The herald., 1894-04-01
THEY ARE SWINGING THE AK
The Charter Revision Commit
tee Wiping Ont Offices.
City Assessor and Tax Collector to
Be Abolished.
Other Ohhces That Are on Their List
Some OF this Proposed Reforms in
the Way of He'd ucing the
Salaries of OmciaIs.

The charter revision committee of the
city council has got it's chopping block
and ak in order to do some deadly work
on the salaries of city officials, il their
recommendation run the gauntlet OF
the council.
There were present at the regular
weekly meeting Chairman Rhodes and
Messrs. Nickell, Munson and Pessell,
while ex-Councilmsn Michael Collins
made up the audience. The present
charter was taken up and the first article
read without any question being raised,
but when they reached the section pro-
viding for the charter officers OF the city
the ak was brought into play and swung
rather Justify. On motion it was de-
cided to abolish the Offices OF city tax
and license collector and city assessor,
with view to having this line of work
done by the county assessor. The next
point taken up was the office OF mayors
clerk, another charter office. 1t WAS de-
cided to have it stricken from the
charter and placed among the creative
offices. in case the council saw fit to es-
NssOANSA bNSA Rh OAaOo ulbOE lb6 AOOlibA-
ment.
The question OF consolidating the
offices OF city auditor and city clork was
next thoroughly canvassed, and it was
finally agreed it would be mex pedient to
make such consolidation, inasmuch as
the city auditor should be retained to
keep a general check on all the city
departments. and it would entail too
much work and responsibility to add
his duties to those of the city clerk. 1t
was also agreed to recommend a clause
in the charter which would enable the
auditor to discharge his duties as au-
ditor without being hampered by any
red tape restrictions. Another Office
that was placed on the list for wiping
out of the charter is that of sealer Of
weights and measures. Although the
charter provides for such an Office, the
position has never been filled by the
council, and it was concluded by tho
committee that it would be Just as we'll
to drop it from the list of public func-
tionaries.
No change was made in the sections
providing for the library board, board of
education, police, health, fire and park
commissions. INIT il uaa dAtarmiued to
crop off the police judges, in order to
make the charter comply with the new
law, which provides for township JUS
tices only. The question OF increasing
the membership of the council was dis
cussed, but did not seem to meet with
much favor in the committee. It was
laid over for future consideration. No
change will be made as to the city en-
gineer, city attorney. superintendent of
buildings or water overseer. With regard
to the street superintendent, it WAS
agreed to recommend that it should be
made an appointive Office instead OF an
elective one, and that the appointing
power should rest with the council or
the mayor.
The question of cutting down the
salaries is one that has occasioned a
heap OF cogitAtion on the part OF the
committee. and they have determined
to cut the councilmanic salaries down
from $1,000 per annum to $1,000 or 5000
per annum. The salary OF the mayor is
to be shaved from $4,000 per annum to
$500 or $4,000; city clerk from $24O0 to
$500 per annum; city treasurer from
$2400 to $500; city engineer from $4,000
to $2400; street superintendent from
$4,000 to 1880; chief of police from
$4,000 to $2400, and the health officer
from $2400 to $500.
The charter revision committee an.
nounce that they propose to sift each
section OF the present charter and make
all possible savings in the expenditure
of the public moneys.