The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-05-03
c1rY RETRENCHMENT.

l.
when the closing OF gambling with
the loss Of revenues was brought TO
the attention of the common council
thav were suddenly seized with
spasm of retrenchment. but 1t was
only a spasm. At the first meeting Oh
the council thereafter, ordinances and
resolutions were introduced cutting OFF
the assistant superintendentets oil
streets. reducing the members OF the
fire department. .iischarging the plumb
ing inspector and reducing the salary
Of the health officer. The next meet
ing they reinstated the superintendent
of construction on Franklin avenue
and a hill for Ss4 was paid at the meet
ing Monday night. At the last meet
ing. n resolution was introduced re-
instating the five members of the paid
fire department at salary OF S4S
per month. BY the next meeting the
plumbing inspector will be restored AT
an increased salary and the salary oi
ne health officer put back to its orig
inal figure.
Councilmna Lebak calledNthe atten-
tion of the council TO the doubtful
propriety of the actions of the coun-
ell. and that they were fast approach
ing the shoals of the limit of indebt-
eaness, but no attention was paid to
II. If an officials salary is reduced,
or unnecessary men are discharged,
the men ousted seem to have more in
fiuence with the council than the tax
payers. who must foot the bills. The
fact is paraded that the city indeot-
edness has been reduced $2S,O0O dur
ing the month of April by the calling
in of outstanding warrants, but these
were paid mostly from the city tai
levy. At the meeting Monday night
warrants were ordered drawn for oyel
$4,000 in payment of salaries ans
money due ON contrasts and claims
There is one item that comes IN regu'
lar every month and that Is about $2'
for shoeing horses. II seems that $500
a year for shoeing three teams o
horses is pressing the limit, but 1t i
possible that 1t may be necessary.
There are many ways in which tn
expenses Of the city can be reduced
but every time an effort is made il
this direc ion some political pet ha
his corns stepped on and has to be re
instated. There is no doubt but tn
fire department must be efficient an
sufficient men employed in case OF al
emergency. The police department
must be maintained, SO must other de
partments, and the salaries paid ar
no more than commemorate to the In
creased cost of living, but there mus
be retrenchment in some directioi
There must be either retrenchment
some new means adopted to increas
the revenues. II the revenues can
increased, then there should be no RI
duction in the force Of any branch
the city government.
About a month ago the counc
passed an ordinance providing TIL
all venders Of liquors, not saloon
should pay an annual license OF SlO
There has not been a cent OF tn
money collected nor any effort made
collect It. The council has been con
pelled to issue $4,000 in street bon
to run for five years. This means tn
the city will have to pay $4,000 In i
terest The insurance of the bon
was no doubt necessary, but that do
not reduce the expenses Of the eli
ana that is what must be done or
revenues Increased. There is no pre-
pect of gambling being opened up,
the loss Of revenues from this sour
must come from some other source.
has resolved itself down 70 busin'
proposition. One reason for ad
tional expense is the rapidity in VIII
the city is growing, and the comm
council cannot afford to put any
stacle in the way of the city's
vancement.