St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-06
FRUITLESS FIGURING,
Fire Commissioners Tackle a
Knotty Problem With De-
termination,
But Leave 1t as They Found
81
( 1t After Turning 1t Over
in Vain.
Il
II
A Positive Repugnance to a
q Cut in Salaries Is APP
Is parent.
ii
Mr. MeCardy Will Re Seen, in
Z the Hope That He May
= Relent.

4 President Freeman and Commission
erS StIilwell, PrendergaSt and Martin, of
the fire board, got together yesterday
afternoon, and after disposing OF some
uninteresting routine business. peeled
their coats and retired to Chief Jack
sons private office, where they dallied
with the problems of the Bell charter
for about an hour.
The particular problem that bothered
them most was how to run s2i5. 900
fire department on S172,G00. Each of
the four commissioners had different
way for solving the question, but,
strange as it may seem, none af them
could work out satisfactory
result. Some of the engine
houses might be closed. but
that would bring upon the heads OF the
fire laddIes the wrath or taX-paying
citizens. The salaries of firemen might
be reduced. but that would make the
boys either strike or feel awfully bad.
Enough money might be collected from
the delinquent tax list by the end of the
year 10 enable the department to squeeze
through without reductions, but that
was an uncertainty. Some money might
be borrowed from the general fund, out
that was Mr.. McCardys business. All
these propositions came up for discus
sion by The commissioners. but they
were unable to map, out any definite
course to pursue.
Dislike TO Cut.
All the members of the board are
loatn to make any kind of a cut III the
department, and none will be made if il
can possibly be averted. 1t will require
$4,000 to run the department in its
present condition during the enSu-
ing six months, while only $4,000
remain to be credit of the department
fund for this year. By collections of
delinquent taxes this credit may pos
sibly be increased to $4,000. which
would be within few thousand OF the
amount required TO carry the depart
ment through.
The fire commissioners are very fond
of the hope that this S95. coo can be real
lied, but before they go ahead OH their
present scale they want a better aSsur-
ance of it than they now have. They
are also quite anxious TO have Mr.. Nc
Cardy give the Bell charter some eXer-
else in elasticity, so that their depart
ment can make a ''touch' on some other
fund. Just at present the fire COM
miSsionerS haven't a very elastic
IDEA of the possibilities OF collecting
dSilHQu6HJ taxes OF Ol MI. MCCdIuy
policy for the future. Therefore, yes
terday's meeting broke up without tax
ing any definite action. The commits
sioners will confer with the city comp
troler ana investigate the possibilities
OF the delinquent tax list before they
decide to either contiuue the depart
ment in its present condition or make a
cut.
The Routine Business
transacted at yesterdays meeting was
OF little Importance. Charles Anderson,
vino has a store at 529 st. Peter street.
had his awning damaged to the extent
of $3.50 by a fire engine, and, having no
sympathy with the board in their finan-
clal Stringency, asked to have his loss
made good by them. His claim went to
the committee OH claims and the COM
miSSi0nerS smiled.
L. NJ. Hayden took time by the fore
lock and applied for the position of in
spector of electric lighting wires, which
has not yet been created. His applica-
ton went on file.
When'the secretary announced that
the miscellaneous bills due aggregated
about So, 900, the commissioners whlstled
ana their thoughts wandered to Nc
Cardy. After ,ascertaining that the
bills were duly approved, according to
the comptroller's ideas, the board re-
ferred them to the cmmitea on claims
to be.allowed if found proper.