ald. Schlenker's resignation was then presented. He detailed the fire near Dean & Co.'s oil tanks last winter, the noise made by repairing the tanks and the movement for their removal. His resignation was based on the tact that the council did not insist on the removal of the tanks.

On motion of Ald. Fischer. the resignation of Ald. Schlenker was not accepted.

Atty. Sawyer reported the cases pending in which the city was interested.

The Maccabees asked that the licenses for street stands, etc., on Maccabee Day, Aug. 12. be given to them. This was referred to the license committee.

Jay C. Taylor vigorously protested against the tearing up of his 30 rods of sidewalk. The sidewalk, he says, was laid about three years ago in front of some comparatively worthless lots far out in the suburbs. He asked that the council have the walk replaced and the next time his walk was not good enough for the situation that he be given a friendly tip instead of knocking him down with a club.

Bernard Mast wanted a surveyor's bill of $10.80 he paid for replacing destroyed monuments repaid to him by the city.

L. D. Carr, agent of the White estate, proposed to donate the triangle formed by Oakland avenue, East University avenue and Tappan street, to the city for a park, upon condition that the city place coping next to the drive on each side of this triangular lot. The offer was accepted by the city.

Expert D. W. Springer reported finding the city treasurer's books correct with the exception of a couple of minor errors of no moment. .

City Physician Herdman sent in the following startling communication: To the Honorable, the Common Council:

Gentlemen- It has come to my knowledge and I believe it is my duty, as city physician, to call the attention of your honorable body to what I believe is the unlawful sale in the city of Ann Arbor of a certain demoralizing drug. I have positive knowledge that the city is infested with a class of men and women known as "cocaine fiends." This practice has become notoriously common, the principal offenders being negroes. I also have absolute knowledge that certain druggists are furnishing said "fiends" with their regular potions of the said drug daily, and in this way are not only making these victims more confirmed in the pernicious habit, ruining them physically and wrecking them morally, but they are aiding and encouraging a habit which will tend, In a way, to demoralize the community at large. It is a disgrace and a burning shame that such an illegitimate traffic, in so dangerous a drug, should be to be carried on without reproof, and I ask your honorable body that the proper officials be notified to take steps at once to prohibit all druggists from selling cocaine to any person except upon prescription of a physician.

Elliott Kent Herdman, M. D., City Physician.

The finance committee recommended bills amounting to $2,905.00 which were allowed. On recommendation of the committee the joint bid of the Argus and Times for publishing the council proceedings in both papers was accepted. The proper reports and resolutions were adopted for the building' of lateral sewer No. 11, on First Street from Madison to Jefferson street and on Jefferson street from Madison street to Allen's creek. The sewer committee also recommended that a sanitary sewer be built from First and W. William street on V. William to Fourth street thence south to Jefferson street. This report was adopted. This will be lateral sewer No. 12 and will furnish the necessary sewer system for the Philip Bach school.

The street committee recommended that the sidewalk on Fourteenth street be torn up and tilled to the established grade.

Culverts were recommended to be extended across the walk at Allen's creek in front of the Fluff Bug factory on Huron street and on Fourth street opposite the furniture factory and that the culvert on Second Street be extended and put into a safe condition.  The recommendations were adopted.

The lighting committee reported a number of lights out on certain nights, the report being referred to the finance committee.

The garbage question came up. Ald. Grose said he thought the proper way to dispose of garbage was to cremate it. He thought the city ought to be divided up into districts and either a tax be levied or that individuals be asked to sign agreements.

Ald. Douglas wanted to know the cost, but Ald. Grose did not know. Ald. Coon wanted to know if the committee knew what other cities of this size did. The committee did not know and on motion of Ald. Coon the committee was instructed to find out how other cities disposed of their garbage.

City Attorney Kearney recommended that the transient traders ordinance be appealed to the supreme court to see if the ordinance would not be upheld by the supreme court. The council adopted a resolution to this effect.

The city attorney also reported the the condition of a number of other cases of the city.

Rule 21 was amended, on motion of Ald. Douglas, so that labor bills will be allowed at any regular meeting.

Ald. Douglas introduced the tax budget as given in the opening paragraphs of this article.

Ald. Douglas also introduced a resolution doing away with a large number of dead funds and transferring the funds so as to make up the overdrafts in some of them, which was passed. This measure will do much to simplify the city's books, so that everyone can more clearly understand the city's reports.

On motion of Ald. Johnson, Janitor Easterly's salary was made $20 a month the year around, instead of $20 a month for seven months and $12 for five months.

City Physician Herdman made his report, which proved quite humorous. fie had secured the use of two beds in the hospital for the city poor long ago promised the city. The first patient he took there was an old man who made so much trouble for four days that they wouldn't keep him any longer. He was then taken to the county house, but claimed he did not like the board there and ran away, falling into a mud-puddle where he remained for some time, until picked up and brought to the city on an electric car. He had visited the Second ward schol daily since May 6.

The city marshal reported 15 arrests during April, of which 8 were for violation of the city ordinances.

The city treasurer's report showed receipts for the month of $9,488.00, which paid up the overdraft at the bank, redeemed nearly $8,000 of outstanding orders and left $301.83 in the bank.

Ald. Grose wanted to dispose of the hand engine in the Fifth ward. Ald. Kearns and Hutzel opposed this and the matter was referred to the fire committee.

Ald. Johnson wanted the city to buy a couple of carloads of crushed sandstone from Owosso and fix up Detroit street, and the street committee was instructed to examine the street.

Ald. Hutzel wanted to know the condition of the stone crusher. The city had 300 or 400 loads of stone

Street Commissioner Ross described how the belts were missing and repairs were needed. Better get rid of the stone crusher, he said. The jaws did not last 36 hours on the hard-heads and cost $45 a set He had seen them break down after 10 hours' work.

The council finally adjourned.