The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-09-13

The report Of shs special committee Who
looked into the recent ~Tssision asking : r..
duction Of municipal sxpsAsss in accord.
ancs with the views OF The citizens nest-
ing. VAS presented to ths city oounsii last
nlaht. II was 4 we'll prepared n snt
which showed conolualvely that The present
administration Of city Affairs had antici-
Iatsd She petitioners In the matter Of maxi
ing reductions Of expenses. Some further
saving WAS recommended. but not any
thing near what the petitioners asked.
Why the CITY oou,d 80 no further in that
direction 10 shown In the report Of the
special committee, which ID gives In full a.
follows:
Your special committes to whom WAS "a
ferrsd the ~retition Of numbet Of the ettt:
expense. in tie eisy, resfso.fnIly .rspo !
that they havc carefully considered n
closely investigated said questions and pro-
ssnt the following. ~ thsi. conelusiens
thereon. Ths fttt section OF tho b"dy OF
the petition read ~ follows; THAT the
present hnandiaI str'naency demands a
the hand. Of municipal bodisa she closest
economy in the management and conduct
o. ubltc affairs. to tbs en- that the bur-
uens u munioiral indebtedness may rot Be
Increased. NH that taxes may II possible b.
AS0DCSo0t BIN - VAIN " y RON0lOAU t00b
the public expenditure s shnll fall 40 nahr a.
loas.bls Within the limits Of tho cubic
Gconomies."
In ali this No most heartily conou-. but
We desire to say here md now to tn, ram
re and signers OF tho petition that this
question Of economy in the %managomen,
u vub.ic rtfAirs il BY 10 mennsn new one
10 us. Economy in ublic anaira and re-
dnction In pubic expenses had been talked
q. decided upon and actually. Eut into
!. H-Ak -...- ~ AA- yAl---S. IA
Ice wss ever hen q Of or nnAne!a. strin-
i.ency thought Of. In support Of this No
quote 10 follows: Tho total amount Of
warrants issued Ia tho montha Of NAV.
Juno. JnIy and Au"uss. 1897, WIS $lO2. 298;
In the same months In 1893 chs Total sum Of
tnce In tho four months OF So, TIC. Not
wishing. however, to mako an unfair show
ing. We will deduct from the payment m Ids
il May, 1882. the sum Of 4l9. 3o4.
tnis amount having been paid for sxttAor-
binary expenses consisting OF payments
upon the anditofium, for land used in the
opening of Lawrence strset, and also the
sum OF $500. raid Elk ca pentcr 10;
services NJ attorney on bohxlf OF the city in
u suit brought by TINT eminent re:orms'
st ain the city from collecting the tnxes
due upon his property. This leaves a net
reduction In the fouf months Of $50, 41O or
at the ratio OF moro than Sl06, 900 o. nm
num-. Other and important reductions
have been made. ON this IL VIII. No
think. be sern that economy In the man
ngement and conduct OF public anai IL
reudy obtains in this city. and although ws
do not anticipate that tho taxes cSn this year
be lcsssned, We arc glad TO be able to sny
within the limit Of the public revenues.
Bnt We nrc toIa that further reduction
can be made. The oitiz,ns oom mi,tes say,
speaking of an investigation made by TIE
that "As q result OF this investigation 1t 10
believed that tho exf enses OF tho city gov
in any matc inl deRr.e nfroting tho { ~f1lcisnt
ana proper condnct OF munioipnl a~ifai,s."
That eomo tn Their reductions ON be made
Ia possible. but that tie * enass of tbs
city may DO la'celr ourtailsa without AZ
teot the proper conduc. OF sfairs ~ arc not
prepared to admit. Tn, police TO os has
been reduce since this trst day of NAV by
reducing tho nunlbs: OF rattolmen from
sixteen to twelve; tho . fv:ccs OF the dstcc-
tive. I Office court otiosr. chain gang officer.
with altogether. With the excsntion of the
stock officer whose time will sho tly expire,
We arc satisfied that M further deduction
in the numbers of tss de- artment can
safely be made. This losyon no way BY
which the cxpenAes o.n be .lssssnsd cxcops
men. The snln'y of tho marshal WAS re-
duced $500 On thu first OF the current ysar,
nd in the matter Of rsduetion of salaries
OF the members Of the io.cc your commit
tss arc OF tho opinion that in o dinaty
times 800 rsr month 10 not too much pay
for tho service rsquttsd. Il viii, Of courea.
lie said that thehs are not or .in-ry times;
this We Admit. but when wo take into CON
kiderntion tho fact that these officers have
voluntarily agreed to TAXA CIV warrants At
psr In payment Of their saiAr.es notw.th-
standing the fnct that they are OF f1uctu-
Gtino aud uncertain value, and nctwith.
standing tho fact that tse fors iaencs pro-
vides for the sale OF the warrants to the
highest biddtr and tbs payment Of these
.alnries in cash. We nre fo!osd to the con-
oiusion that the pay OF these officers and Of
NIL other officers have already been suffi.
c. ntly ,educed and that no further change
should be made. except 40 heteinaftc, rro-
vided. Your committee Focommcnls ~
,ol'
First-That the services OF the inspector
OF milk and food DO dispensed with from
ind after the Il at day OF Ostobsr next,
aud until tho futthot order OF tho council.
Sscond-That 1t 10 the judgment of the
committee that one man IL sufficient to
they the rofors recommend thas the service
of an atsiltant In that ofioo to dispensed
with from md altar the hrst day Of Oeto-
ber next.
Thi,d-1n the matter of tie office Of
building inspector tie committee was con-
SAS VAAO . VtsN WtAAV u
~sicction Of buildings In the oity is not
being carried on to An extent that would
require tho services of an inspt ctor. yet va
find that th's officer. In addition TO his
dutias ~ insps cteY Of buildings, has divers
other Mates undo, his charge. to-wit: the
inspection OF elevators, superintendent and
inspector Of plumbing and Ia charge Of
needed 1ephirs 10 the public buildinrs b.
longing to tho city. We are, however. of
The opinion that the ye.fo mencs OF these
additional duties will. not iuAt,fy the pay
nsnt OF a salary OF 100 per rear; they
therefore recommend that from md After
the nrst day OF November (boino ons-half
the yea the aalsry of building i1.seotor
be nIsd a. $50 per month. or al ii :, rate Of
$500 per annum.
.Yout com mittss has given considerable
time and Thought TO The affairs Of the ARE
departments. They md that so far a. its
efficiency 10 concerned, II 10 all that could
be expected or asked for. They farther
find that regarding the paid force OF the
department., the expense ID not unfsason.
able OF out Of ptorortisn TO ths p1otsstioa
received aud the services rendered, and
they are therefore OF tho opinion that no
change should DO made In this branch OF
the department., but tho committee believe
that more men are being carried on the
rolls a. volunteer q smsn At \ salary Of $40
per month than are actually necessary.
IhsJ therefore recon mend that said vol0n-
tesr force be reduced ~ follows: Tho ser
viess Of the three men Of the Salvage corps
10 BE- dispensed with; that the number Of
-~1NvAAAnA AAA 4 - r-l..