St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-25
would not be half that amount collected,

would not be half that amount collected,
and both the financiers quit talking.
The mayor was anxious tnat the nre
department should have the full amount
set aside for them in the charter.
President German, of the board of
nublic works, suggested that the sal
aries of the fire department be reduced
so as to keep within the $4,000, with
the understanding that when the taxes
came in the difference be made up TO
them. He thought, as it was probable
the insurance rates would be increased
if the engines were cut out, this plan
would be the best and only feasible
one.
Mr.. Kerwin said Mr.. Freeman had
told him that this would be the best
way to reduce the expenses. and at this
McCardy, who had claimed the closing
of the engine houses was only bluff,
was noticed to smile little. Mr.. Free
man said this had been talked Of, but
DO decision reached. In order to make
the money hold out cut of 20 per cent
would have to be made in salaries. The
mayor in loud aside SAID it would be
A shame to Cut the Men
who were now only getting $50 per
month. Mr.. Freeman said the $50 men
would not be cut, only those gettiag
over S62 per month being touched.
However, he did not think the salary
+; reduction was advisable.
Mr.. German thought it had been inti-
| mated very strongly that there were
only two ways to reduce expenses. One
was to shut up the engine houses. and
| the other to reduce salaries. The clos
| ing of the houses was impracticable,
and the only thing left was to cut sal
aries.
The mayor wanted to know if the de-
partmentS that were short could not be
helped out from some other fund, but
| the comptroller said mix" Then the
| mayor asked McCardy if the council
should pass contingent fund would he
let it go through.
McCardy said this plan was getting
too thin and he would in the future have
to shut this kind of work off.
The mayor said the fire department
had to be kept up some way and he was
opposed to any reduction in the appa-
ratuS.
The comptroller made another short
speech, in Which he called attention to
the fact that the salaries of the men,
bers or the fire department were fixed
six years ago when times were good,
and had not been changed since. 1t
was fact that the city employees had
not found out that times were hard.
Salaries came regularly, and, while
business men and business firms were
retrenching, salaries had not been cut.
The condition of affairs had changed
since the salaries were fixed, and it was
in his judgment time that resolution
be taken not to close up the engine
houses, but
10 Reduce Salaries
as to come within the amount available.
The board seemed backward about
bringing in report as to what ought TO
be done, and if they did not like to
make any recommendation, he sug-
gested committee of three from the
conference committee, be appointed to
bring in report.
Mr.. Cullen thought no time should be
lost in arriving at some conclusion in
the matter.
The comptroller informed the mayor
that there would be no contingent fund
passed by him until the courts had first
passed on the legality of the same.
The mayor appealed to the city attor-
ney to know If contingent fund passed
by the council to help out the depart
ments which were short would be legal.
Mr.. Chamberlain didn't want to de-
eide off-hand.
Mr.. Kefwin moved committee of
three be named to confer with the fire
board as to the best way of reducing
expenses. On the vote to pass the mo-
tion, Messfs. Cullen, German and the
representative Of the city engineer
voted no.
Mr.. Cullen objected to serving on the
ground that the fire board were the best
persons to attend to this matter.
The comptroller called the attention
of the court house and city hall COM
mission to the fact that all repairs and
painting in the court house must cease
at once. The salaries Of the men en-
ployed were the Same ID the summer as
in winter, Up to date SIS. .00Q had been
paid out of tf1s fund as the city's share,
and this was far IN excess of the appre.
priation. Only $500 remained to pay
expenses other than salaries.
The mayor, who Is chairman Of the
commission, said in defense that the
repairs were necessary III dfdef to saye
the building, ahd that several of the
employss and french had been dis
charged and more Wo6ld be.
Ole RQafd in the LiinIt.
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