St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-23
a STARE All ROUND.

The last two meetings of the st. Paul
conference committee must have made
the public pretty we'll aware that four
of our city departments have gotten
themselves into an awkward mess
through spending too much of their
moneys during the first FIVE months of
the year. And it must be very clear to
our mayor that it is good deal sweeter
to dream Of reform" than to execute
one. The net result of the former of
the two meetings was the bringing to
light Of the situation, and the net result
of the latter WAS the proving that the
president Of the conference committee
is good deal better mathematician
than the president of the fire board.
The conference committee has bumped
up against the situation, looked at it.
stared at it, looked at itself, stared at
itself; and there you are-still staring.
And the four departments concerned
are also staring. We have city char
ter that was passed in 1891. the pro-
visions of which are elastic as cast
iron. These departments have operated
under it two Years-long enough to be-
come experienced how they cam
to spend nearly tWo-thirdS of their
allowance for the year in the first five
months causes the public to stare.
1t was proposed at both meetings by
some of the members that the only way
out of the dilemma was to cut down the
forces of the departments. But the
mayor would give neither ear to the
plan. He thinks the city cannot afford
to do without single chemical COM
pany Of the fire department.; and as for
Topping off any of MS picked captains,
lieutenantS and Sergeants of the police
departments, he would as soon think of
reSigning as to hear to it. He proposed
that enough money be voted to him as
mayors contingent fund 10 help the de-
partments through: but our unmerciful
comptroller replied that it was mot SO
nominated in the bond'--it was directly
against the charter to do so. To give
the mayor a hint of the position he
placed himself in by making the propo-
sition, it is we'll to quote the following
provision of the charter from the chap
ter which relates TO these city depart
mentS:
ANY vote or act of any member of the
common council, or of said officers, or other
officer of said city. made or done with will
ful intent to evade the provisions of this
chapter or said charter, or to divert the funds
raised by taxation or pledged by ordinance
to a specific purpose, is hereby declared to
be malfeasance in Office, and upon convic-
finn tharaof cunh Ofioar shall ba rpnoOvad
from Office and be punished by a fine not ex-
ceeding $1,000. or by Imprisonment in the
county Jail not exceeding three years
The allowances made to these depart
ments are the maximum amounts under
the law, and the charter expressly pro-
hibits their obtaining any more from
any other city source.
There are but three possible ways out
of the mess: Either the forces must be
reduced, the salaries must be cut, or
both these methods must be adopted.
If, as the mayor says, it is not possible
to do with less firemen and less po-
licemen. then the only thing left to do
is to reduce the salaries all along the
lines. OF course some one or more of
our wealthy citizens may be good
enough to hand ont the money needed
to help the departments to the end of
the year; but, if this is done, it will be
equal to donating that much to the city,
and it is not likely that any are quite so
charitably inclined.
The tax collections are naturally a
good deal lighter this year than usual.
1t would be very singular if they were
not. under the uneasy situation which
has for some months been prevalent
throughout the nation. This condition
was apparent to the departments, and
they should have known that it was ab-
solutely necessary to run their affairs
upon the strictest economy. 1t is proba-
bic that the managing boards of the de-
partments will learn from this expert
ence that their affairs cannot be run
upon the basis Of what they desire to
do. but upon what they must do.