The herald., 1896-01-16
THEY WILL HAVE 70 Walk
The City Hall Elevator May
Have to Stop
NO GAS FOR THE BUILDING
The Rule TO Prevent Further Deficiency
Causes Trouble
A Communication Addressed to the Council
by the Custodian Of the City Hall
-PerpIexing Situation

1t looks now as if the elevator in the city
hall is to be closed down, and the gas in
the various offices will have to be in all of
them turned off before 4 o'clock each
afternoon, unless the city council acknowl-
edges that it was making big bluff when
the city clerk was instructed not to pur-
chase any goods without first having OBJ
tanned requisition therefor. The rule
mentioned was made in the interest of
economy and for the purpose of prevent
lug the present deficiency in the cash fund
to growing larger. City Clerk Charles A.
Luckenbach, as the custodian of the mu-
nicipal building, yesterday indited the fol-
lowing, addressed to the council:
"On the 18th day of November, 1895,
your honorable body passed a resolution
that the aggregate amount of acquisitions
allowed monthly by the supply committee.
added to the regular amounts authori zed
by ordinance or contract, be limited to
$4,000 per month on the cash fund, and
the clerk be instructed to keep accurate
account of the. same and report to the
council on the last Monday of each month.
'On the 9Th day of January, 1896, your
honorable body upon recommendation of
the supply committee instructed me as
city clerk to notify all officers, boards and
commissions not to employ any assistance
or to purchase any goods without first OBJ
tanning therefor an authorization or
requisiticn approved by the council and
signed by the mayor.
"Under these instructions of your honor
able body, the members of the supply
committee have very properly refused to
approve any acquisitions when the total
expenses against the cash fund for any
given month have aggregated the sum of
$4,000. This amount during the month
OF January was reached at the first session
of your honorable body. Under the in
structions given the city officers, am pro-
hibited from purchasing any supplies or
articles of any nature without first having
obtained requisition therefor. There are
now in the hands of the supply committee
number of acquisitions from me for vari-
GUS articles which appear to be absolutely
necessary, but which cannot be approved
under the orders of your honorable body.
81 have no desire to violate the instruc-
tions of the council, and unless I am in
structed otherwise. shall carry such in
structions out to the letter. To accomplish
this it will be necessary to shut down the
elevator at the city hall, and to turn the gas
of in all departments in the public build.
ing, as no acquisitions have been allowed
for these purposes, and refuse to purchase
any articles however necessary or urgent
the same may appear.
~ trust that your honorable body will
recognize the fact that have no desire to
be technical in these matters, but l do not
feel warranted in placing myself in the po-
sition OF having you refuse to approve the
bills for supplies which l purchase, and
you can scarcely refrain from doing so
when they are purchased in violation of
your direct ORDERS"
The above will come up for action at the
council meeting to be held next Monday.