The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-05

The banner Of retrenchment formerly
relegated into the realm Of oblivion
where it has grown musty with passing
years was unfolded at last nights
meeting of the city council and
Haunted to the delight of an over
burdened multitude OF taxpayers. The
latter were very much in evidence at
the meeting. crowding the lobby to it's
fullest capacity and manifesting the
greatest interest in the proceedings.
The session was as might be ex-
pected an animated one from opening
until adjournment at u o'clock The
finance committee had labored indus
triously during the past week and pre-
pared a schedule of reduction in
salaries; they came prepared to fight
the report through, and in this they
were successful. the principal objec-
lions being from OMeara whose op-
position was 70 some extent of dila-
tory nature. Several members, it is
true. voted against the retrenchment
ordinance. but that was not on ac-
count of objections to the measure as
< whole. but rather to certain items.
t will be noted that in some depart
ments no changes have been p-ade
This is only for the present, ho-Saver,
as the committee viii make further
Investigation with view to a still
further reduction.
The all-impot ant matter came up on
the following report of the finance COM
mittee:
To the Hon. President and City Council,
Salt Lake City, Utah:
Gentlemen-We your committee on fin
2nce beg leave 10 report As follows:
IN the matter CT salaries of officials and
employees as per resolution of the city
council of January 2lst 1896:
We recommend that the city nav for
lahorers. SL75 and for men and teams
$500 per day Of eight hours.
That the table Of salaries of officers
and employees as herewith attached be
adopted.
In the interest of economy. the commit
tee also recommends that the care and
maintenance Of all irTigating bitches
within the following described limits be
taken from the irrigation department and
placed under the supervision of the
street department:
All territory lying north of Ninth
hDLuAu street lC MIMI NORTH street and
all territory lying east of the Jordan
river 10 reservation The Watermaster
VIII nave the care and maintenance of
all bitches outside Of these limits and of
the different canals. and the care and
distribution of irrigating waters within
the city
The committee further recommends the
consolidation of the sanitary and DroVis-
ion inspectors into one office. to he
called the sanitary inspector
Ihe adoption Of the proposed schedule
VII affect a saving of $1,000 per annum
In the salary roll Of the city.
Respectfully submitted.
O'NIEARA WANTS DELAY.
When the finance committees report
had been read Mr. O'NIeara moved that
action on the report be postponed for
one week and that it be taken up in
committee OF the whole next Thursday
night.
DALE FOR ACTION
Mr.. Dale objected to postponement.
The salary list was steadily going on
and while the report might not be per-
feet, the committee had labored faith
fully and Vert unanimous on the re-
port.
Chairman Rolnney of the finance
committee seconded the utterances of
his colleague, Mr.. Dale. I trust the
mover Of the motion did not do it with
after week" he said. I'VE want to see
Salt Lake grow. This is g serious mat
ter. 1t was an unpleasant duty to
perform, but we have our constituents
to look after The treasury is steadily
being depleted and something must be
done at once
Mr.. O'AIeara said he was in favor Of
retrenchment as much as any member
of the council. but it was an important
matter. The report recommended a
great many changes in the engineers
department that he was not prepared
to vote on until he had investigated it
personally If this committee is so
much in favor of retrenchment, why
did they not recommend a cutting
down Of their own salaries?"
Dale requested Mr.. O'Meara to ask
the committee any questions he might
want. and the latter queried why it
was they had drawn their own sala-
ries.
Dale retorted by asking if Mr.. O'NIea-
IA himself had not gone on record as
drawing his salary He also added
that most of he members had a great
deal of committee work to do.
Mr.. O'Aieara responded by saying he
was willing to do comm tee work, but
when the fine Italian hand of the
gentleman from the Fourth precinct
fixed It" so that the speaker did not
get on any committees he could not
do anything.
You are on five committees now"
put in Mr.. Dale.
WHY O'MEARA IS SORE.
Eyes, but what are they?'' responded
O'BIear2. There's the committee ON
elections, which has never been known
to hold a meeting during the present
generation Oaughter)
City Attorney Mckay was called up
on to lay down the law regarding the
postponement Of action on the commit
tees report, which Mr. O'Meara held
was compulsory under the statute. The
city attorney decided that OMeara's
point was not well taken, and that the
statute referred TO had no bearing on
the question.
O'Meara rose TO a point of order, OBJ
jecting to the city attorney speaking
on the subject.
HAD TO CALL THE SERGEANT-AT-
ARMS
Then followed a scene between the
chairman and O'Meara that resulted in
the former calling upon the sergeant