The age-herald., 1899-12-30

accounts, an appropriation based on the books as heretofore kept might be unjust to either department If the board should by ordinance increase the amount hereto fore expended by any department, experi- ence has shown that such department will immediately increase it's expenditures to the amount appropriated. If no increase ds made then that department is prohibited from sharing in any improved condition of the finances during the year. unless the or dinance should be suspended to increase its appropriation, and if the ordinance is to be suspended or changed at any time by will of the board. it would be better to leave the whole matter of appropriations | subject to the deliberate action of the board, and make no increase of appropria- tions except as shown to be necessary and as the condition of the treasury may war rant. The creation of a miscellaneous fund in the budget, would tend to make that fund the source from which all increased appropriations and extraordinary outlays should be made, and as that fund would be subject to appropriation by the board the effect of the ordinance would in that way be nullifed to 0 great extent.
 ''The majority of the committee there fore, while fully concurring in the views Of Alderman Camp, that the expenditures Of the city should be strictly limited to its in- come. are of the opinion thatit would be fnexpedient to adopt the ordinance at this time Respectfully submitted,
 'R. H. KERR,
 'C. c. HEIDT,
 U. F. GRAHAM"
 Camps Substitute
 Alderman Camp submitted the following minority report:
 .Honorable Board of Mayor and Alder men
 'Gentlemen: I respectfully recommend the adoption of the budget ordinance as amended, limiting expenses to fixed appro- priations.
 "Entertaining, as I do, the highest re- epect for the other members of the finance committee, it is with genuine regret that I feel impelled ito present a minority re- port.
 .'Our views on the proper financial poll cy to be followed during the ensuing year are so widely apart that my further ser vice on the committee would only tend to disturb that unanimity which is absolutely necessary for the city's welfare.
 Respectfully submitted,
 "A J. CAMP" Speaking to his substitute Alderman Camp thanked the majority of the commit- tee for the very able and scientific manner in which they had presented their views He objected to making any experiments Alderman Gray said the time had come when he thought the cltys income would be sufficient to pay all expenses. With the increased tax rate and enhanced values he thought the city would be able to pay interest charges and expenses of all de- partments. He argued that the council should start out with she new year in business-like way by laying out what the expenditures should be in each department. He wanted the best possible government with the least possible expense. At this juncture an animated colloquy between Aldermen Kerr, Camp and others eHsued.
 During the discussion Aldermen Mcknight and Moore had left the council chamber, and Alderman Altman called attention to | the fact that no quorum was present and moved that further discussions of the mat | ter under consideration be postponed until lnthe next regular meeting, next Wednesday night.
 The motion was carried without a dis senting vote, and Mayor Drennen declared | the board adjourned. Had the Camp ordinance been voted on | last night il is believed the result would | have been a tie, at least that was the opinion expressed by several aldermen after the meeting adjourned.