St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-12
THE EIGHTY PER CENT LAW
Furnishes the Foundation for
an Interesting Contro-
verSy.
A DEAL OF FAVOR is SHOWN
Says the Chief, in the Manner
in Which the Law Is
Enforced.

Cn1eI OF PONCE JOhn Clark replies
vigorously to an editorial in a morn
ing paper concerning the $50 per
cent law and rule" in the following
communication received last even
ing:
An editorial in the Pioneer Press Of
this date states that the charter fixes
the legal limit of the police department.
expenditures at so per cent of the ap-
preparation fixed by law plus it's quota
Of such amounts as may be collected
from delinquent taxes, and that the
head of every department knows this
to be the law and the rule, and there
fore there is no excuse for not keep
ing the salaries and expenses within
that limit
If the law is quoted correctly. all I
can say is that the reports of the city
comptroller clearly show that there is
a deal of favor shown in the manner
in which the rule and the law is en-
forced IN the several departments of
the city government.
In order that the public may be given
a concise and clear idea of how the
$50 per cent law and rule is enforced
against some departments and other
departments allowed 100 per cent of
the charter allowance the following
figures are submitted:
CLAIMS DISCRIMINATION.
Annual
Charter Expended Expended
Dep It's. Allow'ce. in 1893. in 1894
City attorney. 11,7OO 1863 IS i, 6Ss. SIS
city treasr.. 1900 1866 40 I2'S8S %
City clerk. $500 9,34 60 0 463 2j
Fire dept. .2l5, 900 209, SAG O9 1877 32 *
Police dept. $4,000 179,345 rs 16S'29O GO
These figures show that in 1898 the
city comptroller spent for his own SAL
airy and clerk hire all but 1852 OF the
total amount allowed his department
by the charter
In the year 1894 the city comptroller
spent for his own salary and clerk hire
all but II cents of the total amount al
lowed him by the charter.
The city attorneys department in
the years 1899 and 1894 spent all but -
cents of their charter allowance each
year.
The fire department was short s.. 900
OF their charter allowance in the wear
1893, and in 1894 was short $17, 900 of the
amount
ALLOWED BY CHARTER.
The police department was short
over $4,000 in their charter allowance
for 1893, and for 1894 $4,000 was the de-
nclency between the amount expended
and the charter allowance.
Inc city treasury department in the
year 1893 spent all of the amount all
lowed the department by charter ex-
cept S353.6O, and in 1894 all but Sill. ~.
Ihe city clerks department spent in
1893 within $225.40 of the charter allow.
ance and in 1894 within $136. IA of the
amount allowed by charter.
A glance over the figures (Which are
taken from the official reports of the
city comptroller and consequently
must be correcO will prove that the
80 per cent law and rule is not used
in every department, but enforced to
the letter in the police and fire de-
partments. The statement has fire.
quently been made in the press and by
certain officials that the trouble with
the police department was that it's af-
fairs We're not managed as they should
be and that the salaries were not
paid owing
TO EXTRAVAGANCE.
me CITY comptroller, the city treas
urer, the city clerk, the city attorney
and all the employees and clerks in
the offices mentioned receive their sal
aries for twelve months in each year.
This is done by not working the go
per cent rule and law in these de-
partments.
claim there should be no discrimi-
nation in the application of the char
ter. If the police and fire department
funds are to be allowed, by the city
comptroller, only the 80 per cent of
their charter allowance, plus the prop
err quota from the delinquent taxes,
then place all other departments of
the city government on the same basis.
A policeman or fireman who does his
duty is as much entitled to receive his
monthly salary each month as the
city comptroller or any other officer
or employee of the city.
If there are too many employees in
the police and fire departments have
the number reduced. This would GER
tainly be more of a business move than
to keep the present number and have
them short a months salary each
year."