St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-22

| There was an Oyerdraft of Sl2, 1000 out
standing against the board Of control,
and retrenchment was certainly needed,
| as the amount would have t.
come out of this years EXPENSES,
| and as soon as the limit OF
the appropriation was reached he would
refuse to sign any more warrants. Mr..
Kerwin explained that the overdraft OF
$4,000. which Mr. Burns alluded to, had
| been incurred in making permanent i'm
| prOvements, and was to be paid back in
monthly installments, covering period
| of four years. Mr., Burns here inter-
! rupted the speaker to say that the city
| council had refused to ratify this part
of the arrangement Mr.. Kerwin, CON
tinuing. SAID the plan had been decided
| on by the mayor, the comptroller and
the county auditor, and the $4,000 was
| not to come out Of any one year. The
mayor said there had been arrange
ments made as stated by Mr.. Kerwin DIS
| to the payment of the overdraft. but
Mr.. Lightner, of the assembly, had
REFUSED to Sanction
was concerned, and the council had taken
the same view of the matter Mr..
Burns again reiterated his statement
that the $4,000 overdraft would have TO
come Out of this years appropriation,
and for this reason it would be just as
we'll for the board CT control to go a
little slow in expenditures. The bills
for May from the board are just as
large as in January. and ir was certain
the amount spent for aid should not be
as large in the summer as in the winter.
To this Mr.. Kerwin said there were
over 100 patients in the city hospital,
and the expense of running that insti-
tuition was heavy, but it was conducted
in a very economical manner.
TO change the drift OF the argument.
Comptroller McCardy suggested some
of the business before the committee be
taken up and considered. The mayor
asked where they should commence, ,and
the comptroller said the police depart
ment, health department, board of edu-
cation and city hall and court house
commission were aff in the same pre-
dicament, and any one of these could be
considered. Mr.. Wheelock remarked
that no representative OF the school
board had been present at any of the
last three meetings of the COM
mittee. This. he thought, was not
right, as the finances of the board
We're the subject of discussion, and
some one of the officials of the board
should make it convenient to attend.
Assistant City Clerk Giltinan, who acts
as clerk to the committee e, stated that
President Smith had told him there was
an important meeting of the finance
committee o. the school board, and it
would be impossible for him to be at
the conference meeting.
Mr.. Wheelock offered motion, which
was carried, directing President Smith
to be on hand at the next meeting or
the committee. DR.. Hoyt being pres
ent, the
Health Department Shortage
was nebt considered. The health com
missioner read lengthy communica-
ton, the gist of which VAS that the
comptroller and he differed as to the
construction of the law regarding the
health department.. The law says that
the administration of the health depart
ment, including the salaries of the
health commissioner and his assistants.
shall not exceed the sum of Sl2,0 per
annum. This. DIR. Hoyt claims, means
that the amount expended for salaries
shall not exceed that sum. The comp
troier, however, holds to the opinion
that all the expenses of the department
shall come out of the $4,000. On the
face of the statement read by DR.. Hoyt
it would appear that the comp
troller had made a mistake, but
that official would not admit any such
thing was possible. it appears that IN
August last the comptroller notified
DIR. Hoyt that but S3,S47 remained in
the health department fund to pay the
five remaining months pay rolls. In
order that the force might all remain at
nriy huI nd
decided to reduce the salaries so as to
get within the amount. Now DR.. Hoyt
says the comptroller claims that the
salaries for November and December OF
last year have been paid out of this
years appropriation. and at the meet
ing yesterday the comptroller was
asked to explain which was the correct
view of the case. The comptroller
commit himself. but said he
would look the matter up and report at
the next meeting.
A letter was read from the city attor-
ney giving as an opinion that the coal
furnished the pest house was not a
proper charge against the health depart
ment fund. The other bills for printing
and iDcidentals, amounting to $3.50,
which had been charged against the de-
partment by the comptroller, DR.. Hoyt
claimed would also be Knocked out if
referred to an attorney for an opinion as
to whether they should be taken from
the $4,000. The comptroller said there
was bill for $500 against the health de-
partTent which was floating around
that would have to be paid
out of this years appropriation. DR..
Hoyt said the bill was for vaccine points
which had been used in the department.,
and were purchased because the law re-
quired his department to
VaccInate All Children
and persons presenting themselves at
the Office. The comptroller said the
purchase had been made without a
requistion first ha wing been obtained.
To this Dr.. Hoyt said he had made the
purchase because the council had
passed re solution allowing goods to
be purchased in case of necessity with |
out acquisitions. The comptroller said |
the council could give no authority |
which would conflict with the charter. |
The reason for the conflict as to the |
amount OF money in the fund the comp |
troller thought arose from the fact not |
being understood that any and all bills. |
no matter when contracted for, were |
charged up against the department the
yedT-tuoy WcIe pdlu anu lOb Tic year
when they were contracted for. 1t was |
possible this was the cause for |
misappreheusion in the pres !
ent case. AT this time the |
comptroller mentioned incidentally that |
after any department had expended the
so per cent i'll any year no more money |
would be paid until after the delin- |
luent taxes had been paid in to pay |
from. An excellent idea. he thought, |
would be for all bills against depart |
ments to be brought in each month.
Bills had been paid during the last |
month, he said, which were year and |
a half old. President Freeman, of the |
fire board. came in at this stage of the !
session and asked for more time to pre-
pare his figures showing how $50, 900
in salaries for the next six months
could be paid out Of $4,000 and leave
surplus for running expenses. AS the
problem on its face appeared rather
the conference adjourned until
afternoon at 4 O'Clock, at
which time Mr.. Freeman will submit a
report.