St. Paul daily globe., 1893-07-04
Mayor Wright Calls an Extra
Conference OF Heads Of
Departments,
And the Talking Tournament
is Taken Up Where 1t Was
( Left OF.
City Attorney Chamberlain.
: Gives An Opinion Indors-'lis
! ing Wright's Plan, q
aHs
But Mr.. McCardy Stands Pat
: in His Uneompromising sse ~
Antagonism.

Antagonism.
Mayor Wright yesterday afternoon
called meeting of the heads of the val
riouS departments at his Office. While
III the nature OF a conference committee
1t was not so strictly speaking. The
scheme of the mayor was pushed
through and the chances are now that
the fire, police and other departments
which have exceeded the amount avai1a-
bic for their maintenance will be tided
over the present muddIe. This, how
ever, depends on the action the comp
troller will take in the matter.
The mayor explained, as soon as he
had called the meeting to order, that
some action should be taken without
delay in the fire department affairs, and
he WAS CT the opinion that the depart
ment should be advised as to what was
best to be done.
Mr.. McCardy wanted to know if this
was conference meeting, but his
honor, without paying any attention to
the question. went on to say that at a
meeting of the lobbers' union it had
been unanimously decided that it would
be unwiSe to cut down the apparatus in
the department. The only way to make
up the deficit of $4,000 was thought to
be by reducing salaries. This was i'm
possible and still keep up the efficiency
of the department., so that the only way
was TO have the city make up the short
age.
Begin at the Head.
1t would be unfair, he thought, to
have the salaries of the men receiving
$50 or $50 per month reduced, while the
high officials were not touched. Of
course the charter provided for the
salaries of the heads of departments,
and their salaries could not be reduced
unless they are willing. Although he
had paid out large part of his own sal
airy for clerk hire he was willing to
stand cut OF 10 per cent. and this ac-
ton, he thought, should be agreed to by
other head officials.
There did not seem. to be any objec-
ton to the mayor having his salary re-
duced, so that official announced that
he had received letter from the cor
poration attorney which he desired to
read. The letter had evidently been
written to order, and, was an indorSe-
ment of the plan suggested by the
mayor at previous meetings of the cons
ference. 1t read as follows: D.
Hol. F. P. Wright. Mayor: Respond
ing 10 your letter of this date, l have
the honor to advise as follows: Ii is
my opinion that there is no provision of
the charter of the city absolutely reQuir-
ing the first so per cent collected on
tax levy to be used to pay the certifi-
Gates of indebtedness issued against the
levy if said certificates are held by the
city itself in some of It's various funds.
To make my meaning clear and answer
your letter as l understand you wish it
answered, | will Illustrate as follows:
Suppose certificates of Indebtedness to
the amount Of 100000 were issued in
1892 upon the tax estimate of 5000, 600
for that year for the fire department,
these certificates come due in July, 1898,
and cannot by the charter be made to
fall due later than Nov. Il, 1898.
We will suppose q have used the
amounts here given simply as illustra
tion) that $50. 900 out of this 100000 is
held by the city in the park fund or
in some other fund, where certificates
have been purchased npon due author
ity OF the council, and the balance Sl25,
600 Is held by private investors When
this $4,000 comes due, the city is bound
to pay it, and taxes collected for the
year 1892 are virtually pledged for that
purpose. But as to the $50, 900 held by
the city in the fund of some of Its de-
partments, if said departments or
said fund do: not require the
money for use, there is no provision
of law requiring the Immediate payment
thereof, and it may be paid when the
taxes of 1892 can be used for that pur-
pose to the best interests Of the city.
| OF course these certificates held by the
fund are due, bat the city owes the
money to itself, and it owes it from one
| fund to another, land if the best interests
! of the city demand that the first so per
| cent collected OF the taXOf 1892 be not
| all devoted to meeting the certificates,
| but part of it be used as cash for dis
| tribution TO the several funds, and that
the remaining 20 per cent be depended
| upon to meet a portion of the outStand-
| ing certificates the city is not rendered
| liable i'll law, nor do think any officer
| is violating his duty III using the funds
| accordingly.
The question OF policy, and what is
| the best way of applying the tax col
| lected. or whether any department will
| suffer ifit is not repaid the amount of
| its funds which it may have invested in
| certificates, and how much money we
| may have in these funds, are all ques-
| tions which l did not pretend to deal, or
| attempt to answer in this letter, as | do
! not think by your letter that you inquire
| concerning these matters.
| l.. 4. CHAMBERLAIN,
| Corporation Attorney.