The record-union., 1891-06-03
CUTTING DOWN EXPENSES.
The Supervisors Crusade Against
Little-Big Bills.
Various Leal1ages to Be stopped-A
Buiying Ground at the Hospital
Tho Chain-Gang.

The County Supervisors were in an
economic frame of mind yesterday.
They pitched into the little bills which,
when put together, make an appalling
sum to take from the County Treasury
every month, and the result will proba-
bly, be considerable reduction all around.
1t was case of kick" all day-and a
thoroughly wholesome ''kick'' at that.
Chairman Greer and Mr.. Bates led in the
attack, and were ably supported by the
others.
GRANITE TOWNSHIP POUNDMASTER.
The band began to play when Clerk
Rhoads read a petition for the appoint
ment of a Poundmaster for Granite
Township.
Right on the heels of this came lib
orally signed protest against the said APP
pointment, and it was observed that
many names were on both documents.
Mr.. Bates declared that he was thor
oughly familiar with that section of the
county, and was positive that a Pound
master was not needed there. It was
nearly all pasture land, and there was no
sense in burdening the people with extra
taxation to support q Poundmaster.
Chairman Greer said there were other
objections TO the petition, but before men
tioning them, he gave way to Justice
Hartford Anderson OF Granite Township,
who wanted to say few words. The
Justice was opposed to the petition, and
explained that he had signed it unthink
ingly. A stray law was now in exist
ence, he said, which would answer all
purposes Besides this, the appointment
of a POundmaster would entail an extra
expense upon the taxpayers.
Mr.. Bates moved that the petition be
tabled, and Mr.. Miller seconded the mo-
ton.
OUT OF ORDER.
Before a vote was taken, however, Mr..
Greer had his say. He did not like to
ignore his constituents, he said, but it
was plain to him that the petition was
out of order entirely. There was no
pound ordinance in existence in Granite
Township, and therefore nothing upon
which a Poundmaster could act. An
ordinance would have to be petitioned for
first. Besides this. he was opposed TO the
expense.
Mr.. Bates motion was then voted for,
and ii was carried unanimously.
The next economical move was toward
The expense of burying the county's
dead. Mr.. Greer called the attention of
the board 10 the fact that this was heavy
burden and, he was satisfied, could be
reduced greatly. In other places there
were burying grounds attached to the
County Hospital, and the INDECENT dead
or rather those who die in the hospital
are buried there. In this county it costs
s. 50 for each death, while in Stockton
the expense is only 81, and the burials
are better than ours.
Assistant District Attorney Buckley,
who was present, said he knew Of no law
that would prevent Sacramento from
doing as they do at Stockton.
Mr.. Greer again referred to the enor-
nous expense, and said that further
reason Tor having q cemetery attached to
the County Hospital was that the records
could then be kept intact. At present in
half of the cases only the records OF the
date of death could be had, while it was
impossible to identify the graves.
Upon the understanding that a resOlu-
ton covering the case would be offered
to-day, the subject was temporarily
dropped.
REDUCED GAS BILLS.
At the last session of the board Mr.
Bates raised great howl about the gigan-
tic proportions of the gas bill for the
Courthouse and County Jail lighting
His protest was loud and vigorous, and
the other members stood by him. The
Sheriff and other county officers were
warned TO take 1t easy" and they prom
Used they would. Consequently when
SIR. Bates picked up the new gas bill yes
tevday-the bill for May-and observed
that it was some $40 less than that Of last
month, he felt better, and congratulated
himself on his capacity as a retormer.
The other members were pleased, too,
and hoped the county officials would con-
tinue in their good work.
The examination OF bills went on
quietly for few minutes, and then Mr.
Greer broke loose again.
Look here" he said, holding up a
formidable looking document, there is a
m p ho,,
TENTS to the County Hospital. This is
another leakage that must be stopped up.
These bills are getting worse and worse
g every month. ThrcC-quarters of the per-
sons admitted to the hospital are able to
walk out there and save the county this
expense. They could at least ride out on
The street cars to within stones throw
of the place. Why, at this rate, we could
buy half a dozen carriages or ambulances,
maintain them, and have them stationed
all around town waiting for patients"
That's right, Greer" rejoined Mr..
Bates. "Go Tor lem and pll stay with
you"
Mr.. Greer said he was not talking for
the sake Of hearing himself and was
serious about the matter,
Mr. Bates said he was serious too. But
he added jokingly, Pm in favor Of not
sending anybody out there who can't
walk"
Mr. Black, who is responsible for the
sending Of patients to the hospital, be-
came uneasy under this fire, and, exam
lining the bill, declared that Messrs. Greer
and Bates had cried before they were
hurt. The bill, according to his interpre-
tation of it, only called for the payment OF
S44 for carriage-hire. The rest was for
extra employees at the hospital.
But Mr.. Greer thought that even S44
was too much for one month, and at his
suggestion Mr.. Black was instructed to
look into the matter and reduce expenses
where possible.
FALSE ALARM.
"Wha-what's this ?" suddenly shouted
Mr.. Bates, springing excitedly out of his
chair and holding another bill up TO the
light so as to see it more distinctly
"Fell, Pm be switched. Now, gentle.
men this thing is going too far. l dom
mind paying for "a
What's the natter" axiously in
quired the Chairman.
why, I'm blessed if here amt q
County Hospital bill that's paralyzer
It's demand for SIS for breath. tell
you they are getting it down pretty fine
Every member was on his feet in
stanter and all made a grab for the bill
Mr.. Black was the best grabber. 4