St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-12-31
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE CON.
TINUEs TO REDUCE THE EsTI-
MATES FOR NEXT YEAR.
GENERAL CUT PROVIDED FOR.
POLICEHEN AND FIREMEN MADR
TO FEEL THE OFFICIAL PRUN-
ING KNIFE.
BUILDING INSPECTORS OFFICE.
1t VIII Have to Run on About Half
the Amount Usually Al
lowed. g.,

The first step towards a general re-
duction of the salaries of city employees
was taken yesterday at the meeting of
the conference committee. The chief of
police submitted a proposed pay roll
providing for a cut of $12, 200 in the
police department, and President Free
man, Of the fire board, offered a sched-
ule, showing how a reduction Of S13.O36
could be effected in the salaries of that
department. The conference committee
approved of these reductions and fixed
the estimates accordingly.
The committee made more progress
than upon previous days, as it held an
evening session as well, realizing that
such action is necessary in order to COM
plete the task within the time limited
by law.
AS soon as Mayor Smith had called
the committee to order, President Be-
ment, of the water board informed the.
committee that the board, at a meeting
held IN the forenoon, had adopted a
resolution providing for an average re-
duction Of at least 10 per cent of the
salaries of its employees, which would
result in a saving of 50, 400 year at the
very least. The salary of the president
OF the water board had been reduced 16
per cent, the secretary's salary 27 per
cent, and the superintendent about 2d
per cent.
The committee then passed to the
consideration of the police department.
Chief of Police Clark submitted a nav
roll Of the department, showing a to-
tai reduction of $4,000 year. ACCOM-
plished as follows:
Chief OF police. from.s s., 500 to s3 900,
four captains from 81, 400 a year I'd
$1,000 each; seven heutenants from
$1,000 to $1,100; ten sergeants from
$1,000 to 5000; one license Inspector
from $1,000 to $1,000; one driver of work.
house van from $1,000 to $1,000; eight
mounted policemen from SLIGO to
$1,O60, and 40 patrolmen from $500 to
$S4O each year.
CONFUSION FOLLOWS. a
The attempt to make the fig
ures in the tax estimate con-
form to this reduction, resulted in
the same confusion and disagreement
that occurred when the fire department.
fund was under consideration. The es-
innate as submitted by the comptrol-
ler called for S1S5,000, plus $500 Of
back salaries due for November 1885,
making $1S7 800. From this is deduct
ed, in arriving at the tax estimate, the
sum of $4,000, which is paid from the
general fund, leaving S152, 500.
Comptroller McCardy Strengthened
the matter out by moving that the
$500 estimated for balance of salaries
due for November, 1895, be strickeni
from the roll, and that the sum of
$1S2, 500 be substituted for S1S5.O0O De-
frnD n
leave $147,500 as the tax estimate, in
stead of $152,500. This amount, Mr.
McCardy said, would insure the rails.
ing of sufficient money to pay the bal
ance of $1,000, and also guarantee
enough to pay all the expenses of the
department for 1896
Comptroller McCardy's motion pre-
vailed, and the total estimate for the
support of the department was fixed
at $1S2.5OO, instead of $1S5,0OO the $500
was stricken, thereby leaving the tax
estimate-after deducting the $4,000
paid from the general fund-$147, 800 :
Next came the fire department fund.
President Freeman, of the fire board,
who, on the previous day. had informed
the committee that the board had
found way to save s., 900 in salaries
submitted another schedule which will
effect total saving of S13,036. In sub
stance the reductions agreed to. consist
in cutting the salary of the chief en-
gineer from $4,000 to $4,000: that of the
first assistant chief from 81, 600 to 81 500;
that of the second assistant chief from
$1,000 to S1,400; master mechanic from
$1,000 to $1,000, and the salaries of cap
tains, lieutenants, pipemen, engineers,
stokers, truckmen, truck drivers. en-
gine and hose drivers, anywhere from
81 to $40 per month. Men receiving $50
or less per month are not reduced
neither are the two linemen, who re-
ceive $75 a month each, nor the superl
intendent of fire alarm, whose salary
is $1,000 a year. nor the pay of the Sec
retary of the fire board. The total cut
amounting to S13,036 represents a re-
duction of s per cent of the present pay
roll