The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-11-30

TIE RETRENcHMEN1 MovEMENT-TH1RD READ
ING OF TIE B1LL.-An adjourned meeting Of the
City Council was held last night, for the further
consideration Of the Bill report.d by the Commit
tee on Ways and Means. Prescnt-Mayor Gaillard,
Aldermen Wragg, Gerdts, ONeill, Steinmeyer,
Oakes, Willis, Olney, Courtenay, Pringie and Raw
cnel.
Alderman Cosgrove proposed that the number
OF policemen be $780, which was lost.
Alderman Courtenay proposed 125, which was
lost.
Alderman Gerdts said that the object OF Council
was retrenchment, and it was best to Ak the price
to be paid irst and then to fix the number of men.
The Council could pay s45 per month, instead Of
$50, and take proportionately larger number Of
men. This would reducs the expenses about
s35, coo. Oae hun.red police were too little, as
the city was so large.
Alderman Marshall said that If one hundred and
fifty mon were retained they could not be had for
less than $50 per month. That was why the Con-
mlttec had reduced the numbers. s45 would not in
duce the men to do their duty we'll In making a
erred, Eut .hree months pay was already due the
police and ifsamo total cost remained the indebted
ness must increase. The idea was to reduce ex-
penses and see that taxes were paid in, 80 that
every man might he paid his due.
Alderman Cossrove said the money had been in
the treasury, and the Police ought to have been
paid.
Alderman Willis said that the number Of Detec-
tivcs should be increased as many Of them had
beel constantly called for by the military.
The Mayor suggested that the present number
(eightl be retained, and this was carried.
Tho Mayer, in reply to remark os Alderman
Cosgrove, said that the police could not have been
paid as stated. On the 25th and 2sLh of August,
s26 900 was In the treasury, but no call was made
for police pay, and no pay was due, until the be-
ginning Of September, and, before that time, the
money in the treasury had been paid out to meet
other liabilities OF the city.
The Mayor also said that up to July the police
had accepted payment in city bills, that is, they
took them while they could be sold at 10 per cent.
discount. Very few of tho police had more tan
four months pay due them.
The Council then went into the consideration OF
.hs section glllting the pay of the officers and
privates OF police which, as reported was carried.
Alderman Ravensl, in the course Of the discus
sion, said that last year had ooen hard year, and
that which was coming would be harder one
The produce Of the country was falling in price
day by day, and where was more money to come
from ? II the city had money he would increase
the police in numbers and increase their pay, but
this could no. now be done. No man found it
easy to pay taxes, and he begged the Council to
pause before adopting any resolution that looked
to increasing the outlay recommended by the
Corlm!ttee. He thought that the pay of the po-
lico should be reduced to s40 and that, ut that
price, men could be obtained who would be as
good as those whom the city now had.
Alderman Willis wanted to know who would be
discharged if tho police cut down from 15O 20
100. lie hoped that those to wsom the city owed
money would be paid before they were cast adrft.
The officers had been paid regularly, but to the
privates several months pay was due
The Mayer said that the city officers had beer
paid because they had accepted city bills, which
the police would rot do.
After further discussion the bill vas read 6
second and third time, and the title ordered to
be changed to an ordinance.
The following is the bill as read third time:
4 BILL TO REGULATE THE SALARIES OF CITY oFEl
GERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,
SEC. !. Be is Dreamed by the Mayor and A t1er
men in Ciy COunci assembled, That from and aftel
IN 18TH day of November 1867, next, the salaries o.
tbs Git Offers hereinafter merticped, shall be
! Le as follows:
4no salary Of the Mayor shall be after the rati
! os S3GG0 pee ennum.
That Of the City Attorney after the rate OF $50
That of the Clerk Of Council. after the rate o.
! SiC01 PC: annum. ,.,,
That oi the City Treasurer at the rate Of s200'
per annum.
That OF the Clerks OF City Treasurer at the rate
! OF Sl4Q0 per annum each.
That Of the City Assessor after the rate ot SloOI
! per annum.
| Ibal OF the Assistant Assessor after the rate o.
! e12Q0 per annunl.
That of tie City Registrar after the rate OF $780,
per annum.
hat OF the City Inspector alter the rate OF slOOl
That of the City Civil Engineer after the rate o.
That OF the Harbor Master after the rate o.
TnaT Of the Chief OF the Fire Department after
/ lhe rate # $500 per snnum.
] That Of the Clerk OF the Board OF Firelnasters
&c. after tae rate of s % per annum.
roat OF the Principal Teacher OF the A;Sl
! School after The rate OF $1,000 per annum.
That OF .he First Assistant after the rate of sl20
[ per annum.