The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-10
THE CITY'S AFFAIRS.
Reduction Of Expenses in the
Fire Department.
EXTENSION OF CITY LIMITS



ment expenses for April amounted to only
$63zA. This Is . remarkable reduction,
and if il may be taken to represent the av-
erage monthly expenses. it viii bring the
annual cost within the estimate made by
Chief Kellogg. He calculated that the
salary roll would amount to 81. 638.64. II
to this be added twelve times the ex-
penses for March the total for the
year would be $50. 28S, where
as the chief put it at $9S.9Sl92. The
board Of fire commissioners are aware
that there is no fight against the depart
ment The criticism of its expenditure is
based upon the cost as compared with
other cities, and to the necessity of keep
ing expenses down to something like the
present income Of the city. The chief
himself admits that the current expenses
ought to be less than they were and his
bills for the last month prove that the OBJ
jections made hitherto had some founda-
ton in fact. Seattle is proud Of its fire
watchful economy.
The city of Seattle has, by the election
on Monday last, considerably extended its
area. With the additional honor comes
added responsibilities. Mayor White con-
templates a communication to the city
council on the subject.
THE new territory, he said last night.
twill soon require iegisl ation as to saloon
limits, police patrol, fire extension and
water service. The new citizens are not
liable for any Of the past Indebtedness of
the city, and cannot expect at once to Sc
cure benefits which the older portion of
the city has paid hundreds Of thousands
of dollars to acquire, They must be taken
into account in future arrangements. One
of the first steps must be uniformity in
the matter of saloons, and in order to reg
ulate them some sort Of police protection
must be afforded.
s.Then, again. they must be insured
share of representation in the city council.
The new territory is all included in the
Eighth ward, but that can only be tenn
porary apportioment."
The payment of delinquent taxes con-
tinues at very lively rate. City Treasurer
Ames says that they are coming in with
freedom that speaks we'll for the city's
condition. Up to eMay I, $2,953.u had
been paid in, and the stringency seems to
have been considerably relaxed.
The joint finance committee has in prep
Grafton resolution to be presented to the
city council providing for the appoint
ment of . special committee to compro-
mise all grade taxes where dissatisfaction
exists. They consider it better to agree
upon an equitable settlement instead of
going to the expense and mourning the
risk of an appeal to the supreme court.
An instance is afforded by the case of
Clancy & Burns on the Jackson street i'm
provement. They considered the assess
ment unfair in tho first Instance, and re-
sisted it accordingly. They are now will
ing to pay it, however, as property has
increased in value, but they object
to payment of interest, Is the contest
was forced upon them, as they maintain,
by the city's own fault. The old contract
with Mr.. ]. T. Ronald is still in force but
the work is being done by Moore q Relic.
They are understood to be giving salts
faction, and there seems to be no DISPOSE
ton to interfere with them so long as the
work is being done.
The city council viii meet in joint con-
vention Monday night to canvass the re-
turns of the election extending the city
limits. The new aldermen do not take
their seats until the second Monday after
the canvass of the election returns, which
took place on Friday night.
The retrenchment committee of the two
houses seems to have left its work entirely
to the delegates, the aldermen for some
reason failing to take any part since Alder
man Miller relaxed his efforts in the direc-
ton of economy.
'sThe objection raised in the house of
delegates to the warrant for the state
taxes does not affect me, !" said Comptroller
Ferris yesterday. THE city council passed
an ordinance directing the issue of war
rants for the full amount of certified iudg-
ments obtained against the city. When
Attorney-General Jones complied with the
requirements of the ordinance had no
right to question the amount. Whether it
was right or not. the ordinance leaves me
no option in the matter"