San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-02-28
CITY COUNCIL CAUCUS.
TIE ALDERMEN GO DEEP INTO THE
a.. LIST OF EMPLOYEES.
Police Department Gashed Deeply Sala-
ries Remain About As Befors-Tel-
esOoping Offices Attempted.


council in caucus in the council cham
Der. There was but one absentee,
Alderman Hamilton.
Without much ceremony Mayor Cal
laghan announced that this was only
10 be caucus meeting to ascertain
what city officials and employees there
were and where retrenchment could
he made for the good of the city in its
present straitened circumstances.
Alderman Hicks had charge of Il
list of all offices, with the salaries fig
ured out on the basis of II months,
and he proceeded to read from the list,
item by item. AS he read the cOun-
oil and the mayor freely made remarks
pro and con as to what they thought
ought to BE- done, and then the meet
ing proceeded. much to the interest
Of the large audience gathered.
First on the list was the recorders
court clerk, salary of 81 200 per year,
liked by charter. 1t was decided to
incorporate the duties of prosecuting
city attorney with those of recorders
clerk.
This will save the city $500 per
year for assistant attorney.
The assistant city auditor. $500 per
year, and assistant assessor. 5000 per
year, were abolished, making another
cut of $1,000 per year.
When the police department was
reached the mayor stated that only
TWO detectives were needed and the
office of chief detective was not need
ed, There has been no chief of detCc-
tiveS since the death of the lamented
capt. Hughes, so the knife was not
needed here. The mayor said the cOun-
~ and city officers could work tOgeth-
or in the preservation Of peace and
suppression of crime.
The twenty-fOur partOlmCn in the
police department We're not touched
and their salaries were allowed to re-
main mt the same figure. 500 per
month, but twelve of the sixteen
mounted patrOlmen We're abolished,
saving the city the sum of 81 $50 per
year
One assistant city iailer at $4O0 per
year was dispensed with.
ThepOlice paFtol wagon and four
horses was turned over to the fire de-
partment, saving the city the expense
Of LAO on salary of the two drivers
No change was made in the street
commissioners department. except
that the aldermen thought the COM
missioners clerk might be done with
out. This will save $40 per year.
The city carpenter was left be TO
furnish horse and wagon.
The street sweeping contract. at
$40 per month, the mayor thought
might DE let to the lowest bidder at
Il cheaper rate.
The contract with the street car
company for sprinkling the streets
was brought up and attention was
called to the fact that the city is
under enpense of $40 per week in keep
ing an expert engineer here for the
past three months to put the sprinkler
in operation. This was referred to the
city attorney, who reported that this
was not binding upon the city-and the
budget did not provide for it.
The ditch commissioner, at 5000 per
wear, was retained, as the bitches
must be, like the Alamo, which were
submitted to the care of the city by
the state, maintained.
The office of park commissioner at
SIS per month, was abolished and the
mayor asked that two city gardeners
he given the city at a salary each of
$500 per year, which was agreed to.
In this connection was cited by the
mayor the removal of some fine trees
from Alamo plaza park and which
had not been placed in other parks.
as they might have been. This will
he investigated.
When the fire department was
reached the mayor stated that the
two operators in central fire station
could not be dispensed with, but that
the lineman could also do the duties
of city electrician and inspector.
The Office of health office clerk was
Incorporated with that of record
clerk and the mayors typewriter, Mt
5000 per year. saving 81, 40 in Sala-
rieS.
The mayor asked the council to pass
the hospital department, but it was
learned that the office of assistant city
physician is to be retained. The mayor
said this department seemed TO have
been very expensive and he wanted
10 investigate.
Inc TWO SIOCk uIlNcIS 1T S''b pCl
month each. were not dispensed with.
Neither was the keeper of the city
scales, although his salary was cut
down to $50 per month. saving $50
per year.
The mayor said he did not think
there can he any reduction in the
number of the firemen in the fire de-
partment. but there might he some
changes in their personnel.
Alderman Duerler here said an Old
hobby of his was that the fire depart
ment costs too much and he advOcat-
ed the San Francisco plan of Il call
man system. when they served with
only pay for duty performed, etc.
In the markets departments the SER
vices of one assistant market master
were dispensed with. saving 5000 per
Ernpr
IL mayor thought the city could