The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-23
WILL BRING DOWN EXPENSES.
COUNCIL MAKES LOOKED-FOR RE-
DUCTIONS IN SALARIES.

An ordinance Passed Reducing
Twelve Appropriations in Present
Rudpet-Nayor. Clerk of Council,
Treasurer. Engineer. Attorney, Re
corder and Keeper of Laurel Grove
CuV 10 Per Cent.-Supt. ScreVen
and senior SerGt. Reilly of Police
Department Reduced-Food In
snector's Office Abolished and Du-
ties Assigned 10 Clerk of Market
All Changes Take Effect March l.
Mayor Myers says Total Retrench~
ueuts to Date Are About S22,OOO.
The city Council did some quick and
decisive work last night in the passage
OF an ordinance reducing the appropria-
tons Of twelve departments, and making
q reduction Of 10 per cent. in the salaries
OF the Mayor, clerk of Council, city treas
urer. city engineer, city attorney, recorder
and keeper OF Laurel Grove cemetery.
With other city officers. the board de-
Quoted a larger amount. however. which
IS probably explained il the principle that
the sins OF the fathers are visited upon
the sons. City Marshal Power, who was
strongly opposed to the election of the
present hoard. and who held office under
the Council that passed the budget ordi-
nance, which is giving 50 much trouble,
suffers cut Of $500 in his salary, which
Is the largest reduction made Instead Of
$3.50 per annum, Marshal Power will be
entered on the pay roll after March l for
$500. The harbor master will get $3.50
Health or
fer LeHardy is Gu. $50 year, his salary
being fixed at 5000. Supt. Lotion of the
water department suffers next to the larg-
est cut his salary being reduced from
$2,4O0 to 5000
The foregoing are the cuts the ordinance
provides for IN the cases Of elective Off
GERS. IL was stated by Alderman Tiede-
man that reductions are being made in
the salaries of appointive officers, and that |
the item of $l,265.39 mentioned as the re-
duction in the appropriation for salaries |
to date, includes only appointive officers |
He explained that the appropriation Of
S36,5O0 for salaries in the 1899 budget does |
not represent the amount required for |
this purpose, so that the difference be- /
tween that amount and the total of sal |
aries as it now stands, does not repre-
sent the true reduction.
The ordinance provides for the follow
ing reductions in the appropriations made |
in the preamble of the tax ordinance for |
1888: Board of health reduced 81 100, leav- |
ing the appropriation slS 224; city dispen- |
sary $1,000 leaving $500; drainage and |
dry culture, $500, leaving $l0,500; Laurel |
Grove cemetery 500, leaving $3.50; open |
Ing streets, $1,000, leaving $4,000; police, |
5000, leaving SIG. 900; pubic buildings, 81
oOe, leaving $500; parks and squares, ST. !
O0O, leaving $500; quarantine $500, leaving |
Sl4,5OO; scavenger department. $1,000. leav- !
ing $4,000; sink department 20. r. M. |
$500, leaving $1,000; water works, $500 |
leaving $S2, 500 salaries, 81, $685. the budget |
OF 1883 claimed to provide incorrectly for |
$36 800 leaving S35 ,23461.
Another ordinance was passed fixing the |
salary of Superintendent of Police Screyen !
al $500. This is a reduction of 5000 from |
the amount paid by the city. with the |
$500 the superintendent receives from the
Ocean Steamship Company his salary will !
still be s., 400
Sertg. owen F. Reilly's salary is fixed
al $l,S0 which is $500 less than he former
Iy received as assistant chief of police. |
In the absence of the superintendent" il |
is provided. the said senior sergeant shall |
represent him and perform ms duties, and |
shall also perform all other duties incident |
to his office as sergeant"
AitU AAAiAN biulAldHtts WHICH was llllO-
duced by Alderman Tiedeman, provides |
for the amendment of the ordinance ere |
ating the office of food inspector, by plac- |
ing the duties of this office on the clerk of |
the market. II Is provided that the Old |
ordinance be amended so as to provide |
that from and after March /. 1899, the !
clerk of the market of the city of Savan- !
nah shall be ex-officio inspector of meats |
fish, provisions, fruits and vegetables. I'M |
der the n nd Of sol
nance, and shall have all the powers con- |
ferred by said ordinance upon the inspector
therein mentioned, which Office as a sepa-
rate office shall no longer exist after the |
first day of March, 1899, it being hereby
consolidated with that of clerk of the
market. The duties herein provided for
may be discharged by the said clerk. eth
er personally or through his deputy. and
the acts of the said deputy shall be as
valid as if performed by the clerk him
self"
When the ordinance was put on its pass
age. 1t was objected TO by Alderman Thorn
as. who said he thought it should be pub
llshed not only for the benefit Of Coun-
Gil, but for the public as we'll He thought
it was lmpracticable for the clerk TO per.
form the duties of both offices Alderman
Tiedeman called attention 10 the fact that
the matter had been thoroughly discussed
In committee OF the whole and he thought
its provisions had been well understood.
Alderman Thomas replied that the ordi-
nance might have been agreed to in com
mittee of the whole, but that would not
deprive him OF the right to object to its
passage in open meeting.
Before Council votes on this ordinance a."
Mayor Myers explained. Il desire to saw
! think the duties Of food inspector can he
performed by the clerk of the market If
he is unable to attend to the dulles. some
one must be had who can do the work.
City expenses must be reduced in some
way"
The abolshing Of the food inspectors Of
flee saves the city $500. IL has been init
mated that even more than this would be
saved, as the hoard intended TO abolish The
Office OF material Inspector, who would be-
given the market job. No move has vet
been made In this direction. however. and
II may be the present incumbent. MIR
Masters, viii not be removed
II is not an easy matter TO tell the exact
amount the present legislation has saved
to the city. Mayor Myers was seen after
the meeting, and asked as to how rnuc,