The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-05
CHANCE FOR ALL TO TACKLE 1T.
Finance Committee May Not Suggest
budget RevisiOns.

The City Council. as a committee of
the whole, viii probably have the budget
to wrestle with at its meeting Wednesday
night, as the members of the finance
committee intimate that no recommended
tons to bring the expenditures inside the
estimated revenue will be made. The COM
mittee believes that the question is of suf-
hcient importance to engage the entire
attention of Council until a solution is
reached.
When the matter is called for considera-
ton in caucus the Council will be fur
nished with all the data necessary to give
the members a clear idea of the exact
status of the city's finances. Additional
hgures and estimates were furnished the
committee yesterday by City Treasurer
Hardee, which will place the board face
to face with probably the sternest problem
it will have to solve during its term of
office.
It is not the desire to interfere with the
operation of the more important depart
ments by cutting their appropriations, nor
to shave the salaries of officials or other
employees. An effort will be made to use
the pruning knife where it will be felt
least. If there is any cut in salaries, it is
stated slice will be taken from officials,
and not from the day laborer, whose
wages are now about as low as they will
be put. The laborers are paid 81 80 day
and the heads of departments say if the
men can't earn this they don't need them
There are several items in the budget
which cannot be touched for the reason
that they are matters of contract, and
must therefore be paid. There are some
thing like $4,000 of deferred payments
which must be met. Appropriations for
the sinking fund, interest on the bonded
debt and the various notes the city has
issued for different purposes, must be paid
when due. 1t is said the fire and police
departments will not stand cut without
Gripping the service, which would proba-
bly, be attended with considerable dissat-
isfaction from citizens. Council would
probably not desire to lessen the number
of city lights or make cuts which will at
feet those departments from which the
largest number get most benefit.
Alderman D. r. Thomas of the finance
committee, who suggested that the new
Council obtain estimates and revise the
budget if it should be found necessary,
said yesterday that he thought the COM
mittee would act together in whatever ac-
ton is taken. If 1t was decided to make
a recommendation to Council, which he
does not believe will be done, however,
there will probably not be minority re-
port, as the discussions OF the committee
already show that the members have no
trouble in agreeing. Alderman Thomas
was not prepared to say what line the
committee will adopt In reducing the
budget, but he was inclined to the belief
that salaries would not be cut. He is not
certain as to this, however, as the com
mittee may find there is no other way
to bring down expenditures, except to call
upon the city's employees to bear the bur-
den.
DO you think Council would use the
ground rent asset an preference to Grip
pling the Departmental" he was asked.
1T is safe to say that this Council will
not use the ground rents for any but ex-
traordinary purposes" he replied. Such
a policy would be directly against the plat
form declarations in which the admins
tration binds itself to practice reasonable
economy. To resort TO the city's property
to defray current expenses Is something I
feel sure the majority of Council would
neither indorse nor tolerate"
When the financial question comes be-
fore Council it will be discussed by the
entire board, and such course will be
adopted as the majority deems best. I'm
iii there is an exchange of ideas, 1t can
not be told in which departments the re-
auctions will be made It is believed the
reductions it will be necessary to make In
the budget will preclude any improve
ments the new administration may have