The herald., 1897-02-21
TALKING R[TRENCANENT.
Under Discussion by the
City Council
some OF THE PLANS PROPOSED
And Many Suggestions Offered
on the Subject
MAKING HASTE VERY SLOWLY
The Deliberations Of the Committee Held
Behind Closed Doors
Members Realize That They Are Treading on
Dangerous Ground
Plnal Report Of Special Committee on Chang.
ing OF Street Names-The Regular
Weekly Report Of the Fin-
MAKING HASTE VERY SLOWLY
The Deliberations OF the Committee Held
Behind Closed Doors
Members Realize That They Are Treading on
Dangerous Ground
PlnaI Report Of Special Committee on Chang.
ing OF Street Names-The Regular
Weekly Report Of the Fin
ance Committee

The retrenchment cOmmlttee ap-
pointed by the city council several meet
ings ago has been steadily at work ever
since, but last evening none of the mem
bers would say whether report would
be presented to the council Tuesday next
or not. The committee has certainly
put In large amount Of work, in which
il has been assisted by the other mem
bers of the council, and during the past
week night sessions have been the rule.
The object of the committee is to make
careful investigation of the number
of employees of the various departments
of the city government. together with
the duties performed and the compensa-
tion paid, and to report an ordinance
naming the employees to be retained and
the salaries to be paid. of course looping
off any superfluous men and reducing
the pay where practicable, the object
being to reduce the municipal expendi-
lures.
Not only the members Of the commit
tee, but every member Of the council.
especially those who have political as
pirations for the future, and their num-
ber Is supposed to embrace the full roll
have apparently realized that they are
treading on very ticklish ground, for
they have proceeded with extreme eau
ton. The efforts of leaders of retrench-
ment in the past have generally been
awarded by the gentlemen being elected
to remain at home, and the present coun-
cilmen have determined to profit by the
experience of their predecessors. For
this reason all the meetings have been
held behind closed doors, the object evil
IDENTIFY being to practically unanimously
agree on the proposed ordinance before
making 1t public, so that no one member
would have an advantage over the other.
The first thing done was to send out to
the various heads of departments an Of
fetal letter asking for detailed state
ments of the number of employees, with
their compensation and the character
of their duties, and when these were re-
celved the committee got down to busi-
ness.
1t Is almost certain that there will be
a general cut all over the hall, except, of
course, in the case of salaries Of elective
officers, which are fixed by law, and in
the office of the city attorney. The in
dications are that this cut will not be
horizontal, but that 1t will, to a certain
extent, be governed by the character Of
the services rendered. 1t has been ru-
mored that the average cut will not be
less than 10 per cent, and the cuts in
special cases may raise this to Is per
cent.
The matter of the 81 per day rate for
laborers has caused the committee much
trouble. Taxpayers on the outside have
insisted that in the present depressed
condition of affairs this is too high, es-
pecially in view of the fact that con-
tractors and private individuals can get
all the men they want at 81 to SLIPS, but
the councilmen realize that a cut in this
direction would raise a roar from the
labor organizations and workmen gen.
orally, and for this reason they are hesi-
tating to go on record. Another matter
which has caused much debate is the
price paid by the street department for
teams, which Is $3.50 per day. The
statement has been made that any num-
ber of contractors are getting all the
teams they want at $2.25 to $3.50 day,
and frequent complaint is made by
taxpayers against what they consider
the exorbitant rate paid by the city.
A reduction of the pay of the members
Of the police and fire departments has
also been under discussion. 1t is claim
ed that when times were not as hard as
they are now the pay of policemen was
reduced to $40 per month, and firemen
were also cut, but this move has not
been decided upon.
AS has been stated, nothing can be
given as authentic as to what the COM
mittee will report, but it can be stated
that the matters above given have been