St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-01
Fire Comm issioners Consult
With Members of the
Jobbers' Union,
To Find, if Possible Relief
From the Eighty Per
Cent Tangle.
After Long Discussion, 1t Is
= Agreed ThatSalaries Mustsk
- Be Shaved. I /
Charming Seabury Explains.
to a Reporter Action Of
the Meeting.

Pa Can redHetiensin fire department eX-
penses be made without impairIng the
efficiency of the service? was the alf-
important question considered yestsr-
day at conference between members
Of the jobbers' union and MeSsrs. Prem
dergaSt. Martin and Stillwell, of the
fire board. Mayor Wright acted as
chairman of the meeting, and reporters
were informed that their presence was
not expected, that the meeting was eX-
ecutive and private.
An officer of the union was requested
by member to give the reporters a
statement at the close of the meeting,
and he promised to do so at 4:3O O'clock
p. N. When that hour arrived the
GLOBE reporter sought in vain for the
promised statement, for the officer of
the union had gone, having left word
with his clerk that Claiming Seabury,
the well known jObber, would give the
desired information. Mr.. Seabury, on
being seen, said it was not customary
for the jobbers to give out reports OF
their meetings. but that he did not sup
pose it would do any harm to sum up
the work of the meeting, which he did,
saying:
The fire commissioners and num-
Der Of wholesale merchants met to dis
cuSs the general situation in regard to
the deficiency in the fire department
funds Tor the year. They went over
the whole subject for nearly two hours,
and it was the unanimous opinion of
the jObbers that the expenses of the
fire department must be cut down rea-
sonably in conformity TO the universal
economy now being practiced through
out the entire business world. Many of
jobbers gave details Of their own busi-
ness, and showed that they We're
obliged
To Reduce the Wages
of their own employees, and that their
men were cheerfully consenting, as
they fully comprehended the necessities
of the situation 1t was also the unani-
nous sentiment of the jObbers that the
reduction in expenses referred TO should
be bya moderate scaling down of wages,
but that the efficiency of the department.
itself should not be curtailed. They
believe the tiremen will all be reasona-
bic enough to submit TO the same condi-
ton of things that is universal through
out the country, as they are citizens
and interested in the welfare of our
city, like the rest Of u.s."
The jOhberS have no fear of strikes
among the nremen or anything of that
nature, and this idea was given very
little attention. The fire commission
ers. after listening to the views of the
jobbers, conceded with them, and it is
likely that further conference may be
had between the merchants and the
commissioners when the latter have
made further investigation as to
what reductions in running expenses
they Can put in force without
entailing hardShips on the men or re-
dacing the efficiency of the entire de-
partment as it is now constituted.
Whether they can reduce expenses
enough 10 meet the deficiency that will
arise this year or not in this way with
out depressing the men, was left for
further consideration"
Mr.. Seabury, in reply to a question,
said he did not think the conference in
YOlved any movement toward doing,
away with any of the chemicals or other
fire apparatus. He said: That question
IS covered in the effort to which [ have
referred, to maintain the efficiency of
the department in its entirety"
Will Audit the Pay Roll.
Comptroller McCardy, seen yester-
day afternoon, said he had received the
pay roll for the fire department for the
month of June. The pay roll, he said,
was about 500 more than for the month
OF May. Questioned as to whether he
would audit the roll, the comptroller
said he certainly would. Of" he said,
1.-The departments desire to eat all their
pie in four months instead OF cutting
down the allowance Sc as to give them
something for the six months it is their
privilege"