Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-05-03
Commissioners Want Council to
Stand by Them.

Council were present Wednesday even
ing at the conference between Council
and the Board of City Commissioners
All members Of the Board were pres
ent.
President Fiebeger, upon motion OF
Mr.. Rice, was made chairman of the
meeting. The chairman asked that
all speakers confine their remarks to
the subject for discussion existing
conditions and plans whereby relief
may be obtained from excessive expen-
ditures of money. Many and varied
were the suggestions offered.
Councilman Koons Of the Third
ward, made remarks, at the beginning
fthe meeting, that served as basis
for suggestions throughout the con
ference. "In order to Introduce the
subject OF the evening"" said Mr.
Rooms, II will inquire whether the
money collected every six months and
put to the credit Of the funds, is used
as basis for expenditures during the
following six monthsl Is there an eff
fort made to keep within the limit OF
revenue collected?"
Commissioner Paige Of the Finance
Committee of the Board, replied that
every effort was made to keep within
the limit of tax collections for the sew
eral departments, but that In some OF
the departments expenditures could
not be regulated in accordance witt
any fixed rule, especially in the fire
department.
Continuing, Mr.. Rooms said: "Ir
conducting all business enterprises
the object of the management Is tC
avoid running in excess of Its receipts
] believe that the same rule should
obtain in the conducting of municipal
affairs. No improvements should be
made, nor expenses incurred, unless
there is money in sight to pay fol
them. We should now decrease ex
penses instead of increase them, un
der present conditions"
Mr.. Fiebeger--"lt is the intention tc
keep within the tax limit. OF course
the rules have not been observed, oil
the city fipances would not now be ir
the condition that they are. We musI
devise means to keep within the lin
It,"
Commissioner Paige-'I am inclined
to belieye that 1t would be a gooi
plan TO put the tire department bach
to the old system, doing away with
captains, and lioutenants. BY doins
this at least $500 o year would ht
saved. But the apparatus must bt
kept up, and by reason of this, 1t Is diff
licult to regulate expenses within 9
limit We are now confronted by 0
new condition, Our city has outgrowr
the duplicate. Our tax income is no
sufficient TO satify the needs which ar,
apparent to ALL"
Commissioner McMillen--"W ar,
not expendlng more money than othel
cities of Akron's size"
Mr.. Koons--"That's not what wc'r,
here to discuss. We are here to fint
out how We can reduce expenses"
Departments of this city were takel
up and discussed in order. First cam,
the street department.
II believe" said Commissioner Nc
Millen, that we should employ In tn,
street department only such numbe
Of men as We have money to pay, AM
make only such improvements as ar
warratned by the funds on hand 70
pNS hASht hN PNopiN bphAahp u OS
crease in expenses, and presume the,
are willing TO do without improve
ments 10 make possible this decrease.
Mr.. Markle--"Is 1t true that the es
penses for the street department du,
ing the past yoar exceeded by $1,000
those for the preceding year,"
Mr.. Crisp-"Yes sir; but in som
cases the expenditures were for pr
vate improvements, and for these, til
city has received returns. For II
stance, this city has repaired street
torn up by the gas companies. and /
turn has been pnid by the companies fc
doing the work, In this manner thei
are at least $4,000 charged against Ii
street department and that amour
has, in turn, been credited to receipts