The Nome nugget., 1901-08-06
The Council Faces a Hard
 Problem.
HOW TO RETRENCH
The City Has Already Spent $2O.OOO and Owes $2O,OOO More and Not Over S2S, ,OOO or S3O,OOO That Can Be Collected is in Sight.

How to reduce the expenditures of the city and still maintain an efficient service was one of the matters dis cussed at the meeting of the city coun- cil last night. The matter was intro- duced by Stevens, chairman of the finance committee, who submitted an array of figures showing the need of immediate retrenchment. He said the city had already spent $20, GOO, and $20, GOO more was to pay. There was no money coming in. The assessment of city property might yield S25,00O or e3O, 1000; from the school fund $l0,000 might be got, but that would have to be used for schools. Colin Beaton was outside, and he might buy $l5, ,00O worth of chalk for anything the coun- cil knew, and when BeatOn's name was mentioned Councilman McPhee laughed, for 1t is stated openly around town that Beaton will not return, and the council donated him S200 for his expenses. Stevens. continuing, said he and Councilman Harris had had a conference over city financial matters in Treasurer Soner's office, and it was time to call a halt. Mayor Giese. he said, had been instructed to purchase additional fire apparatus, and he might bring in q chemical engine. Then there was the Dam engine to pay for. Warrants outstanding issued by the city clerk amounted to over $1,000 and there was $l00 in the treasury to pay them, and bills which had just been read would amount to 1000 more. 1he way to meet the present exigency was to cut down expenses in the way of off cialS and salaries, and in the future to be careful to contract no bills that there was no money to pay for. Stevens then submitted d schedule of reduc- tiOns that might be made, as follows: Health officers salary to be reduced from $250 per month to Sl00: hospital superintendent. from $l50 to $l00: chief of police, from S300 to $250; fire chief, from S25O to $200; city clerk. from $25O to S15O, and city attorney from $250 to $l0O: the police department expenses had already been reduced $4oO by the chief cutting off three men, and the street department to be abolished. These reductions would amount to $l, 750 per month. After some discus sion. on motion of Hoxsie, the matter was laid over for week, and the diff ferent committees were requested to report the lines in their department . along which reductions could be made.
 AS starter on the retrenchment road the city team was ordered sold, and discussion followed over the pro- posed removal of the Flickinger and Jose & Bristol buildings, in order to widen Front street, the council as a whole being opposed to paying the award made by the arbitrators for the Flickinger ground. Nothing was de- termined upon, however. The claim of G. F. Perrigo for the tearing down of his building to prevent the spread of fire was not allowed. The people of D street were given permis sion to plank that thorOughfare to Dry creek. Mir. Taylor, of the Pacific Steam Whaling lectiOns for the planking of Front street east from the N. A. T. x T. Co.,. and the city attorney was instructed to begin suit against those property hold CTS whose street improvement taxes were delinquent.
 Following is the report of City Treas urer Solner:
 RECEIPTS.
 Cash on hand July 2. ...$13, ,S64. 16 Cash inlspecial street fund.-. l,0S7.T6 Licenses. ............................ 50.
 DISBURSEMENTS.
 General fund warrants...... $363 % School fund warrants .......... 37.50 Special street fund warrants. l,2lS. If
 FUNDS IN TREASURY.
 Cash on hand, general fund. ..S 1S9.5S Cash on hand, special st. fund.-. 1,2l8.l4
 The city hospital report for the month of July follows: Patients ad- mitted, F; discharged, 10: remaining, 8; deaths, 3; dispensary cases treated, "A: number of visits, 72.
 A number of bills were ordered paid by warrant but those for fitting up the engine house. amounting to $l. .69o. 2o together with the report of the fire chief, were laid over.
 Acting Mayor Harris stated that the Nome News had misquoted him in d recent interview: he had not stated, as alleged, that the city paid Dr. Tiede- mann'S laundry hills