, 1876-07-02
REIRENCKMENT.
Consultation OF Several Council
Committees.
All Are in Favor of Cutting Dow1
the Expenses.
But Cannot Agree on the Department
which Must Suffer.

Aid. Kirk Submits a Radical and
Sweeping Proposition.
The Council Committees OH Police, Fire and
Water, and Schools held meeting yesterday
morning in the Council Chamber to consult to-
gcther on general reduction in the running CT
pcnse Of all branches of the City Government.
There were present Aid McAulcy, Kirk, Briggs,
| Koerber, Cleveland, Nicsen, Gilbert, Ballard,
| Murphy, Sweeney, Stewart, aud Sheridan. AID.
McAluley acted as Chairman, and opened the
discussion by stating the object Of tho meeting.
Mr. Briggs favored a general reduction, and
| his remarks were seconded by Aid. Gilbert, who
vas in for pruning 1ibcrally. The others realized
the Importance Of such a1nove, and SO expressed
themselves. The proposition WAS then made
| that the different Committees prepare zeso1u-
| tion for the
REDUCTION OF PAT AND NUMBER OF MEN
| in their respective departments, and that the
resolutions be presented to the Council at some
| time not far distant.
! This proposition met with opposition from
some who considered certain departments too
| valuable to the city's interests to be touched.
Aid. Sheridan thought that the policemen fully
earned $1,000 q year, when the amount Of
danger they experienced, and the expense they
often were obliged to go to when new uniforms
were ruined in melee, were taken into consid-
| Grafton. The number of men in the force might
be diminished, but not the salaries.
AID. AfcAuley was strongly in favor Of reduc-
| ing the wages. Plenty Of good men could be
| had for much less than 1000 year. Besides
| in these times $3.50 Tas as much rs 81, 600 WIS
few years ago. There was no need of paying
| such high salary when persons could be had
for much less, There were thousands Of me-
| chanics. laborcrs, sailors, ETC., who did
rot make 500 year, and did as much
and rs hard work as the police. 1t was no rca-
son because policemen were not Iich that the
! city should pay large salaries, The city was
| poor, and people had got to find out that the
city would pay no more for labor than private
corporation.
was too much for police work, and he believed
that the citizens whom he represented agreed
with him. They should have something to say
about the way the money was to be spent. He
also thought that the force was too large, and,
although Supt. Hickey and others were against
reduction, he believed it absolutely necessary,
and knew that people would see it after while.
All departments should be cut and no distinc-
tion made.
private business was In as bad condition aswas
the city's, he should say that he
mnn eardcd tie eit2 as IN that p1tg
money was to be had. It was all exhausted
Even the Burr Fund was expended and debts
were staring them in the face. They had now
to rely on the generosity Of the bankers, who
would lend no money unless an inclination to
maintain strict economy was evinced No one
was ,:;'. more in favor Of reduction than be VAS
and be should be on that side all the time.
AID. Sheridan said that if the police salaries
were rednced he should not be sl1rnrised to sce
all the rood men leave the force and 20 into the
Country. m s1 ~ 1'0'| ~' ' 1> ~ 3 '' '''0
4Ald. Gilbcrt-Let them 20. We can find
plenty to fiji their places at less salary,
Aid. Kirk had received visits from persons
vho wanted
rur rrr DFpArrvEgr
diminished. but when he had explained vhr it
should not be done, he had been agreed With.
He did not want to appear as opposed
to a reduction, but tho Fire Department.
could not Stand it. There were good mechanics
IL W the IRE force, and they were earning their
money. Then, a fireman was worked harder
worse than month Of police work.
Aid. Gilbert did not agrce in that The police
worked for twelve hours day 365 days In the
year The loss Of LIE was much greater than
On the fire force, He beloved in . graded re-
duction. The times demanded reduction, and
it must be made. The employees themselves
would see the necessity Of It. There was no
money in the Treasury and before apy would be
loaned general reduction would have to be
made. T6ey could shut of the gas, rcdu-c
school expenses. and salaries Of emDloycs, but
# would never do to dfshand the
Dolice force. The city would be one
Great nest Of. thieves and loafcrs in
: few daysaun}ess every man made IN arsenal OF
himse1f knit be vontd ~ nrain | nronose m a rraded
ref1ction iii around.
Ald, McAujey said thai II would not be at all
fair tn make fcductfon here and none there.
It must he general and equal.
Aid. Gilbert-Lct us reduce the number Of
fre-enoines to thjrtcen.
AID Kirk broke in hastily and said f1,at snrh I
q course would be
A MOST DISASTROUS ACT. I
Not one dollar of insurance could be obtained,
Il would cause ol] the ins,,r.nre comnanics to !
1navc T. hafI hoen d;n1cnlt for him r. nht,in |
tnar1.,aa " h;s o,vn 1,,,;1dnr an1 then not
lsu!aee ~ - on "I''.; 1,tu -.nn s.1.a ~ ~
enoIn ~ lmvo,ea ~ % that n ad
"oua pay Lug HIGH ~ lue eat4c fa.e tuat Ae pau
men In his private employ. For instance, there
was use III paying such large salaries for coal
hcayers in the pumping works.
Aid. Sheridan again put in a good word for
THE poIicemcn and Aid. McAulev anain sup- |
castcG cs rndnrtion accordinr to liz t5hla thoot
fad haan meTa out snmn t1e oon 'A''"
AAA UCCA 4A1s%At ott 3otAtS oAAtC 49,