The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-03
BUDGET SEEMS TOO HIGH.
FINANCE COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS
THE SITUATION TODAY.

THE SITUATION TODAY.
From Estimates Furnished the Com
mittce over 100000 Expenditures
Are Proposed TO he Made without
the Necessary Revenue-Mayor
Myers InquirinE Into the Duties
of city OHcers with View TO
ConsOlIdntiOn-It Is Claimed the
Clerk of Market and Food Inspec-
tor Gould Go Hand in Hand and
Also Paving Inspector and In
speetor of Materials.
Alderman Tledeman Of the finance COM
mittee of Council has called a meeting
for this afternoon for the purpose Of CON
sidering whether the citys estimated rev
enue viii be equal to the budget for 1899.
Campaign orators against the Meldrim ad-
rninistration dwelt upon the assertion that
this years budget was far in excess of
the prospective revenue and the finance
committee intends 90 lose no time in get
ting at the facts. If it is found the city's
funds viii run short with the proposed
expenditures, there viii be a slash in the
budget.
Shortly after the first meeting Of the
present Council Alderman Tiedeman called
on Clerk of Council Bailey for an estimat-
ed account of the city's revenue for this
year, together with the budget of eXpen-
dltures. His purpose was TO see how the
finances stood, and 70 form some idea
about the best course to recommend TO
Council in The event a revision is found
necessary.
on the face of the statements furnished
Alderman Tiedeman, he finds the city will
come out $S2, 400 in the hole If the pace
set by the Meldrim administration is fol-
lowed. The budget provides for the ex-
penditure of $50 a. while the estimated
revenue TO cover this is $777, 1853. q. Alder
man Tiedeman was told that this did not
include an estimated revenue of 5000 from
the taxation of Collinsville, which will not
be eubject to taxation. however, until the
streets are opened and graded in accord
ance with an act recently passed by the
legislature. 1t is stated by the tax as
SCISSORS that there is a falling off of about
$4,000 in the returns on personal proper
~, which viii reduce the revenue consid-
erably. The situation will be studied by
the finance committee, aud the course be-
lieved to be to the best interests of the
city win be recommended TO Council
Il cannot say what course will be pur-
sued" said Alderman Tiedeman. IF we
find the expenditures exceed the estimated
revenue, the only thing TO do is 10 cut
appropriations D"
Mayor Myers is directing his attention
TO the duties of various city offices with
a view to consolidation. 1t is rumored
that the next week will see a number of
changes. There are a number of offices
the Mayor is said to regard as mere sine
cures, and the interests of taxpayers de-
mand that they be abolished. This policy
is Ia conformity with the views expressed
by Mayor Myers in his letter of accept
ance, and his intention TO live up to the
provisions of the platform on which he
was elected assures many changes in city
Offices that have not yet been discussed.
There are two offices in the department
of public works, the duties of which are
almost sure to be thrown together. This
is the paving inspectors office filed by
Mr. p H. Gearon and that of inspector of
materials. which is being filed by Mr..
Thomas Reynolds It is stated the duties
OF these offices are so closely related that
one man can perform both without
scratching off his finger nails. As the
names indicate, the duties of the paving
inspector are to see that the ordinances
relating TO the maintenance of sidewalks
are obeyed, while those of the inspector
by the city come up TO specifications.
These officers have each been drawing $500
annually from the city but il is stated
an inspector on a salary of $1,000 could
fill both offices, and probably do so to
better satisfaction.
There is a possibility the clerk of the
market and the food inspectors offices may
be consolidated. as this Is claimed to be
another instance where the duties are
similar in many respects, and could be
performed 10 better advantage by the
same officer 1t is claimed there Is not
enough work to keep both officers steadily
employed. Several efforts have been made
10 bring the food inspectors office on
more useful basis by establishing a chem
ica laboratory in connection with 1t. In
the event this is done, analyses could be
made of food stuffs and impurities more
readily detected. It is urged the present
duties which consist only in looking about
for spailed meats. vegetables and other
produce, could be easily performed by the
clerk of the market. If the Office were
abolished, however, it is understood there
would be an Increase in salary sufficient 20
cover the extra duties the clerk would be
expected to perform. The food inspector
receives a salary of $500 a year.
Mayor Myers expresses the intention of
looking fully into the duties of all city
officers and employees, and where 1t is seen
that their consolidation viii result in a
saving TO the city, there is not much doubt
but that il win be done. In some of the
more important departments il is intimated
the allowance in the present budget is far
in excess of what il should be. There are
many corners where a hundred dollars can
be picked up for the tax payers, and Mayor
Myers declares his intention of doing it.
WORST STREET IN TIE CITY.