The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-01
NAY ACT ON BUDGET TUESDAY.
MAYOR 1IELDRI,I HAS ALL THE
ItIGUREs BEFORE HIM.

wv rs DIR OhE MN.
IEiii Il Close Comparison Is Made.
lie Docs Not Know whether the
Ordinance VIII BE Signed or We
tOed-City Officers F'repa ring Their
Reports Of the Years WOrk-In
improvements Over Those of Pre-
ViOus Years.
Mayor Me,drim met Alderman Thomas
chairman of the hnance committee of
Council at the city exchange yesterday
ana went over the budget for 1899, from
which the Mayors signature is being with
held pending a comparison with an esti-
mate of next years revenue. 1t was
thoua hit a definite conclusion would be
reached, but this was not done. and the
matter will now probably lay over for sew
eral days.
Ada rman Thomas had the estimate,
which is the basis on which Mayor Mel
drjm win make up his mind as signing or
vetoing the budget As stated in the
Morning News yesterday. the Mayor has
determ ned thai Council must again apply
the pru ming knife to appropriations if the
budge- figures exceed the estimated reve-
nue. In his determination to leave things
in good condition for the incoming Coun-
ell, he do IS not see his way clear TO counte-
nance eW 'enditures at the rate they were
made during last year. The Mayor ex-
presses quite positively the intention of
holding the expenditures within proper
bounds, and if he signs the ordinance. il
viii doubtless mean that he Is satisfied
there viii be no trouble in raising the nee
essary funds to cover what it is proposed
10 expend
The estimate submitted 10 me has been
gone over hurriedly," he said, but be-
fore l reach airy conclusion about what
snail be dore with the ordinance, l shall go
over the m after critically and carefully.
If 1 am perfectly satisfied that there will
be absolutely no trouble in collecting the
amount il is estimated the city will re-
ceye from all sources next year. and the
total is sufficient to easily meet the ex-
penditures, I shall not have any hest
fancy in apprC wing Councils action. This
will satisfy me the board has not made a
mistake. If the figures show that the
Council propos rs to spend more than it is
to collect, it " 1u be a palpable error not
to disapprove taDe ordinance"
The CouncWh efforts are now being Gi-
rected TO a win ding up of the years BUSH
ness, and the probability is that Mayor
Meldrim will noS withhold action longer
than it takes Tim to make up his mind
1t is probable that the ordinance will either
be signed or vetoed by Tuesday, when
there will be special meeting of the
board.
With all the city officers there is con-
siderable actiVitF just now owing to the
time they are irving to the preparation
of their annual reports All are progress
ing with the exception OF Health Officer
lie Hardy, who is i'll, and has been con-
fined for the la st two days City Engi-
neer VIM, City Treasurer Hardee and
others in the exchange are at work on
their reports. The officers feel that their
reports Will compare faVorably with those
of past years, and in many respects, will
show an Improvement due to a systema-
tizing of the work
The report of the operations of the
health department viii show decided i'm
provement over previous years. While the
scavenger department has done the work
the sanitary inspectors have materially as
sisted by reporting all Objectionable mat
ter the department may have overlooked.
The trash boxes were put in the lanes
by this administration, said Mayor Mel
drim, speaking of the cleanliness of
streets land they have proven efficient in
keeping the city free from litter. As
there are not enough of them, however,
the few that have been placed around only
having been an experiment it is to be
hoped the next board will complete the
work. and then compel everybody to OBJ
serve the boxes. They will fiji a want
which cannot well be met in any other
way"