The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-11
II IS JUST like 4 DITCH
The More You Dia>at 1t the
Bigger It Gets.
1T MAS AGGRAvArING. INDEED
After Two Hours Digging st the Appru.
priatioa ordinsacs the Estimates
Committee Finds It has Grown
to Larger Proportions.

Again the estimates committee has
met and still the riddle Of filling two
holes with one peg remains far from be-
ing solved. Last night when the meet
Ing opened the situation was somewhat
as follows:
Resources .......................... .$e7a.M .M3 90
Demands from departments...... 3OS610 u
Demands for new improvements
provided for BY special leEisla-
uoh ........,................ lWVW w
Items set aside at pervious meet
ihk ...................... SoAW W
This last amount Of $35,40O does not
include the S25.55l.sS for paid fire de-
partment. which was referred to O SUBJ
committee. which. as has already been
stated. struck It out entirely. A
greater part Of this item of $35. 400 will
have to be nut back in the ordinance,
as II Is made Up OF items which were
merely stricken out until such time as
the department demanding them could
make an explanation of their necessity.
With this aggravating dilemma be-
fore them the committee determined to
do something desperate. They did.
After two hours Of labor with double
edged axes they discovered after the
chips had been cleared away that In
stead OF making q reduction they had
made an increase Of $l.?25.15. Then
they adjourned till one week from next
Friday night. vowing that something
is going TO drop when they get together
again. The 100000 which II is esti-
mated will be required for new i'm
prOvements called for by ordinances
and resolutions now under way. will
have to be left out of consideration al
together 1t Is confidently thought
The $4,000 asked for by the city con-
troller to establish the judgments and
incidental funds will possibly be cut In
two. and everywhere that dollar can
be saved on clerk hire or the like the
committee will cut without charity.
Salary Of Mayors Clerk Reduced.
Last nights cutting was begun by
knocking off $500 from the 1000 salary
of the mayors secretary, which was
one of the items set aside at the last
meeting. The $500 which was knocked
OF the $500 for clerk hire In the city
clerks department, was placed back
last night. 1t being explained that addi-
tional help will be necessary owing to
the fact that the assessment books
must he made up in the clerks depart
ment instead of the assessors depart
ment as heretofore.
The item Of 5000 for permanent man
for the Niagaras was transferred to
pay for the additional permanent man
for the chemical engine. There was
much discussion on this change. some
cOuncilmen urging that the Niagara
should have q permanent man. as 1t
is the only company In the department
without one, and others argued that the
company should be disbanded. as II IL
one of two companies occupying the
same building Purchase, erection and
repair of fire hvdrants was cut down
from $3,O 900 to $4,000. Chief Ferber made
a hard fight to get the item for pur-
chase Of hose placed back at $1,000. but
the committee felt that its original idea
that $1,000 was sufficient was still good.
The subcommittee appointed to knife
Chief Ferber's recommend atoms for q
paid department, or at least the nucleus
of one, brought In a report In which
all the recommendations were knocked
out with the exception Of double drop
harness for the Columbias. 81 900 for the
purchase Of horses. $125 for the erec-
ton OF a fire alarm box at the corner
of Vine street and Prescott anenue. and
s27.75 for the maintenance Of the box.
The committee approved OF this action
and afterwards added $500 for supplies
for the department. which Is also one or
the items set aside ut the last meeting.
Mr.. Wagner made strong effort to Sc
cure an extra man for the Reliefs. but
II was to no avail.
Street Commissioner Kinsley came
before the committee to explain all his
wants, but after discussion lasting
some time. the committee directed Mr..
Kinsley to take his whole estimate and
revise It, cutting of everything that
was not absolutely and unquestionably
necessary.
Action Of Librarian Carr.
The action of Librarian Henry ]. Carr
was such as to deserve and earn the
hearty cOmmendation Of the commit.
tee. He came to press the demands Of
the library, but when he saw the plight
the committee was in he sat down In
the rear Of the room and went to work
earnestly and honestly to shave down
his demands. The committee had al
ready cut down the library appropria-
tion wherever 1t thought the appropria-
tion would stand cut and was salts
fled to let It 60 at that. but Mr.. Carr
would not have 1t. and showed the COM
mittee where they could cut his esti-
mate another $500 or SO. The library.
he explained, could put to good use all
that was originally asked for. but by
the closest economy and the putting of
OF some contemplated improvements
he could get along with lesser amount.
At the next meeting the park commits
sioners, chief of police and street com.
missioner will be called upon to explain