The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-10
NEED OF ECONOMY.
Members of the Beard of
Works Express Their Views.
A HERITAGE FROM THE PAST.
The Responsibility Said to Be With the
Council and Not With the Execu-
tive Departments.

The statement OF Comptroller Ferris, pub
lished few days ego, was so elaborate that it
needed careful consideration before any respon-
sible official would commit himself TO an opln-
ion. Yesterday. however, two members of the
board OF public works were found who had
read ii, and were asked by PosT- INrELLIGES-
GER reporter what they thought of the estimates
and their views upon the retrenehnent ordf
nance.
"The estimates are altogether too high" said
Major Rinehart. "The estimates of Mr.. Ferris
for the latter half OF the year are based upon the
expenses of the first halt He must do this or
guess at it, but think it should be clearly
understood that the expenses of the first half of
the year were in some respects abnormal, and
will be considerably reduced He has not fol-
lowed this rule in all cases. because see that
the FIRE department is estimated at ss3, 900, which
Is far below the total for this year.
"But taking the figures as Nj Ferris gives
them. there viii be q deficiency at the close of
the year OF $4,000 or so. He estimates he ex-
penses for next year a. about $4,000, which a
levy of 615 mills, together with licenses, fines
and fees, would cover.
81 fear that Mr.. Ferris has under-estimated
the cost for this year: but whether he has or
NOT, II Is absolutely necessary that there should
be retrenchment. am heartily in favor OF this
doctrine, aud shall be glad if il prove true that
the aldermen have consented to sink minor
differences OF opinion and agree upon the
passage OF q retrenchment bill But something
more than reduction of salaries is needed The
board OF public works has done ali it could
within the limits assigned ii TO check excessive
expenditure, but its province is to buy what is
demanded by other departments not to have
the option OF buying or not. / do not think that
power should vest in the board. 1t belongs to
the council. | consider that the legislative
body should appropriate certain amount to
each department month by month, or at the
TT he tax law ic nd Co.
Then If any exceptional necessity should arise,
the departments affected could apply to the
council for relief
many of the expenses complained of have
been forced upon US by the old council. Take
the hreboat, for instance, it may be very service
able, but once started it could not be aban-
doned.
1.-The old city council left this new govern
ment legacy of blunders Look at that monu-
ment OF stupidity en- South Twelfth street; look
at south Seventh, at South Eleventh: look at
Terrace, at West, at Drexel avenue: blunders
bearing profit to somebody. Look at tho worth
less chemical engines. Let me remind you of
the $500 swivel nozzles ordered by the old coun-
Gil, which we are fighting off
"But leaving out the question of extravaganza,
there are plenty of things the city needs and if
we are told to get them we must, but the city
cannot afford them, and we should wait till it
can.
II Deiieve every merchant in this city will bear
me out when say that we try to buy in the
cheapest market. We have given the preference
TO our own people where the difference in price
was not too great to warrant it, but 1 believe
that policy TO be for the best interests of the
city.
Every department of the city government
should be impressed with the idea that the peo-
pie demand such retrenchment as shall bring
our expenditures within our means; and that
wi Ia CHI 81
department tolerating it. The charter provides
that any officer authorizing an unlawful expen-
diture of funds shall be held personally liable
therefor. The o. X. of any officer is placed upon
a bill as authorizing Its payment, and every one
should know that there is responsibility at
tacned 10 the duty OF examining bills down to
their final payment"
Mr. Heilbron, who was present during part of
the interview with Major Rinehart, conceded
in the main with the views expressed by him.
Speaking of the retrenehment ordinance Mr.
Hebron said: $50 lar as / personally am con-
cerned, have no objection whatever to sucn a
reduction in salary the council Ray see fit to
make, and have so expressed myself to the COM
mlttee which had the matter in hand. That re-
trenchment Is necessary no one doubts The
only question is as TO the way in which il shall
De brought about. l believe the retrenchment
committee has given the whole subject careful
consideration, and has embodied in its report
e.
port ana the ordinance based upon it may not
be perfect they certainly are in the right diree-
tlon. Ii the ordinance is passed, and think
tnat II VIII be, every department should do its
best TO accommodate itself to the necessary re-
striction that must follow
NO one would be better pleased than myself
Ii the city would have the best fire department
ana the best police department and the most
extensive public improvements that nonev
could command. 1t must be recognized how
ever, that even the resources OF rapidly grow
Ing city like Seattle have their Limitations and
good sense would dictate that these limitations
be not exceeded. / might emphssiza howayo-
In this connection what Major Rinebart sold
that the present city government is not re'
sponsible for the present eoadition of tho eitv,s
finances. Almost the entire debt of the citv MS
incurred before the present government cana
in. While do not say that circumstances did
not justify the large expenditures that were
made for street Improvements and other pur
poses, do say that some of the expenditures
were made in a manner TO warrant the charge
Of gross extravaganza
The attempt that is being made in certain
directions TO make the present government
shoulder the mistakes, 10 use no harsher word
OF some OF the members OF the government
that proceeded IL, is one which may react when
the times comes TO compare results Whether
the estimates OF the comptroller are strictly
accurate or not. they demonstrate one thing
and that is that the city is living beyond its
means. and at whatever sacrifice this should ha
stopped The ordinance as at present drawn mn
may, as have said, be found defective in some
minor details. These defects, however. car
easily be remedied, and should not be permitted
TO defeat the principle of retrenchment in gen
eral that is involved. II a vigorous policy OF re-
trenchment is followed, the city finances can he
put in excellent shape. All that is now ueces.
sary is a little prudent economy"
INVITATIONS To EDrTOps