The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-12
A Word for ECONOMY.

The city pay roll for August this year
month OF last year. This is at the rate
OF $4,000 year additional for municipal
running expenses. 1t takes no account
OF the large expenditures that will be
necessary for public improvements; for
streets and water supply and bridges
and street lighting and sanitary work.
It IL an increase in city salaries; and
as such It invites the serious scrutiny
of the city council.
Such additions as were made neces-
sary by the amendments to the city
charter last spring are not open to
criticism. These additions were. in the
judgment Of the people. proper to be
made. and their total cuts no great fig
ure in the expansion Of the salary list.
But its increase Is general and great.
The taxpayers OF Seattle are not in
favor of any such growth as this in the
cost OF their local government. 1t Is
the duty OF the council TO its constitu-
ents. to the municipality and to the
party that Is represented by Its ma
jority to lay a restraining hand upon
these expenses and to cut them down
and keep them down.
We have no desire, nor Ia II our place,
to say just where the knife should be
s~A No L. -
that strikes the eye at a glance and
arrests the pencil OF the calculator. One
NTH OF the whole increase. or t1.275 is
for the police department. This Is for
one month alone, and II represents an
added cost for policing the city Of $4,000
per annum in round numbers Are we
getting the worth Of our money? Is
the situation such as to call for or war
rant this tremendous addition to the
sum to be raised by taxation? Is the
police protection OF Seattle. as shown by
the record OF crime, detection and pun
ishment for the month of August. s1.275
better than II was In 1897
A considerable portion OF the extra
cost of this department was added on
a declared emergency" That emer-
gency consisted in the collection here
last spring of vast number OF people
from all parts OF the country. including
a multitude OF crooks. burglars. high
waymen and soldiers Of fortune on their
way to Alaska. The conditions have
changed vastly. The gang has dispersed
and moved on. We have criminals
enough TO deal with yet. but the special
occasion IL past. the emergency no
longer exists. The efficiency record has
not been such as 10 show that all the
money was wisely spent. But in any
event the time has come TO place the
police department on what may be
called a peace footing. Any such show
Ing as an increase In It's appropriation
OF $4,000 year win not be approved
by the people. at least until they se,
corresponding results.
Municipal retrenchment Is at all times
n difficult and ungrateful task. II is
most 80 In rapidly growing city. But
none the less Is II necessary. The pub
Tic expects II. II Is one OF the first
duties OF the council. who hold the
purse strings. 20 see that the tendency
70 greatly increased expenditure Is
checked. They owe II 10 the taxpayers.
they owe II to the city whose prosper
lily can In no way be interfered with
more seriously than by increasing the
burdens OF taxation. they owe II TO the
Republican party. They must take &
stand for economy. and they should
take IL now.