Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-01
TO CUT, OR NOT?
That's the Question in Conduct
ing City Affairs.
A NUT FOR THE NEW COUNCIL.
Probability, However, that the Knife VIII
Get in Its work, and that Ex-
penses viii Be Cut
All Around.

The city Democratic convention adopted
a resolution in favor of rigid economy in
city government, demanding q lesseniDg OF
expenses everywhere that a saving could
be made. There is no doubt that this de-
mand met the appreciation of the people,
who have complained loudly of taxation.
Fort Worth is not alone IN this lage OF
retrenchment. The same feeling pervades
the air at Dallas. The city council there
has gone so far as 10 appoint committee
on retrenchment, and Alderman Webster,
the chairman, proposes reduction III sal
aries of city employees. Salaries ranging
from 5000 to $1,000 are to be scaled down 10
per cent: from $3.50 TO $1,000, 10 per cent,
aud all over $1,000, 20 per cent. This will
save TO the taxpayers Sl4,50c year. 1t is
also proposed to relieve the citizens by re-
ducing the assessment % per cent, which,
it is claimed, will be possible under the
more economical administration.
To get an expression in regard to this
.sisf5ect of general Importance, THE GA
lszETTE started an inquisitor out to interview
some of the sitting aldermen and the noml-
nees who will very likely take their seats In
the city council after the April election, and
see what they had to say about it. The
economy fit appears to be as severe in Fort
INaRth as in Dallas, if one is to rely on the
views of the gentlemen who were talked to.
They are here quoted;
Alderman Ryan-''It is a question to be
settled by the new administration, not the
present one, aud for that reason I would
not care to express my views on the matter
or to have anything to say in regard to it. "
Alderman MOOdie-''Ay record is before
the public on retrenchment and city ex-
peDditure. One of the first resolutions
offered by myself was to amend rules to
prevent haSty action on motions, resolutions
and ordinances involving public expendi-
lures of $500 or over. The resolution was
defeated. The last resolution offered by
myself in the council would have avoided a
clear deficit of $40. coo and saved an eXpend-
iture of over 5l50000 At the same time we
would not have lost any pipeline or other
resource for securing revenue from the
waterworSs. am not so much in favor of
reducing salaries as l am opposed to in
creasirg them. What we want is better
men and less of them
j. P Nicks, Democratic nominee, Second
ward-''I stand exactly on the resolutions
adopted by the city Democratic convention;
1 am for retrenchnent and economy My
idea is that the city affairs should be con-
Quoted on a business principle; that our
expenditures should not be greater than
our income, and we should not depend on
issuing bonds for current expenses. Such
policy would bankrupt any institution. l
am in favor of keeping up with the process
sion, that improvements must not be
stopped altogether, but we should see that
we get the full value of every dollar ex-
pended"
f. /. Twombly, Democratic nominee,
Ninth ward-'I believe that the city affairs
should be handled the same as any prudent
man would handle his private business
affairs"