St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-26
Are AFRAID TO CUT.
Councilmen Have a Great
Deal to Say About School
Expenditure,
But Are Tardy in Coming to
Any Definite Conclusion
Thereon.
Col. Davidson Stirs Up the
Members OF the Chamber
Of Commerce.
he Roasts the Government
for the Postoffice Appro-
priation.

The retrenchment and reform council
is still engaged in a spasmodic effort to
cut down the estimate. made by the
school board to meet the current eX-
penses for the year. The joint special
committee that has the matter of the
mayors recommendation, making a
sweeping cut in the same. met yester-
day, and, after protracted discussion
of the problem, adjourned until toinor-
row morning at o'clock without effect
ing anything.
Aid. johnson is the most Jealous
spirit in the movement. save possibly
ASsemblyman Reardon. The first is
determined TO make big cut in the
item of teachers salaries, while the
other keeps constantly in sight the
pay of the janitors and engineers.
The other members of the committee
seem to he agreed that it is eXpedient
TO economic, but They care less for spe-
eific items. Hence it is quite likely
that the school board will ultimately be
forced to take the back track, and the
thought is very aggrayating to them. it
is said. Indeed, there are rumorS that
there will be several designations from
the board if the council takes such per-
emptory steps as have been threatened.
This will doubtless be an incentive to
the new administration to show DO
quarter, for 1t will give an opportunity
to give just SO many more positions to
the faith full.
EicKman's legal Lore.
Chairman Hickmanis a stickler for
legal phases, and he began the
proceedings by rccounting the provis-
ions. clothing The council with the pow
ers that have actuated the movement
| to cut down the estimate. The law
| specifies that the board shall report to
| the mayor an estimate in detail of the
| moneys needed for the conduct of the
| schools for the ensuing year by the first
| day of June of each year. Then, in
| turn, the mayor shall have ten DAYS in
which to report the matter TO the coun-
| Gil with such recommendations she
| may see fit, while the council shall fix
| the final estimate by the 18th. The
| council may make reductions from The
estimate in the aggregate, but cannot
tamper with matters of itemiZed ac-
counts. The council, in other words,
may reduce the aggregate amount
asked for for teachers salaries and also
49,
ployes of the boord. Then it is provid-
ed that the school tax levy shall be not
less than 2 mills on the assessed valua-
ton of the property in the city and not
more than 25 mills. The idea is to
keep within these limits.
Judge Hickman reported that he
thought the aggregate assessed yalua-
ton Of both personal and real properly
will amount to S23.0 900, and this will
| give, at 2N mills levy. including the
| SlS3.679 state tax, S552-679, or more than
| the school board asks for. Their. esti-
| mate is for S4o6.070.
/ Down to Figures.
| When these figures were announced,
| Aid. Cullen wanted to know the author
ity for declaring that the state tax will
| afford the SlS6.679, and he was Informed
| that the figures had been supplied by
DIR. Smith, of the board. The seized
ule of the board was taken up.
Assemblyman Reardon made the
proposition that he would give
bonds to supply TALL the janitors
and engineers for 20 per cent less than
| the board S estimate, which would make
saving to the city Of $4,000. he as
serted, and he knew he would make
money at that. He did not approve of
paying such eXorbtant salaries.
| Alu OOullSOu toOb a LII IL al IilS WilCCi.
| He produced an exhaustive cOmpil a.
ton, showing. he asserted, that he had
| given the subject an understan ding
| and searching consideration. The
board asked for 1896, 40 for teachers
salaries, and he moved to cut the item
| by $4,000.
MIR. Reardon thought he should go
| further and cut off all appropria-
ton for extra teachers provided
for in the estimate. making a
further saving of SIG 800. but Mr.. John
son was not ready to go SO far. He
| feared extra teachers might be needed.
but he was willing to lop off all the kin
| dergartens. While he did not want it
| included in the motion he had made,
Mr.. johnson explained that he wanted
the janitors provision cut 81, 100, the sec
retary's salary reduced 5000 and super
intendentS salary $1,000, making re-
duction of S., 1850. lie asserted that he
was not much of a policy man, still he
! did not feel like making sweeping re-
duction in janitors' wages. E
So the discussion ran on, and finally
Aid. Cullen cautioned the committee
against taking summary steps. He
thought it well first TO get the exact fig
ures allowed the city by the state, and
therefore moved that an adjournment
be had until tomorrow morning at 9
O'clock, when written statements would
be procured from the comptroller and
auditor. giving the desired information.
Aid. Johnson was ready to act at once,
but when Mr.. Hickman again pointed
to the law and explained that if the
council deviates from it the members
would be punishable by Imprisonment.
Then second Aid. Cullen's notion
cried Aid. Johnson. and the motion pre-
vailed.
NO MORE INSULTS.