St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-12
The City's Financial Policy
Leaves. the Department
Very Shy. 70
Commissioners Talk Of Shut
ting Down Some OF tho D
Houses. sa
Assemblymen Seem to BIZ
Afraid to Give LoWryHis =
Orders. $50
A Damage Suit Brings an Ex-
Priest to Dementia'sIn ;
Door.

A regular meeting OF the board of fret
commissioners was held last night. Al
committee, consisting of MeSSrs. CHAM
berlain, RoSsman and Sumbardo- rep
resenting Hamline citizens, appeared
Hamiine citizens is that the chemical
located there is not sufficient tire pro
lection. What they wanted was an en-
CINE to be substituted for the
chemical. Mr.. Warner, president
of the board, informed the gentle
men the board had no funds avail
able to make any changes. They
were advised to obtain all estimate of
the increased expense necessary to place
an engine at the HaAline station, and
then through their alderman try and
get the authority from the council. The
expense of the Substation will be about
81, 900, which includes a new engine.
hose, horses and other incidentals. The
( chief reported the resignation of Thomas
CasSerly as pipeman. Supt. Hughes re-
ported the lines in good condition and
new fire alarm box put in at the corner
of Arllwright and Magnolia streets.
There are at present 167 boxes in good
working order. The telephone line be-
IL
headquarters is now being strung, and
will be completed in ten days. ~
Commissioner Martin, appointed at
the last meeting to confer with the
comptroller regarding the financial coll
ditiOn Of the board, submitted verbal
report.
Up to date, including the June pay
roll and batch of bills passed last
evening $4,000 had been expended.
The charter provides that S215, 900 is the
maximum amount to be expended per
year by the department. BY another
provision Of the charter but 80 per cent
OF the amount can be anticipa ted
by the issuance Of certificates OF
Indebtedness This brings the
amount available for expenditures
this year down to S172000. The pay
rolls of the department for the next six
months will appropriate $4,000; but as
thu December viii not be paid until
January, $1,000 can be deducted from
this sum. With $4,000 now expended,
and the pay rolls for the next five
months, amounting to 900, to be
paid, leaves the board extremely short.
Commissioner Martin suggested the
shutting down of some of the
engine houses: There was no
necessity to wait until Novem :
The expenses, he insisted, would have
to be cut in some way in order to be
able to pay salaries and o,her incl
dentals in November. Commissioner
Freeman wanted nothing said about
shutting up houses. lie was certain
some way cut of the difficulty could be
found. The trouble. he said, was that
in making out the appropriation at the
time the legislature was in session S2l5,-
900 was allowed the department., The
board expected to be able to get
the, entire amount each year. the eX-
penseS being based on that amount
The provision that only so per cent of
any appropriation could be anticipated
had caused the difficulty. He advised
consultation with tile comptroller and
city attorney. The matter was a very
important one, and should be attended
to at once. Commissioner Martin
thought the comptroller ought to
meet the board. instead of the COM
missloners going to him. This did
not meet with the approval Of other
members and it was decided to visit the
comptroller's Office on Wednesday after
moon at o'clock. The secretary was
directed to notify the comptroller and
the city attorney of the proposed visit.