The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-08
INFRINGEMENT COMMITTEE.
Inquiring Into Cost OF Police Force
and Electric Lights.


The committee of the city council engaged in
the inquiry as to the extent to which retrench-
ment in the city ervice Is feasible met yester-
day afternoon Mr.. George w. Hall occupied
the chair. Aldermen korn and Pontius, Dele
gates Kittinger and Hanford were present.
Invitations had been sent to heads OF depart
ments, and Chief OF Police Rogers was the first
to arrive. The committee asked If he would be
willing to assent to q reduction OF salary. He
replied that he would not object to reduction
to 5000 year. He reminded them that there
were very many petty expenses incidental TO
the Office for which he could make no charge.
Mr.. Kittinger asked whether forty-eight pa
trolmen, two captains and three lieutenants
would suit him.
Chief Rogers answered that under the present
stress he though he could get along providing
every man did police duty and was not sent
out in other departments. He thought he could
manage with two captains but would not like to
be forced to run the department with but one
captain. When the police department was
organized the number OF men he would have TO
dispense with would only be about fourteen.
Mr.. Kittinger asked Chairman Cochran. OF
the board of public works, ii he would be willing
to throw off any OF his salary. Mr. Cochran
answered that he would not; he was at the Office
all the time, and expected to do his duty. He
was responsible for all documents.
Mr. Hall asked: sis it possible to get along
without the clerk, and let one OF the members
do the clerical work.?
Mr.. Cochran said, yes; he thought they could;
be supposed that Mr.. Rinehart could do it; bat
he did not know OF any board that did not have
q clerical man. As TO how much time the other
members of the board put in he was not pre-
pared to say, he would rather that the other
members should be asked
"The idea is Just this" said Mr.. kittinger; sit
would be unfair to ask one man to consent to
reduction unless all would agree; and as you
are the head of all the departments you should
be the first to consent"
Mr.. Cochran did not reply.
Mr.. Frink, superintendent of the Seattle Elec-
tric Light Company, was present and stated that
if he should put price ON the plant he would
say $4,000. The company was not willing TO
sell its plant, even though the city had never
done il justice Over go miles OF wire had been
strung, and everything had been for the benefit
OF the city, as not cent OF profit had been de-
rived.
Major Rinehart said that the cost to the city
for lighting was about So geo per year.
In reply to questions, Mr.. Frink said that 1t
would be impossible to make q reduction; that
a great many cities were paying more than Sc
attic was ut present.
Major RineAart said that the city had no con-
tract with the company, "a bids had simply been
called for and the offer OF the company accepted
This ended the discussion Of the Light ques-
ton
.Major, we want TO know IL you win reduce
your salary" said Mr.. Kittinger.
"weli," said Major Rinehart, II told Mr. He'll
bron that If they were going to pass the hat
would be willing TO chip in. There il one view
Of the case, however, that u, whether Is would
nos y senm 1ehe1e - heard d leeel2& Y u