St. Paul daily globe., 1895-06-01

The resolution passed. it will be seen,
reduces the salaries of thirtyfour city
officials, and in case it is upheld by the
courts as measure within the power
of the council to pass, it will effect
an annual saving of about $4,000.
Every alderman was present when
the roll was called, and there was a
large attendance of citizens, among
whom were c. w. Horr, Capt. G. w.
Hackett, Col. J. II. Davidson and other
gentlemen, whose presence upon such
an occasion seemed quite natural.
Those who came to lend their aid
and support to Aid. Markham's resolu-
ton introduced at the previous meet
ing found, much to their aStonishment,
little or no occasion to display their
eloquence in denunciation of the alder
men who might oppose the resolution.
Instead of opposing the resolution,
th6 seven Democratic aldermen sur
prised their colleagues and the assem-
bled delegates of the committee of
forty by advocating a still more rad
ical resolution, introduced by Aid.
Hare, as an amendment to Aid. Mark
hams resolution.
At the end of the general discussion
of the matter Aid. Hare's resolution
was adopted item by item, few changes
being made, except in the way of
FURTHER REDUCTION,
and then the resolution was adopted as
whole. The proceedings opened with
the reading of both resolutions. The
reduction of individual salaries under
the Hare resolution was not only great
er than that provided for in Aid. Mark
hams resolution, but the former meas
ure subjected a larger number of as
sistantS and clerks to reduction.
After the clerk had read the resolu-
tions Aid. Montgomery inquired if the
common council had power to reduce
the salaries of all the city officials
named.
Aid. Markham in reply quoted from
the Laws 1876, which delegate that
power to the city council, and added
that he was unable to find any repeal
of that legislation, or portion of the
city charter. The fact that the legis-
lature had subsequently fixed the sala-
ries of certain city officers, did not in
his opinion, repeal the legislation of
1876 in this particular. He considered
ing character, and that the city council
still had the power to reduce salaries.
The alderman then proceeded to take.
up the first item of Aid. Hare'S resolu-
ton.
Like the law, AID. Hare is no re-
specter of persons, and he began with
the chief magistrate of the city, his
resolution calling for a reduction of
the mayors salary from $500 year to
$1,000.
Aid. Markham and Milham declared
themselves opposed to cutting the may
or's salary, but Aid. Hare defended
his position, and Aid. Murphy indorsed
him, and then it was that the alder
man from the Ninth made a speech
Of the evening and scored the Ramsey
county legislative delegation with tell
ing emphasis. Said Aid. Murphy: Nov
is the time to-
MAKE OUR RECORD
and cut these salaries. I remember
that about a year ago AID Milham
stood upon this floor and declared:
with the help of God and our good
citizens we will elect delegation from
Ramsey county that will represent the
people in our legislature and reduce
these heavy expenses that are so bur-
densome to the taxpayers Well, with
the help of God and the good citizens
this delegation was elected. Now they
are gone, and they didn't reduce the
salaries 1t is now our turn to make
a record for ourselves. Aid. Mont
gomery wants to know whether we
have the authority to cut these SAL
aries 1 say that is not the question
to ask now. Our duty is to go ahead
and cut them, and if afterwards the
courts declare this resolution void, it
will not be our fault. We will have
done our duty"
The committee of forty applauded
Aid. Murphy to the echo, as did the
other humber spectators. Then C. w.
| Horr came forward upon a general in
| vftation extended to outsiders-to par
ticipate in the discussion, and said
few words, among which were the
following:
'It seems that the Ramsey county
delegation, which. by the help of God
we elected, became possessed of the
| devil. They have left us Gerdian
| knot, and We must cut it. The people
| are poor and the taxes are heavy.
| We must reduce these expenses,
When you know that cancer Is
| eating up your city you must cut 1t
out. 1t is your high salaries that are
too large. Five thousand competent
men could be obtained who would III