The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-23
BURSTED BUDGETS.
Conference Between the City Adj
ministratOrs and Other
City Officials.
Deficits Threatened and Reductions
Necessary to Prevent Them.

The announcement was made several days
ago that the semt-annual report OF the Al
ministrator of Public Accounts disclosed the
fact that the balance remaining on hand o
the budgets of several departments Of tht
city government would not be sufficient t.
meet the expenses for the remainder OF thu
year.
In discussing the matter In committee Of
the whole tho City Council decided to request
conferences with the officers of the severa
departments, and TO present to them tho con
J dition of affairs and urge the taking of some
steps which would bring the expenses within
the balances.
The conferences were called for yesterday
and In response Messrs. johnson. DeJean and
Byrne. Of the Police Board, called on the com
mttee Of the whole at noon, and were received
by 1t.
While awaiting the arrival Of two OF the
Administrators, whose presence was neees-
sary to make o quorum OF the committee,
Mayor Patton stated for the Information OF
the committee of the board that the present
monthly expenses of the force were $1,000 In
excess of what they should be to come within
| the balance on hand.
On the meeting being
/ CALLED TO ORDER,
Administrator Houston at tho request OF the
Mayor stated the purpose Of the committees
In seeking the cGnference He said that the
committee desired to inform the Police Board
of the condition OF the police budget At the
| beginning Of the year the Council had made
their budget, and made great reductions
all around. The police fund had been
placed at $3.50, 900. and 1t was thought when
the amount was fixed, that the force would
be sufficiently reduced to bring It's expenses
within TINT figure. They had been disap-
pointed Id this expectation, and now 1t was
found that the nneSpended balance OF the
fund WAS not sufficient to meet ~. DRESS u
exnansps FOR tho bolaneo of tho vear hey
had called for the conference with the board
to make this statement aud to request sug
gestons rs to how the matter could he reme-
died. The remedy, however, must come
through q reduction OF expenses, for 1t WAS
impossible t. 60 behind the budget even if
the force had t. be abolished 1t was for
them to say how the reduction should be
made. ==z4
Police Board defined It's duties and limited Its
powers. He could sec no remedy. The law
authorized dislnissals from the force for cause
only, for dereliction OF duty, and on charges
regularly preferred and sustained.
Administrator Ghevalley inquired II there
had not been many charges not followed by
dismssals.
Mr. johnson responded that all charges
were examined before the board, and punish
ment had always followed conviction. Ii how
ever, the present condition OF affairs had been
foreseen and the necessity for reduction
previously known, there might have been
more discipline enforced.
Administrator Houston said there was no
complaint Of the discipline OF the force on
the part Of the Council. 1T was believed to
be very good. There was no intention of
finding fault. He did not intend to lay the
existing circumstances at the door OF the
board, and they were not the fault of the
Council. The trouble was that unfortunately
the expected reductions had not been made
He Understood Mr.. johnson to say that the
board could make removals only for cause,
but he did not think that Mr.. johnson held
that no one was authorized to reduce the
force when an emergency required a reduc-
ton.
Mr.. johnson said In answer that he would
have 70 get advice before he could express
an opinion as 70 that, but he at present
thought that no one could
Administrator Houston differed with him.
He thought it would he rather u singular po-
sltion to take, that the force could not at anyl
time be changed, but that it must go on for5
cumStances or conditions Of affairs. I
Mayor Patton read from the law the SC
tion governing dl5missals and providing tat
they should bs made for cause. He said mat
there might be an emergency, as was the
present one when reduction was absolutely
necessary. The board had no authorBy to
make removals without cause but the Access
sity was a cause. 1t was requisite to AVE q
cause, but he did not think that ii musfneces-
sarly be a criminal act. The force Jas now
composed of BOZ patrolmen and seveaty -fouf
officers. The number of officers was the
same now as when the force was list organ
lied and when 1t was composed of 900 men.
Mr.. Dpjean remarked that at tn time the
officers were appointed there was sful force,
and they Were made On that basis All vacan- |.
ctes created by removals and REDUCTIONS to
the ranks had been filled by tls Council by
promotion and advancement, 50 the number
the same
Administrator Houston took the position
that the Council had lhe rightft any time to
reorganize the force. 1t walls or the board toll
say in what manner the reorganization
Mr.. johnson differed with Mr.. Houston,
but "to come to business" be said what Is
your prOpositlOnY
Administrator Houston "a reduction must
be made sufficient TO bring the expenses with
The budget.
Mr.. Byrne said he could not see how the re
iuction could be made. lie wanted to know
II there was not SONG other department in +.
which reduction might be made.
Administrator Houston said the only APP
out of which the deficit could be-
made was that for fle widows and orphans,
out there was no intantion OF taking this fund {
The Police Department was not being de-
orived of anything; there was nothing being
aiken from its budget for the benefit Of any ,
other department or for any other purpose. | +
The department bad already got more money
hat it received ID 1877 and, he believed, than
t had been paid in 1878. The department
vas not of morg Importance than the other
,een reduced The Police Department must
,ear its portion of the burden. The fact was.
hen II the expenses We're not reduced there
would not be money to meet them, and the
men would have to 60 without pay at the lat ,
CT part OF the year.
Mr. Johnsen suggested that they had gone e
Without pay before and might stand it again.
Administrator Houston admitted the fact
mt said that the circumstances were diff