Omaha daily bee., 1895-06-02
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
HOwelps Communication Urging Further
Retrenohment Referred.
SEVERAL SECONDARY HEADS AIMED At
Declared that by the Plan Proposed Ten
Thousand Dollars May he saved-old
Bills OF tho Barber Company to
he Further Investigated.

At the special meeting Of the city coun-
Gil last evening Councilman Howell sprung a
surprise in the form of a communication
suggesting sweeping retrenehments in the
clerical force at the city hall. and a reduc-
ton in salries Of all municipal employees who
receive over $50 per month. The communi-
cation was:
To the Honorable Mayor and Fellow
Members OF the city Council OF Omaha
the heart sick It again i becomes becomes my aSgtg SGtg
to call your attention to the lack of econ
omy and immediate need for retrenchment
all along the line in running the city affairs
for the remainder of this year. Let me
quote from his honor, the mayor, THAT we
are trying TO run a great, big threshing ma
chine with nothing to feed It with" but
on the other hand, when the mayor and
city council met last February to make
the annual levy for this year. there was
an earnest effort made. without avail. to
insist on retrenchment-each department
asking for an increased appropriation, the
mayors department alone asking for $500
more than last year.
At the present rate OF expenditures there
will be a shortage in nearly every depart
ment of the city government, and more
particularly in the general fund. long be
fore respectfully suggest:
The absolute prohibition of expenditures
from the general fund, except In cases Of
The discharge of one man in the city
clerks office at a salary of not less than
500 per month.
The discharge of two men in the treas
urer's office, drawing salaries of not less
The discharge Of one man in the comp
trollers office at a salary of not less than
The discharge of one clerk in the office
of the Board of Public Works at salary of
not less than SIS per month
The discharge OF the assistant commits
sioner OF health at a salary of 800 per
saarH Of fns So t%q momh sadR at
The reduction in salary of the mayors
private secretary from Sl25 to 500 per
month.
A reduction of 20 per cent in all salaries
paid city employees except those who now
but in no case should this reduction make
any salary less than $50 per month.
These, gentlemen: are a few suggessttdioGnnss std ms
for the remainder of this year and If sug-
gestion No. l., in reference to the prohibi;
ton of expenditures from the general fund
except in cases of emergency, is adhered
to 1t will save an untold amount 1t does
prise running at a, low ebb and their ex-
penses cut to the bottom notch, that II Is
the duty Of this council to make an honest
taxed community.
In conclusion let me say that it is not a
pleasant duty to be compelled to advocate
either the discharge of an employe or the
reduction Of his salary, but an emergency
exists, and never have been and am not
now afraid to do my duty. 1 would re-
spectfuly ask that this communication be
referred TO our finance committee for in
position is correct, and believing that not
only this committee, but the entire coun-
Gil, should concur in giving the necessary
relief. | send these suggestions at this
time in order that whatever definite action
is taken may be had at once so that the
pssssd'fi pssssd IN Hs me to take eject July l. or for
the last six months Of this year.
Mr. Howells suggestion was referred to
the committee on finance.
A resolution authorizing the health COM
missioner to have printed and distributed
to all interested, cards showing the price per
wagonoad, or fraction thereof, to be charged
by the garbage contractor, was referred TO
the police committee.
The special committee to which was re-
ferred the claim of the Barber Asphalt COM
pany from 1890 to 1894 reported that some
portions OF the contract were ambiguous, and
recommended that the claims be referred to
the Board of Public Works to investigate
more fully and report upon, and also recon-
mended that the Barber Asphalt company be
notified to appear before the board and ex-
plain the claims as presented more specific
ally.
The finance committee. 10 which was re-
ferred the appropriation ordinance, reported
favorably save with respect to items of $50
for clerk hire per month for the health COM
missioner, and sos for janitor at the city
jarl This caused some discussion, in which
Councilmen Howell. Thomas and Gordon
participated. The report of the committee
was adopted excepting the jantor's salary.
During the discussion a legal point was
raised, but the city attorney was not present
to decide. This aroused the indignation Of
Councilman Howell, who censured City At
torney Connell for continued absence. from
council meetings. contention arose over
the payment Of 800 to Assistant Police
Clerk Brown, but the committee report to
pay him for the services was concurred in.
The ordinance was then placed upon its
third reading and passed py vote OF LE
to 3.
The rules were suspended and resolution
instructng City Attorney Connell to attend
council meetings regularly until otherwise
ordered was introduced by councilman
Howell. The latter claimed that the city
attorney put in time at church sociables
that should be given to the council. The
resolution was tabled.