St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-27
w. - 80 |IhL.
CONFERENCE COMMITTED TAKES
UP THE QUESTION, CoNSID-
ERING SIX ITEMS.
SEVERAL MATTERS GO OVER.
THE ESTIMATE FOR CITY LIGHT
ING REDUCED FROM S105,OOO
TO $4,000
AFTER
DISCUSSION.
Those of the Fire and Police Depart
ments Are Postponed for FU-
ture Consideration.

The conference committee began its
struggle with City Comptroller Nc
Cardy's tax estimate for the year 1896
yesterday afternoon. Eleven members
of the committee were present. Presi-
dnt Copeland, Of the assembly, who
was called out Of town, being the
only absentee.
The committee IH.ssed upon six items
out of the twenty-four, and postponed
the consideration OF two-the estimates
for the police and fire departments.
Before taking up the estimate several
asking for centain appropriations were
laid over for future consideration at
such times as the respective depart
ments to which they apperta1n come
before the committee for action. n.Among
these requests were that from the
health department asking for $l2,ooo
for a laboratory and disinfecting
plant, a resolution by Aid. Hare call
ing for $4,000 to provide for the
widening of the south end of the Wa
basha street bridge, and one by Ala
Wolf asking for $4,000 for the equip
ment of the fire engine house on Front
street.
A communication from Merriam
Park citizens asking for an appropr1a-
ton sufficient to pay for the rental
of armory quarters for a company
of militia was withdrawn upon the as
surance that the st. Paul companies
would pay the rent out OF their Iuhos'
The committee considered only one
of these special requests, and that was
the resolution Of Assemblyman JohL-
son asking the committee TO lncluue
in the next tax estimate the sum VI
$50, 900 with which to purchase san
itary garbage crematory. This resolu-
ton was referred to the common coun-
Gil without any recommendation.
The committee then plunged into the
tax estimate, which it proceeded 10
consider in the light of the recon-
mendations Of the Parker retrench-
ment committee. At the outset Pfesl-
dent Wheelock, Of the park boaro,
suggested that the rep8t be referred
to the city attorney to ascertain
whether it was practicable, under ex-
listing laws, to carry out certain rec
concentrations of the retrehcnnien'
committee. Mr.. Wheelock referreo pai.
ticularly to tho recommendatlohs 'ia'
certain salaries be reduced WHICH aie
fixed by law ..
To this suggestion, Aid. Markha-n'
member Of the retrenchment co1nnlltee'
as we'll as of the conference com1nlttee'
said that it was not the opinion OF tAe
retrenchment committee that the coal-
mon council had power to reduce the
salaries fixed by law, but that the col,l- onr
nittee thought that the law OF 1880
which went into effect July ], ana WHICH
nrovided for certain reductions IN salar-
les did not exempt the chief OF the nre
denartment and his first assistant anu
the chief of police, inasmuch as those
officials were removable py tneir su,
periors at any time, and therefore coui''
not be said to have any dehnlte TERMS
of office. Therefore, the retrench1nehe
committee thought that these salaries
could be reduced without any act Oh the
legislature. There was no discussion
of this point, and the committee pro-
ceeded with its work
The first item of the estimate, that
for the sum of $295S00, to be raised TO
meet the interest on the bonded debt,
and for the sinking fund, was approved
without question.
The second item. entitled redemption
Of bonds.' was cheerfully indorsed, In
asmuch as it calls for nothing, no bonds
coming due in 1896 The third item was
likewise allowed to stand. 1t calls Tor
S11O,132, with which to pay the interest
on tax levy certificates of Indebtedness,
of which $7O,132 is to be paid from the
general fund.
The fourth item was not so fortunate.
1t places the estimate for the fire de-
partment at the customary figure, S2lo,-
900. President Freeman, Of the hre
board. moved it's adoption. The motion
moved Aid. Markham to say few
words.
at had hoped" said the alderman,
"to see Mr.. Freeman and the other
members of the fire board to take an
other view. AS member OF the re-
trenchment committee l deem II my
duty to call attention to the recommen-
dations of that committee looking TO
reduction of expenses in this depart
ment.''
'"The board of fire commissioners has
had the whole matter under consldera-
tion," rejoined Mr.. Freeman, put lts
report is not ready yet
s"Then 1 suggest that the considera-
ton Of this item be laid over said Aid.
Markham. "It is the duty of the con-
ference committee to advise the COM
mon council, and before doing so, it
should have the benefit of the fullest
discussion with the heads of all de-
>o1,t11
a saving in each"
Mayor Smith agreed in a general way
by remarking: "There ought to be
some reduction all along the line"
Mr.. Freeman said that the salaries Of
the chief Of the fire department and his
assistant were fixed by law, PROPOSE
ton which Aid. Markham disputed on
behalf Of the retrenchment committee,
which, as previously stated, holds that
there is no definite term attached to the
office of chief engineer Of the fire de-
partment and his assistant, and that in
consequence, the fire board can reduce
their salaries.
Mr.. Freeman said that the fire board
would make its report Saturday, and
further consideration Of this depart
ment was accordingly postponed until
tomorrow.
The same disposition was made of the
fifth item, providing for s1S5,O00 for the
police department, as the mayor was
not prepared to make any suggestions
There was considerable discussion
over the sixth item, which provided
$165,O0O for lighting the city. The re-
trenchment committee recommended
that the appropriation be reduced $780,
COO below the S1S5,OOO allowed last year.
This would leave s15O,OO0, but the comp
trolier explained that bills amounting
to $4,000 for tbs present year We're still