The morning call., 1891-07-28

THE CITY'S DEBTS SHOULD BE PAID.
As all legal Indebtedness of the city ought TO
be paid, The duty deyoves upon this board to
make such provision as viii liquiidate This In.
debtedness without interfering with the pay
mcnr OF other obligations incurred, and this can
only be accomplished by the srrictest scrutiny
into ali expenditures and so regulating the same
as TO prevent extravaganza, and as this board
and the various municipal officers are so pledged
unison In this endeavor Will accomplish this pJr-
pose without impairing the efficiency of the va
riOus departments.
The available resources that can be ap-
piled to TINS deficiency, VIII h will have TO
be transferred from their present position
to the General Fund, are estimated as follows
Police Relief and Pension Fund ........ SIS 900 90
Judgment and outstanding indsbtei' sos 90 90
Fire hose and hydrantS INSTRUMENTATION. 10 600 90
Montgomery avenue Fund. .........,,,.,, l2.3l9 is
miscellaneous FUNDS. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Ga IA
Total &S9, 562 SO
The remaining liabilities, Sl05,543 %, will
be allowed from time to time as the funds ac-
cumulate and can be spared for their liQuida-
ton. The outstanding demands, as stated
embrace all liabilities of the city as pre-
Spnted, but as yet not passed upon. When
they are examined it is probable they will
be very much reduced. In regard to the
legality of all claims against the city the re-
port says:
THE CONSTITUTION vAULTED
Your committee are OF the opinion that no legal
demand on The treasury can be refused PAYMENT
Any other action would Inevitably lead 10 litiga-
tion. ana put creditors 10 uncalled for delay and
expense In obtaining Their just dues. The iiiga-
tinn In respect TO claims for services performed
and supplies furnished has been for years past
determined by tie Supreme Court IN favor of the
claimants, aud the city has been compelled TO paw
the same with costs and interest so that the
principle once ennnciated by the Supreme Court
that any years expenditures should be met and
paid for out OF the revenue OF said year has been
abandoned and a new principle established.
Your committee can appr' eiaie no reason
lar nFn WtSR q fff.s,
demands for services and supplies furnished
which make up the deficiency, have 10 legal
standing. and are, therefore, declared from being
allowed until their status Is 1udiciaily deter
mined.
SALARY DEMANDS FOR MAY.
The Finance Committee also presented a
report in the matter of the appeal of the
employees of the Fire Department from the
action of the Auditor in refusing TO allow
their demands for salaries due for the month
OF Nav, 1891, and which matter had been
referred to the City and County Attorney
and favorably reported on by him, but
which had still met with opposition from
the Auditor, who refused to sign the de-
mands.
The committee reported in favor of sus-
tanning the action of the Auditor in refus-
ing to pass the demands, the Auditor claim
ing that there is no authority or provision
of law under which the appointments were
made.
The Auditor claimed in support OF his OBJ
jectons to the payment OF the demands for
the services of substitutes that while the ap-
pointment of a substitute may be necessary
it can only be for a limited period, the law
recognizing no such action, especially when
for months and in some cases for over n
year the persons appointed and whose work
in the department is performed by substi-
tutes are employed in other occupations.
THE REPORT REJECTED.
Supervisor Burling moved that the report
be adopted except all that portion relating
to the Fire Department. Matters had come
to him which induced him to change his
mind.
Supervisor Ellert thought it strange snch
change should be made in so short time,
and Burling replied that very often after a
committee meeting members change their
mind. 1t was daily occurrence.
Ebert inquired what his reasons were
and Burling answered that he thought he
had acted hastily.
Supervisor Taber believed that II any