The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-08-13
CUTTING TO THE BONE.
Reports OF Committees Appointed to
Look After Public Ex-
penditures
School Trustees Have Agreed to
Reduce Wherever Possible
to Do So.
Tho City to He Asked to Cut Salaries,
Abolish, and Consolidate Ohlcss
and Retrsnch Generally.

"Cut down public expenses," Was the
unanimous sentiment displayed al the
meeting of taxpayers and citizens at the
Board of Trade rooms last night. The
meeting was an adjourned one to hear the
reporta OF committees appointed at the
first meeting held week ago. Last nights
meeting was not 30 large as the previous
one, but it was just as earnest. The COM
mitteo appointed to confer with the school
trustees. consisting of X. II. kleinschmidt.
Vim. G. Bailey. w. A. Chessman, Frank +.
Sterling, A. B. Clements. reported that the
mem bers had met the school trustees, had
discussed with them the expense of run
ming the schools and found the trustees
recognized the necessity of conducting the
schools on as economical basis as possi-
Bile. keeping In view their efficiency. The
report said suggestions looking to rsduc-
tion had been made by the committee and
had been received in q friendly spirit by
the trustees. F. p. Sterling, ono of the
members OF the committee. said he
believed the trustees would do she
right thing in the matter; that tho
could be trusted by the community, and
that they would reduce expenses to the
lowest point possible acting Justly with
employees and at the same time keeping the
public schools up their past high mark.
The report was adopted and the commit
tee was discharged.
The committee to confer with the city
council, consisting of Albert Kleinschmidt,
Fred Gamer, X. II. Howey, E. W. Beattie,
II. M. Parchen, David Corey. also made a
report. 1t was to the effect that they had
conferred with various committees of the
council, and as a result of their confer ences
it had been suggested that the committee
draft n petition, setting forth the desires of
the taxpayers. This petition to be circu-
lated for signatures. and then presented to
the council for its action. The committee
reported recommending that the salaries OF
the mayor, treasurer, oity clerk and attor-
ney, city mr. Ishal and street commissioner
| remain as :, are at present; the salary oi
the police .dge be reduced from S166 66 q
month to 800; that the fire marshal
be reduced from $125 to 800; that q
reduction be made in the expenses of the
Office Of city engineer; thnt when police
officers are paid in cash their salary will be
reduced to $75 month: cutting the jailer
from 800 to $50 month; that the Offices
of building inspector. sanitary inspector,
ished. and that the employees at the Fifth
and Seventh ward hose houses be dis
| charged, the houses locked up, the keys
left At convenient points. and that In case
of fire volunteers take the carts out. The
committee also recommended that the
ha u 1S,vsS L.
the duties of tho sanitary inspector be-
tween them, and that the force employed
in the street department remain as IL is.
H. b. Palmer suggested that the wages
of street laborers be cut to 81 day. J. X.
Sanford opposed this. ana Mr.. Palmer's
Palmer also said he thought the street COM
missioner was paid too much and that the
enginee ing office was too extensive, alleg-
ing that the assistant did all the work. Il.
G. Wallace said il that was a fact the thing
to do WAS to abolish the chief and retain
the assistant.
The question Of doing away with the paid
employees at the Fifth and Seventh ward
hose houses called out good deal Of dis
oussion. Chairman Kleinschmidt said Al
derman Fdller had suggested that course
could be taken. Mr.. Sterling said he was
opposed to suoh action. as did Mr.. Palmer
and Mr.. Sanford. 1t was suggested that to
and on the other hand ID was alleged that
their abolition would result in increased in
surance rates In those districts.
After a statement by Chairman Klein
schmidt that the proposed reductions would
save the city $50. 600 year the report was
adoI ted, with the proviso that such salaries
as could not be legally cus now be reduced
as soon as possible. The committee was
also directed TO include in the petition
clause asking that the number of electric
lights and fire hyirants be reduced. and
that the city treasurer be directed to 90 to
work as soon as possible on the duplicate
assessments list.
Reinhold kieinschmidt offered u rssou-
tion, which was adopted, calling for the
formation of q permanent committee OF
ifty or 100 to meet in executive session for
the purpose of talking over the expenses of
the oity aud county; this committee to
have the power to appoint special commit
tees to keer track of public expenditures.
No one holding II public office. or inter
estsd in public contraot, is to be eligible
to mem mbership in this committee, and no
one who takes rart as an officer of politi-
cal meeting il TO take an active part in its
work. The manner OF selecting this com.
mittse was left to a meeting to be held next
Friday evening at the Board of Trade
rooms. AT the meeting Friday the COM
mistee TO confer with the county commits
sionsis will report.