, 1879-01-12
MUNTCIpAL EXpENSES.

/ doubtful Senatorial contest penang.
| .---------
MUNICIPAL EXPENSES.
There are indications Of a general pressur
on all sides for an increase Of appropriation
fl: the expenses of tho City Government
during the next fiscal year, and also som
signs of III inclination On the part Of tn
Council to yield to this pressure. Thi
tendency must be fought from the very out
set. The era of estimates never comes arount
but that this fight must be made, at leas;
| against tho salaried oEcials. The practice O
receiving separate estimates from the head
Of the different departments almost iu1plie
this constant demand for an increase; fo
each department. strives to get as large n slice
of tho public money as it can. But it is cx
pected Of the Comptroller and the Council
Committees that they will resist these de
| mands, and insist upon policy Of retrench
ment rather than extravaganza. The tax
| payers of this city, after exceptional energy
succeeded in electing Council that, tive
years ago, began to reduce expense:
and prepare the way for:t the city's
escape from impending bankruptcy. Now,
when the fruits Of this policy are just begin
ming to be apparent, and when confusion
has given way to something like order in the
city finances, there crops out q new tendency
to extravaganza, which, if INDUCED, will
speedily reduce the city to the SAME nortify-
ing condition it was in at the close Of Coll
WINS administration, with the difference that
it will not again be able to borrow the money
to carry on the excesses.
The action Of the Police Committee in
approving Of some Of tho increases recon-
mended BY Supt. SEAyE1 for his Department
foreshadows the danger that the economical
policy which has prevailed for the last two
years may be abandoned. There is no war;
rant for any increase Of salaries at this time,
for there has been shrinkage of 10 per cent
in prices during the past year, and the same
rate Of pay will yield larger purchasing
power than heretofore. Notwithstanding
this fact, and Notwithstanding that
the future credit Of the city de-
mands an adherence to the policy of strict
economy, the Police Committee have
shown willingness to increase rather than
desire 10 reduce supt. SEAvrr's estimates.
That gentleman begins by asking an in
crease in his own salary of $3.50 for the year.
It is only few months ago since he was
Captain at 81 800 year, and he was very
eager to take the position Of Superintendent
at double that salary, but now he wants still
more. He recommends similar increase for
his Deputy, his Secretary, his clerks, Cap
tains, and Iieutenants, and the Police Com
m1ttee acquiesce in the unreasonable de-
mand. He!also wants the number Of Lieu
tenants, Sergeants, detectives, and patrolmen
increased. He asks for 800 patrolmen where
there are now 405,-an addition of ninety
five men,-and altogether he lids to the De-
partment in numbers and pay till he makes
up total of $C94,790 for salaries which
should be covered by $3.50, 1000. To this the
Police Committee itself adds $40, 600 for the
construction Of new station-ho,1se We
advise these gentlemen to revise their esti-
mates and reconsider their recommendations
for increasing the expenses, for they cannot
justify their course when the appropriations
come up before the open Council.
We have the testimony Of Mayor HEATH,
given in q recent interview, to the effect
that the economical policy, so far from i'm
pairing the efficiency Of the various branches
Of the City Government, has actually i'm
proved them and increased their usefulness.
He also expressed The opinion that the ap-
for 1879 may be reduced even
below those for 1878 without injury to the
public service. This is the testimony of the
person who is in q position to know more
about the actual workings Of the City Gov
than any one else, and whc, on
many accounts, is able to take an impartial |
attitude between the taxpayers and the tax
eaters. It is very evident that the officials |
lobbying for an increase Of pay at this |
lime, and the members Of the Council |
who are willing to encourage such increase, |
Sill find neither aid nor sympathy from
Mayor HEATH, who may do much to defeat
he new move in the direction OF oxtraya- |
,ence- It IS also certain that the taxpayers
aill not look fevorebly upon any member of |
he Council who shall lend himself to q re-
,ewal Of extravaganza, but will take the
4Aoe " tu14k1 ~ 4tOuA6 A!uk NuEu lie
hall again come before the people. The
City Of Chicago is now living within proper
ncome, has re-established its credit, and is
triving to attain the true policy of paying
s it goes. There is no large city in the
country that will be SO well off in assets,
esources, and the smallncss of its debt
vhen the temporary Indebtedness shall have
'een wiped out entirely and surplus ac-
that will enable the City Govern
nent to abandon the issue Of certificates.
sut, in order to realize these attractive
it is necessary that the, present
economical policy shall be maintained strictly
I'D rigialy. The responsibility rests chiefly
nth the Common Council.
THE BAR-AND WHAT IT Is.
Judge JAMESON, Of the Superior Court of
his county, has just written letter to the
[linois Bar Association, for which ho is en-
tied to the thanks not only of tha Rny Int !