St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-20
Bell Charter ConferpeeS Meet
and Talk on the Limit Of
Expenditures.
Comptroller McCardy Stands
to His Warming Refrain
Like Grim Death.
Fire Commissioners Ready to
Cut Off a Couple Of
Chemicals.
Mayor Wright, Sadly Per-
picked, Would Sacrifice
Police Captains.


Police Captains.
All members of the conference COM
mlttee with the exception OF the repre-
sentative of the school board, attended
the adjourned meeting yesterday after
noon. Mayor Wright presided and two
hours were spent in discussing the prob
abilities of the tax collections for this
year exceeding the amount collected
last year. The city comptroller and the
county auditor gave it as their opinion
that the collections this year would fall
behind. but as this was not what the
mayor wanted, deal of valuable time
was wasted III guessing and estimasing
how much would he collected.
The first matter considered after the
meeting was called to order was the
question of proper custodian for the
sinking fund of the city. President
Bement, of the water board, raised the
point at the last meeting that the city
treasurer was not the proper one to act
as the trustee of the city s sinking fund.
The city attorney had been asked for an
opinion ON the point, and sent in an
opinion that the city treasurer was the
proper custodian of the fund. This did
not exactly suit the idea OF Mr.. Bement,
and he informed the meeting that he
had talked with number of inanciers,
and each and all of them had said it was
absurd to have the city treasurer act as
trustee between the city and the bond
holders.
He drew up resolution which pro-
vided for the mayor, the treasurer and
the comptroller being appointed as a
commission to have charge of the sink
ing fund under an ordinance to be
passed by the council. The point was
raised as to whether the council had the
power to pass such an ordinance, and if
1T did, would it be- of any legal force.
The question was finally left to the city
attorney to decide, and the members
settled down to the business before
them.
Where Shall We Cute
Comptroller McCardy said he had
notified the heads of the police, fire.
health and board of education of the
notifying them that expenses would
have to be reduced in order that they
might keep within the limits of their
appropriations.
Mayor Wright, as head of the police
department, said to run the department
as conducted at present would cost
SlS5,000. Ii the department was to be
held TO the so per cent of this amount it
would be absolutely necessary TO reduce
materially. In his opinion there were
not more men on the force than was
necessary to patrol the city, and in fact
parts of the city were now left without
any protection. The expenditures of
the department could be reduced in two
ways, either by reduction in the force or
by cutting salaries. He patted himself
on the back in very modest manner and
announced that the policy of the admin.
istration had been and is to reduce the
tax levy to less amount than last
year. While this was the aim, it was,
he thought, unwlSe to attempt reduc-
tion in any way that would injure the
best interests of the city. The force
could not be reduced in numbers, as
now there were but 120 patrolmen to
cover the thirty.five miles of lighted
streets, and of the total number of men
only 0 were on duty In the daytime.
If anything, the force should be in
creased instead Of decreased. The ex-
penses of the department outside of the
salaries were not eXtravagant, as there
were now six horses on the patrol
wagons which had been in service six
teen years. If any mem ber of the COM
mittee could suggest any way or hint as
to how expenses could be reduced the
mayor said he would be glad to hear.
Spending Too Much.
Comptroller McCardy, who had lis
tened attentively to the eulogy OF the
mayor, had no hint to make except that
if the department kept on with the ex-
penditures the same as in the last five
months, their estimate would be over
drawn about $4,000 at the end of the
year.
Some one suggested that the salaries
of the men in the department could be
reduced in order to make both ends
meet.
Aid. Cullen was of the opinion that
this could not be done, but Mayor
Wright read from the council proceed
ings of May T. 1891, where the salaries
were fixed by ordinance.
Assistant Corporation Attorney Phil
lips said the charter requirement fixing
the salaries of the men had been re-
pealed by the Bell charter and it is IN
the power of the council to fix the sala-
ries at whatever figure they desired.
Mayor Wright expressed the opinion
that it would be wrong to cut the sala-
ries of the patrolmen.
Mr.. Wheelock wanted the comptroller
| to explain how 1t was that only eighty
per cent of the estimates allowed each
department could be used.
This was done to the satisfaction of
| the inquiring member, and incidentally
Mr.. McCardy stated that it was ex-
pected the total valuation for taxation
| would foot up 25,000,OO0 This, how
| ever, had by reason of double assess
ments and abatements been reduced to
| $2,0O0.0O0 less. During 1892 S635, 900
worth of certificates of indebtedness
had been Issued and due next month
| and from the tax collection for that
| year to pay this amount. If there were
reasonably fair tax collections this year
| all the departments would probably re-
ceive from 80 to 95 per cent OF their al
lowance, but he added as proviso that
no one could tell how the tax collections
| would turn out.
County Auditor Burns. who is mem
| ber of the conference without q vote,
stated that the sale of property for de-
lInquent taxes for 1891 was not heavy,
! and fully so per cent of the property
was sold to the state.
According to the figures and talk
| made by the comptroller, the thing re-
solved itself down to the fact that not
more than 80 per cent of the estimates
| for the fire and police departments
would be available. This would give
| the fire department about Sl75,0O0, and
| the police department about :150,000.
Emphasizing the limit.
| Ii this was so. Mr.. Wheeloek said all
ideas OF retrenchment would have to be