The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-18
OFFICE HOLDERS STAND PAT.
REDUCTIONS WON'T CAUSE THEM
TO GIVE Up THEIR JOBS.

the Ranks Mny Not BE Touched.
civ Attorney Adams Decides Re-
ductious Are Legal, NOtwithstand-
ing Officials Were Elected for
stated Terms.
II has not been settled yes whether there
Will be another meeting Of Council before
the regular meeting next Wednesday
night. when 1t is stated. the reductions
it Is intended to make in the salaries
of city officials will he announced. IT is
no. denied that a general sweep will be
made. and that the retrenchment meas
ares will be felt by nearly every office
holder under the present administration
While the question Of reducing salaries
has been discussed by former Councils,
il remained for the present to take the
matter in hand without fear. favor or
affection. and make such reductions as
the city's financial condition demanded.
Political reasons have probably had much
to do with the aversion heretofore shown
In cutting down the pay Of officials, who
would feel unkindly toward the faction
that took this step, and would likely give
trouble in case there was an election close
at hand As the present board seems TO
be looking to city ofice-holders for efii-
Gent services, and not political favor,
salaries can be dealt with as the ma
jority sees fit. with no fear of the public
siding with the element which disapproves
this course.
Among city office holders and politicians
generally the contemplated move on sal
aries was the topic OF talk yesterday
Some have been wondering what officials
will do when the cuts are announced, and
hile this is a matter of doubt, il seems
settled that there will not be any resig-
nations. There is something fascinating
about the public teat and the indications
are that Council win find its hands full
making il too warm" for officials whose
removals have been incidentally discussed
since the election. 1t seems settled that
they will cleave TO what they have, ana if
there are any designations, they VIII come
in the nature of surprises. In the prOpos-
ed reductions it is not understood 10 be
the object to force any official TO resign
This seems apparent from the fact uni
form cut will be made as nearly as posi-
bic.
Since the talk of pruning salaries begun,
there has been a marked diminution in the
gossip of removals, except few which
have been agreed upon for some time, and
which have been mentioned in the Morn
ing News from time to time II is under
stood the only desire of Council was to
lessen city expenses. and as it seems this
can be done without seriously interfering
with any of the more important depart
ments this course will be adopted instead
of that Of removals In some instances
the cuts may be more than in Others but
this is probably explained in the fact that
some officials will suffer a cut equal TO
the amounts their salaries have been rails
ed. The rumor that Superintendent Lof-
ton of the water department Is to be re-
duced 800 is explained in this way. Some
time ago this addition was made to his
salary
Superintendent Screven of the police de-
partment will probably be reduced from
81 600 to 5000, which win then be about
as high as the salary paid any city Of
fetal OF this amount 5000 is paid by the
city and $500 by the Ocean Steamship
Company for services the superintendent
renders in connection with the company's
police force 1t Is matter of some inter-
est to the aldermen to know just how this
reduction win be made, but 1t is under
stood the entire amount will be taken
from that paid by the city, leaving 1t to
pay the superintendent $l,400. which viii
make up the amount Of the proposed SAT-
airy.
The salary of the city attorney, which
was increased from 81 500 TO 81 400, will
come in for portion of the shortage which
is now being made up. The amount II is
proposed to take from the salary of this
official has not been stated, but il seems
settled that reduction will be made COM
mensurate with the others.
Commissioner George NJ (sadsden was
slated for about $500 II the public works
had been consolidated with the engineer
ing department As this win probably not
be done, his salary will be fixed at a
less amount in the ordinance creating the
new office. 1t is expected that this or
dinance win be introduced soon. though
it will depend on whether the board sticks
TO its apparent determination not to cou-
solidate the two departments.
IL is said the flremen, police and the
city laborers will not be disturbed. though
many of them viii not be surprised TO
hear of a 10 per cent. reduction. Some
years ago am ordinance was passed in
cIeasing the salaries of policemen from
$50 to $65 a month, but the old-time po-
lice saw even better time. Wen do
remember" said a blue coat yesterday,
when the police got half the fines the
city collected from arrests they made If
against the ordinance the policeman got
half of it, Money came easy during those
times, and / can remember when some of
the men made 500 month right a.ong'
Besides the salaries. Ii is stated a cut
Will also be made in the appropriation Of
a few departments. One alderman said
yesterday that the appropriation for OPEN
ing streets, which, including deferred pay
ments, was fixed at $4,000 by the ola
board, will be shaved down. The amount
was not stated, but the alderman inri-
mated that enough streets had already
been opened 10 keep the city busy for the
next ten years grading them. and for this
reason Council does not consider II policy
70 acquire any more land, unless il is to
embrace an exceptionally good offer There
wall probably not be any effort to make
further purchases, in view of the proposed
reduction of this appropriation
The appropriation for the water depart-
ment including extensions and all other
contemplated work. which was fixed al
$4,000, is said to be another mark for e
trenchment No intimatlon is made of the
amount to be taken off, but IL will be
enough to add considerably 10 The deficit