The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-12
SCORES CITY SALARIES.
ALDERMAN WOODFoRD FAYORS
 CITY HALL LIST CUT.

sitiOn and Are Pared to S10,O00-
 Humphrey Street Extension Bridge
 Bonds Ordered-New Lighting Con-
 tract Accepted.
 With just one alteration, and that one doubtful in the minds of many of the members, the board of aldermen last evening accepted the estimates for 1906 as submitted by the board of finance. The committee to which the estimates had been referred reported on them favorably as submitted. The board voted to cut S4,OOO off the esti- mates for election account.
 Alderman Woodford was the first member to express disapproval of the estimates. He said in substance: l would favor cutting down some of the estimates and raising others, but one would require changing the charter and would take two years, and the other would require generation, per haps it never could be done. The sal aries in the city hall are too high. Not one person in fifty who enters that building would suppose he was in a place of business. The number of raen employed and the salaries paid are out of all proportion to the work done. In business men are paid $1,S0O for what they here get $2,50O. Some think it is all right to cheat the city. I don't.
 The appropriation for education I would like to raise, but we are not able to. We should provide large grounds around our schools, for one thing. I am personally opposed to the free text book system, and so will not speak on. that in that item, but the board of education has been cut $42,O00 on it's requests.
 Another appropriation I would cut is that for the Eighth ward bell tower. I make a motion that the appropriation be changed from $1,500 to $50, the money to be used in removing that ut terly obnoxious thing which We have on Goffe street to the Eighth ward.
 There was no second to this motion.
 The reduction of the free text book item from $17,0O0 last year and $25,000 asked for, to s12,0OO then received severe fiaying. Alderman Devine want ed to know whether that meant the cutting out of the free text books at High school, but Alderman Homan, a member of the board of finance. could not of course answer that, as it is at the discretion of the board of educa- tion to apportion it's funds as granted. Alderman Langley also spoke against the free text book reduction.
 Alderman Curtiss thought that the item for election account, for which s14,OOO was asked, was entirely too much. Alderman Langley moved to re- duce 1t to 900 and Alderman Curtiss seconded this. He said that in his own ward, the Second, he found forty-six days at S5 day allowed for collating the voting list He said that he could not see how 1t could take so long.
 Alderman Healy said he understood the matter came close to being a con- stitutional question, iriasmuch as the registrars had power from the state to incur certain expenses which the city must pay.
 This aroused considerable discussion pro and con. Alderman Homan then explained that although the board of aldermen might cut down the estimate the city would be liable for the $14,000 If the registrars incurred that expense, and then there would be a deficit. He suggested that the board could effect more good by adopting resolutions dis approving of the waste of so much money, and asking the corporation counsel what steps 1t could take to remedy the evil next year. Alderman Curtiss suggested that estimates could be cut this year, and then the board could find out afterwards if 1t had the power to do so.
 The question on the amendment to reduce the appropriation was carried, 10 to 3, Aldermen Healy, Burke and Collins voting nay. A two-thirds vote was required and received.
 Alderman Johnson then introduced 8 resolution that the corporation counsel be asked to ascertain if the board can reduce this estimate, and if so how It can be reduced and where. This like wise was carried.
 The estimates with this single change were then adopted.
 Unanimous consent was next asked for a resolution for the issue of bridge < bonds to cover the cost of the bridge necessary for the extension of Hum" phrey street
 Chairman Curtiss, for the committee of railroads and bridges, stated that there were $35,00O worth of bonds in the treasury and that it was the unani- nous opinion of his committee that the Humphrey street extension should go through even though it might cost the city $60,000. Unanimous consent was granted on motion of Alderman Devine, who has been the leader in the movement, and who has maneuver- ed 1t to so successful close. The or der was then put to vote, and passed. This practically assures the execution of the work, and Humphrey street can now be extended.
 The new electric lighting contract which is to go into effect January i, and which has been explained in de- tail in previous issues, was then taken up and passed. Alderman Langley arose and congratulated the committee on it's able work in arranging the new favorable contract. Considering the