The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-11-28

\ | Courtenay, Willis ana ha'ehei.
When the minutes of tie previous meeting hao
been read and confirmed, the Mayor informed
Counoil of the purpose for which the extra meet
inc was called; and the Bill proposed by the Com
mittee ON Retrenchment came up on its SECOND
reading.
The following amendment to Section l, proposed
by Alderman Willis, at the previous meetng was
first in order:
| ReSoiced, That from and alter November 20tt
the salaries of all city officers and employees be
| reduced twenty-five per cent, as we'll as the cX
penSes of the City Government.
MUpOn vote being taken, the amendment was lost
Alderman Marshall then urged that the Bill be
considered section by section, and line by line.
Alderman Courtenay said that now that the
Council was upon retrenchment it should be done
properly. The bill proposed did not cover all the
city officers, and ne wished to see every officer
placed on the same footing. He was sure that the
Retrenchment Committee did not wish to dscrimi-
nate, and he wished the work to be so completely
done that there might be no after claps.
! Upon motion of Alderman Marshall the Bill was
ordered to take effect from and after November
| 10, 1867.
The salaries of the different officers were then
voted on separately
Mayor. Alderman Marshall proposed s3OOO and
Alderman Courtenay siOOOper annum. Alderman
Gerdts offered the following:
| ReSJtUed, That the pay of all officers and en-
poyees of the city, who draw pay over 300 per
| annum, be reduced twenty per cent, and that
| they be paid in United States currency, or its
| equivalent.
This was opposed by Aldermen Marshall and
| Enston, and supported by Aldermen Courtenay
and Stenmeyer.
After some further discussion, in which Alder
men Oluey and Enston and the Mayor took part,
1t was moved to strike out the last clause of the
resolution offered by Alderman Gerdts.
Alderman Wragg said there seemed to be no
uniformity of opinion to the best course to be
adopted, and the work was SO important that it
should not be done hastily or without delibera-
ton. The items should be taken as they came up.
This might take long time, but at dash no good
cor / be done. The Committee have carefully
considered this Bill and the Bill should be taken
as nucleus for the action of Council. 1t might
be necessary to sit night after night, but this
might 30 borne. The community had called for
retrenchment, and the Council should not under
take to settle hastily question of so much gravity
and interest. There were two cardinal points that
must not be lost sight of; first the limited income
of the city, and, second, that the Council cannot
go beyond that income. 1t should be decided
what amount Of income could be relied on, and
what could be spent, and in what manner ii should
be appropriated. Until that was done, nothing
was done; and premature action would expose the
Council to the reproach of being men who acted
upon what they did not understand
Alderman Courtenay said that his opposition had
only been awakened by the fact that the bill did
not include any of the city officers and outsiders
would say why were not all served al;ke2
Alderman Enston, in reply to previous re-
mark, said that no reduction could be made in the
Fire Department. That valuable public institu-
ton would be broken up by retrenchment
Alderman Courtenay said that he did not oppose
the Fire Department, but he was sui that the
high-sprited men of which the Department was
composed would wish to be served as others were.
This talk of breaking up the Department was all
moonshine; but if the salary of his Honor the
Mayor was cut down, why not cut down also the
expenses of the Fire Department?
Alderman Willis then moved that the cor5idera-
ton of the Bill be postponed until Corncil can be
furnished printed list Of the city officers, their
Names the amount of pay they receive, and the
duties they perform.
This resolution was lost. Yeas and nays were
then called; and the resolution was defeated by
twelve to four, viz Aldermen Willis, Steinmeyer,
Cosgrove and Courtenay.
The Mayor's salary was then fixed at $4,000 per
annum.
City Attorney.-Alderman Marshall moved that
the salary be $500. Carried.
Clerk of Council.-Alderman Marshall proposed
$1,000 and hall the perqusites of the Office. AL
derman Gordts proposed $1,000 and all perqusites |
This was finally adopted.
City Treasurer.-Mderman Marshall proposed |
$4,000. Alderman Willis proposed s24OO. This last
was lost, and $4,000 carried.
Clerks of the City Treasurer.-Alderman Mar |
shall proposed sl4OO each which was carried.
CITY Assessor.-Aderman Marshall proposed |
$1lOO. Alderman Willis proposed $500, which was |
carried.
Assistant Assessor.-Aderman Marshall pro- |
posed 5000. Alderman Cosgrove praposed s14OO.
reconsideration of the vote upon the salary |
of City Assessor was then, on motion of Alderman |
Ravene ordered. Alderman Willis moved that,
as BEFORE the salary be $500, which was carried
byIa vote of to Z.
Consideration of the salary of Assistant Assessor
was then resumed. Alderman Cosgrove proposed
$500, which was lost Alderman Willis proposed |
$1,000, which was carried.
City Registrar. Marshall proposed |
$780, Alderman Courtenay $4,000, which was lost. |
Alderman Butler $780, which was carried.
City Inspector. Alderman Marshall proposed |
$500; Alderman Courtenay $1,000, which was lost |
Alderman Willis $1,000 and $500, which were in turn |
lost. The original motion of $500 was carried.
Civil Engineer. Alderman Marshall proposed |
$500; Alderman Willis $500, which was lost. Al
derman Willis $1,000, which was carried.
Alderman Willis then moved to reconsider the
vote fixing the salary of the City Inspector. This
was carried, and Alderman Willis proposed $780, |
which was lost. He then proposed s1100, which |
was lost; and finally, he proposed $1,000, at which
amount the salary was fixed
Harbor Master.-Alderman Marshall proposed |
$500, which was carried.
Chief Of Fire Department nt.-Alderman Marshall |
said that the Chief of the Department did not wish
to be made an exception, and proposed salary Of |
$500. Alderman Cosgrove proposed s12C0-lost. |
Alderman Courtenay, s11OC-lost. Alderman Cos
grove, $925-lost, Alderman Butler proposed |
1900, which was carried.
Clerk OF Board of Fire Masters. Alderman Mar
shall proposed 5000, but $500 was moved and
adopted
High School.-The following salaries were |
adopted: Principal Teacher $4,000; First Assis-
tant $1,000; Second Assistant, 5000; Third AS
slstant $500; Teacher of French and German, $500
each.
Orphan House.-Tle following salaries were
adopted: Steward $1,000; Matron, $780, Ply
sican, $50; Engineer, 5000; for pay of Principal
and Teachers, S2C0O
This closed the first section Of the Bill.
Alderman Willis moved the reconsideration OF
IL. tho ohorr 1ft tho L