Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-06-05

revenues of the city for the coming year
following comparisons will show the
monthly salaries.
Paid Salary Fixed
Heretofore. by Council.
Chief of police........$D $50
City CLERK 5D 20
engine house. 60 so
Street commissioner. 80. Is SO
per year....... III III
s2so.s3 sls5
The street commissioner has been getting $50
in cash, which is equivalent to $75 in warrants,
This cut shows q net saving of $75.S3 per
or 5000. 96 a year. To determine
the sentiment of the business men on this
question, the TRIBUNE has made a few in
quirieS, and with few exceptions, it finds
the action of the council endorsed. There
is. however, a question in the minds of
some as to the equity of the adjustment. 1t
must be understood that the salaries fixed
are not on a cash basis. Warrants are
worth about rs cents on the dollar. Thus
the employee Of tie city will receive in
cash only Is per cent. of the amount fixed.
1t is doubtful if a proper person
can be secured for custodian of the
engine house-a man who is obliged to put
in his whole time-fOr $37.5 so a month. 1t
is also doubtful if a suitable person for
night watchman can be secured for $3.50.
1t may be that the city can get along with
out a policeman, which would be prefera-
Bile to employing an incompetent person.
The TRIBUNE is satisfied that the council
means to do no injustice in this matter. 1t
is confronted with the rather complex
problem of making 50 income pay 50 ex-
pense and it has very wisely concluded
that the simplest solutiop-in fact, the only
solution is to cut down the expense. The
following will show the sentiment of the
citizens on the subject:
John Yegen: l am Indifferent regarding
this matter. l believe the council will do
their duty as best possible.
T. NJ. Joslin: 1t seems as though a re-
duction would have to be made somewhere
| do not want men to work for too small
wages, but we cannot afford to be too lib
eral.
j. II. Marshall: l think the chief of po-
lice should get a larger compensation. He
is an able man and has to put in his whole
time.
Louis Hanitch: l do not think the
amount sufficient for the chief of police or
city custodian. The balance OF the Sala-
ries are sufficient.
E. S. Chase: The chief OF police and
city custodian ought to receive more
wages.
l.. P. Baker: The action of reducing ex-
penses is very commendable. There is a
certain amOun of fixed expenses that must
be paid, but | am in favor of running the
city as economically as is practicable.
o. r. Barnes: l approve the action of
the council. Our expenses must conform
with our income.
1Attorney Newton: 1 think it a wise
move.
F. V. Barnes: The city should be run on
as small all expense as is practicable. If
the work can be done for that amount of
meney, l approve of the action.
EsFrank kim: 1t is not right. The city
should pay her laborers living wages.
Alex Fromme: l think the salaries were
loo small in the first place. l am in favor
of doubling them.
Charles Kupitz: Our city custodian
should get more, but can we afford it? l
would like to see The offices consolidated.
One man can do the work OF three as it is
now.
Frank Frisby: I do not like to have the
officers salaries cut down, but w can do
nothing else. We must consider what we
take in, when we are paying out.
Dan Eisenberg: l look at this matter as
l do my private business. If l cannot
afford a thing, l do not buy it. The city
should cut expenses, to make accounts bal
ance.
E. L. Whitford: 1t is a matter of necessi-
ty to meet expenses.
joseph Hare: 1t is perfectly proper. We
haven't the money to spend.
Fl. P. Bogue: l am in favor of fairness.
1t is not just to cut one officials salary,
without a reduction OF all.
r. H. Tenney: The city clerk and treas
connection with other business; then we
could do away with Office rent. I approve
of the reduction.
P. c. Remington: The city clerk and
treasurer should be handled by a bank and
w expense. They would do the work
gratis, for the handling of the money.
George Gussner: We have no income
and must govern our expenses accordingly.
| would like to see the city officials get big
must be cut down to meet our present fin
ancial condition.!
Laurence CasseIman: [ an not a heavy
taxpayer, and the taxpayers should de-
eide. AS a citizen l approve the action Of
the council.
Isaac Hooper: 1 do not believe the
council can reduce the salaries
of the present city officials.
1t is in their power to regulate the salaries
of the incoming officers, but l believe. the
constitution prevents them from reducing
the pay of the present officials.
s. Captain Braith waite: I think it would
be fair and right to have fixed the salaries
of the city engineer and chief of police so
they could have realized $50 per month. 1
approve the other reductions.
NJ. Eppingel: The city engineer and
chief Of police ought to realize $50 per
month: The street commissioner is only
needed a short time in fall and spring.
The clerk should not complain as he
gets good pay for the amount OF work he
has to do.
Acknowledgement Spencer's Opinion.
At the adjourned meeting of the men,.
bers of the Worlds Fair commissioners at
Grand Forks some time ago Commissioner