The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-15
WILL TRIM DOWN SALARIES.
COUNCIL SPENT THREE HOURS DIS
CUSSING RETRENCHMENT.

In Committee of the Whole the
Board Examines Superintendent of
Fire Department Mcguire, super
| intendent of Police Screven and
Commissioner Gadsden as TO Ex-
penses of Their Departmental
Slice Is Expected TO Come From
Each Departmental General Cut
in Salaries May Make Up $4,000 OF
| Deficit.
The City Council spent three hours in
committee of the whole yesterday after
noon considering the lines along which
the budget reductions are to be made.
| The conclusions reached are subject 10
change, which probably caused Mayer
Myers to caution the aldermen thus: Re
member, gentlemen, nothing Is to be given
| out"
The officials on the outside waiting for
hearing before the committee told pretty
wen what was going on inside. Superin-
tendent Mcguire of the fire department
was the first to appear, and was later fol-
lowed by Superintendent Screven of the
police department, and Comm ssioner
Gadsden Of the public works department.
Each of the officials was questioned on
matters touching the management of his
Office the amount required TO properly
carry on his department. and such infor-
nation would give the board data for
determining whether a cut could be made.
Besides the verbal information they
were directed to furnish. the officials sub
mitted statements showing the actual
operating expenses of their departments,
including the names of the various en-
ployes. These statements were first gone
over, after which the officials were ques-
toned as to whether any re-
auctions which could be made without
seriously Gripping the service. 1t does
not seem 10 be the desire to make reduc-
tons, where the efficiency of the depart
ments will be crippled, or even interfered
with to a considerable extent.
II is not known to what extent the po-
lice and fire department appropriations
will be cut, but it is understood a slice will
be taken off of each On the principle that
every little helps, It appears 10 be the in
tention of the board to chip off here and
there, until the deficit is covered. II is
not believed the police department will
stand a very large cut, however if the
present service is maintained, as the police
commission had trouble in getting along
with $50, coo, Notwithstanding il claimed TO
have managed the department carefully
| and economically. The commission tried
to pull through with $4,000 at the sugges-
ton of Council, but found the amount was
insufficient, and an additional 5000 was
appropriated. Should it be determined to
dispense with the services OF a few po-
| licemen, it can easily be seen where the
| saving will be made.
Superintendent Mcguire is not anxious to
see the fire department interfered with,
though It Is not likely to escape The
number of men cannot well be reduced it
is said, without seriously interfering with
| the service. At some of the engine houses
| the apparatus is not fully man
ned, and to dismiss many of the force,
| 1t is claimed. will cripple the service AS
| there are apt to be changes. the board will
endeavor to suppress its conclusions until
| it is finally determined to adopt them
The department of public works will be
held down to close margin, it is stated.
| The Office force, which has swarmed with
| sinecures. can still be trimmed to good
effect, and it Is believed the street force
| win be kept down to the actual needs
! of maintenance. On account of the strain
| ed financial conditions, brought on, il is
| tldilHtb ny iOOSt expenditures DY former
| Councils, Il is said there will be an effort
toward Improvement by the present ad-
| ministration.
1t is minated by an alderman that the
| entire city salary list will be carefully
gone over. and that the result will be an
| application of the pruning knife that will
| bring about a reduction in expenses. It
! is estimated that this reduction will ap-
| proach $4,000
Salaries have had a decidedly upward
| tendency In the last ten years Each
Council has had applications before it for
| increases here and there, and many have
been granted. the result being a large
| swelling of the total amount paid out to
city officials and clerks. Judging from re-
marks made by aldermen, cut in salaries
Is soon to be made, and the initial steps
| in this direction were taken at yesterdays
! meeting.
II the reduction in salaries and CONSOLE
! dating some offices, which have been re-
| garded as sinecures, effects a saving OF
$1,000 this win be one-third of the rejuc-
ton required TO bring the expenditures
! within the city's income. 1t is the jmpreg-
sion that once reductions of this character
are made. it win be many years before
| there Is any increase i'm salaries as tax
payers are not expected to look with favor
hereafter on the additions to expenses
which in the end aggregate a large
amount, ana keeps the tax burden at a ton
notch. 1t is pretty safe to say that reduc-
tons in salaries are to be the order of the
hour with Council 1t is also the intention
to lopp off any unnecessary expenses in the
departments. Mayor Myers is backed nv
the aldermen in his desire to retrencb ex
penses and bring the city's financial status
TO point where lower taxes viii result.
II is not known when Council will no
called to complete Its work on the budget
Mayor Myers was seen, but stated there
was nothing to give out about the meeting
and that it was not known exactly when
another would be held. The probability
Is 1t viii take some time to complete the
work of revision, as the board intends 10
proceed carefully in making the reduc-
lions now under consideration. Alder
men sized up the situation last night by
saying that reduction of salaries CON
solidation of departments. dsmlssals and
other calamities are apt to come in the
effort to make up the $Sl 900 deficit. and