Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-04-19
ECONOMY AND PRoGREss.
What the Councilmen Say About
Reducing Expenses and Street
improvements.

A JOURNAL reporter had short
talks with various members of the
city council today, about the pend
ing propositions to cut down city ex-
penses, and promote street improve
ments.
At the meeting of the council to-
night there will be some very i'm
portant steps taken to revOlutionize
the present state of affairs in the
fixed expenses Of the city. There is
general disposition to reduce ex-
penses all around.
WHAT THEY SAY.
Hunt: / think we can save $1,000
to $4,000 a year on the expenses of
the city. l believe the street de-
partment, police department, fire
department and the officials salaries
can all be reduced from forty to fifty
percent. We must do more than
make both ends meet. We must
create a sinking fund to pay off our
debts. l believe we can make the
South Commercial street improve
ments and Chemeketa street and
then halt and see how the people
like it. Present deficiency has ac-
cumulated ten years and it is time
it was stopped. am not after any
ones scalp but mean to do what is
right.
Moores: $50 Iar AS l have been
able to estimate, the expenses of the
city can be reduced from $4,000 to
$4,000. L doubt whether we can re-
duce the police very much in num-
ber, but may some in total expense.
The Chemeketa street improvement
will be put through tonight if pos
sible."
johnson: "We thought the people
wanted some good street work done
and we had thorough preparations
made accordingly. But it seems
they want something cheaper. L
am satisfied that we can save from
$4,000 to $4,000 a year on the fixed
expenses of the city government
and not injure the service in any
department. The contractors on
street work are at present waiting
for the mayor"
The council passed the ordinance
to improve South Commercial street
last Wednesday and 1t has not been
signed by mayer. The mayor is off
attending the state convention and
u week is lost by his neglect. Per-
haps he intends to veto it. But the
people are anxious to have the street
built, no one is kicking and all want
it done"
LAHORE; II think several thou-
sand dollars year could be saved
in our city government. We hope
to be able to put the Chemeketa
street improvement through this
evening. The fire department can
be consolidated and one heater, one
team, one driver and one engineer
can do the work. With our wide
streets and damp climate we do not
need as much as in some places.
Olmsted: "There could be some
saving by putting both engines into
one house, working one team on the
street. One man as street commits
sioner and surveyor would do just
as much as we are getting at present
unless the service in any depart
ment can be improved am not in
favor of reducing the force"
Several other members of the city
legislature were seen and all agree
that a substantial reduction in city
can be effected.
At 1:45 the convention met again
and the report of the committee on
credentials was presented. The COM
mittee reported 269 delegates enti-
tied to seats in the convention.
After minor corrections, the report
was adopted. Committee on per-
manent organization and order of
business then reprted as follows:That
the temporary organization be made
permanent; order Of business; first,
report of committee on credentials;
second, nomination of supreme
judge; third, two congress
men; that each district nomi-
nate its own con gressm an;
fourth, presidential electors; fifth
national delegates two from each
district and four at large; sixth, al.
ternates; seventh, confirmation Of
district nominations; eighth, report
If committee on platform. The