St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-13

to create an additional Indebtedness or ex-
peuse. save after the approval of four-fifths
(4-5) of said committee, which approval shall
be evidenced by a resolution adopted at q
meeting of said committee and entered upon
its records. Said resolution of approval shall
not be construed as granting any obeer,
hoard or department OF said city, or OF said
board OF education any power or authority
not granted by existing laws. Said commit,
tee is also authorized and directed from time
to time TO give any officer or board OF SAID
city such caution and advice as in its opin-
ion the welfare and economical management
of the affairs of said city demand.
This section the comptroller thought
gave the committee the power to make
four departme nts "take in SAIL" as he
expressed 1t. He suggested an adjourn
ment for one week, and at the next
meeting the views of heads OF depart
ments could be ascertained.
A resolution to this effect was passed,
and each of the four departments re-
ported to have exceeded their estimates
were directed by the resolution to take
immediate steps to reduce expenses.
A Puzzling Question.
Commissioner Prendergast again
called the attention of the committee TO
the fact that in order TO reduce eX-
penses in the fire department 1t would
be necessary to close up some of the en-
gine houses.
Mr.. Wheelock inquired which would
be the better course to purSue-to close
up some of the engine houses or to pay
the deficiency out of the pockets of the
commissioners.
The comptroller wanted each of the
departments to understand that there
could be no supplies purchased or eX-
penditures incurred this year to be
taly Of E..- Nl,a
1894. He also explained that If the city
had halt million dollars in the general
fund not one cent of the money could
be diverted to the departments which
were short at the end of the year.
The feelings OF the committee we're
narrowed up some more by the COMP
troller stating that If all the taxes were
paid this year the amount realized
would not be anywhere near the figures
that had been anticipated. This, he
said, was due to an error by the as
SCISSOR. but he was corrected In This
statement by Aid. Cullen, who stated
that he had been Informed on reliable
authority that this was owing 70 the
board Of abatement having abated as
Sessments amounting to over Sl, 100000
during their sessions.
Sinking Fund Custodian.
President Bement, of the water board,
inquired as to the proper custodian OF
the water board sinking fund. This
fund of the board now amounts to Sl3l,-
600, and is, lie understood, in the hands
OF the city treasurer. 1t was question
he thought whether the treasurer was
the proper person to have charge of this
fund as he Had never heard OF cor
poration being the trustee of its own
sinking fund. The bond of the city
treasurer he thought did not cover this
fund and he suggested resolution be-
passed relieving the water board from
all liability.
The comptroller read from the charter,
to prove that the city treasurer was the
proper custodian OF the sinking fund,
but the clause did not satisfy Mr.. Be-
ment, and the question as to who was
the proper custodian of the fund was
referred to the city attorney to decide.
Monthly Accounts.
The following figures are summaries
of monthly reports Submitted by the
several departments:
Board of Control-Persons assisted
during month, 122; orders for aid is
sued, l47; expenditures since last re-
port, S5,018.S6.
Fire Commissioners-Emp in de-
partment, 200; pay roll for May, S14.-
S59.37; expenses authorized since last
report, S2.G64.S4. /
City Engineer-Pay rolls OF the street
and sewer force for May, S2S, ,6S5. %; ma
terial and supplies purchased, Sl2,-
694.26; employees in engineering force,
2S; employees in inspectors force, %;
actual days work of men and teams
during month, men. lO.S5l; teams,3, 1864;
OF the S2S,6S6.26 spent from the street
and sewer fund, Sl2,770 was for repair
ing dirt streets and s6, 749 for cleaning
dirt streets.
Board of Education-Pay rolls for
May, S3S, ,4l7.5S; average monthly at
ance for May, 1929; teachers en-
plOyed, 452.
Water Commissioners-Ex
800, ,439.S8: collections, $40, 1868.
or-Indebtedness of city out
and unpaid, $2,006, ,54G 13; in
debtedneSs Of the school board outstand-
Ing and unpaid, S676,000; Indebtedness
audited since last report, 800, 600; cash
OIL deposit and in vault, 1854. 1856. 10.
Mayor-EmplOyes in the police de-
partment, lSl; warrants signed during
May, S175, ,4S6.24.
President of the Assembly-Amount
expended by council board expenses
Sl79, 1922; bills paid gas
since last report, under con-
tract of May 81, 1891. SS.S2l.27.
Board of Public Works Contracts
awarded amounting to SS9, ,070.S2, Includ-
ing the repaving of Third street, 800, 200,
and Macalestar sewer system, S4G,377.
An adjourned meeting OF the commit
tee will be held next Monday night to
listen to the explanation of the depart
ments which have been spending more
money than their estimates would al,
low.