The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-23
HIS TALK ON FINANCE
ALDERMAN DIxON's COMPARISONS
AROUSED MUCH INTEREST.
GAVE PEOPLE AN INSIGHT.
AS 10 HOW THE CITY HAS PRO-
DRESSED IN TEN YEARS.

Alderman Dixon Further Discusses
Some of the Items of the Compar-
alive Statement-Board of Health
May OF May Not Require as Much
as 100000 "A Year-Its Expenses
Sometimes ExtraOrdinary-MOne
Appropriated for the Sinking
Fund Is Used to Cancel Bonds.
Debt Being Gradually Reduced.
Increase in Salaries Means to
the End That Has Come.
Such talks from a member of Coun-
Gil as that of Alderman Dixon, which
appeared in the Morning News yester-
day. are appreciated by the people, for
they gain an insight into affairs
of the city administration from them
and learn howathe public funds are
being expended. The improvements
that have been made and the general
progress of the city are pointed out,
and interviews of that character tend
to satisfy the people with the material
advancement that has come to Savan-
nah. This was the general expression
from those who read the interview.
The comparison made by Alderman
Dixon of expenses in 1890 and in 1900,
when supported by the many improve
naents- he cited, showed well for the
city. The reductions in expenses noted
in some departments and the slight in
crease in others were viewed with
favor.
Alderman Dixon was asked yester-
day why the expenditures of the Board
of Health are as much or more than
$780, 900. He answered that the salaries
of the health officer, which is $500 a
year, and of the various inspectors and
employees are paid from the $4,000 APP
preparation, as we'll as the expense of
maintenance of the quarantine estab-
lished for those suffering from con-
tagious disease. From time to time
there are likely to be extraordinary ex-
penses connected with the Board of
Health, but it is also possible that a
year might pass without the expenses
reaching anything like $4,000.
An appropriation of $46,500 for next
year was made for the sinking fund.
Alderman Dixon was asked if the
money appropriated year by year to
this purpose is so expended. He re-
piled in the affirmative, saying that the
Sinking Fund Commission uses he
money for the redemption of bonds.
The appropriation is made under
law which requires the cancellation OF
so many bonds of each issue during
year. the premiums to be paid being
established when the appropriation is
figured out. The appropriation for the
sinking fund for 1902 is less
than it was for 1901 by $500,
for the reason that, as the
bonds approach maturity, the are
be cancelled at less cost to the city.
The interest on the bonded debt, by
the cancellation of bonds year by year,
is being reduced. too, as may be shown
by the following statement: Interest
for 1890, $17S,S6696; interest for 1900.
$l61, 144.1T; interest for 1901, $4,000,
and interest for 1902, $15S000.
Quite a decided increase in the sal
airy list is shown by the comparison
made by Alderman Dixon. In 1890 the
salaries, not including the pay of the
many employees not on the salary list.
amounted to $21, 92663. while in 1900
they amounted to $36,S13.44. The in
| crease in population, however, has
been but 25 per cent When asked
about this, Alderman Dixon said that
the reason that the increase in sala-
ries had progressed more rapidly than
the increase in population was the
creation of new offices, such as that
of director of public works and those
of the tax assessors. There has been
| some deserved increases in the salaries
Of some officials and employees, too, he
said, besides the addition of certain
clerks or minor officials to the list.
The increase in salary expense, AL
derman Dixon considers, has proven
but a means to an end-the advance
ment of the city materially and rom
the point of view of improved hearth
conditions to where it stands at pres
ent. The advance in salaries, he consld-
ers, is altogether overshadowed by
what has been accomplished. The corn
parison of expenditures for 1890 and
for 1900, he considers. shows that moth
ing has been lost through the policy
that has employed enough capable rlen
hrincr a he