The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-15
KILBY WILL PUNCTURE
 REDUCTION RESOLUTION
Mayor of Anniston Objects Discriminatory Cutting of City Salaries But Would Favor Horizontal Cut-Several Officials Agree to Ten Per Cent Reduction
 Others Stand Pat-Council Reduces
 Tax on Local Corporations

Anniston, February 14.-(Special.) )-"I think I shall put few holes in it." This was the statement of Mayor Thomas E. Kilby this morning when asked to give his opinion of the resolu- ton passed by the City Council last night contemplating a reduction of the salaries of city officials from to 40 per cent after March 1.
 Mayor Kilby stated that he would favor a reduction on a horizontal scale, one that was reasonable and uniform, but that he would certainly veto such a dis criminatory measure as the one passed last night. According to both the state ! constitution and the city charter, though, it is said that the contracts between the city and the officials are binding. The constitution of 1891, section 2S1, provides that there shall be no reduction in the salaries or fees of any state, county or municipal officer during his incumbency, and this provision is also made in the city charter, which provides in addition that no officer can be removed except for cause" Hence, the only way that the council can legally reduce the city ex- penses in this way, it is said, is to abolish or consolidate some of the offices, there being some places which are exempt from this also
 A few days ago a communication was sent to all of the city officers asking them if they would consent to a reduction of 10 per cent in their saalries, and 1t was learned from conversation with the various officers this morning that most of Id. tion. Mayor Kilby favored 1t and gave
 it his support, but it was not acted on by the council last night
 The measure introduced and passed by the council last night was in the form Of resolution. It asks the mayor, the recorder, the city clerk and assessor, the city attorney and the tax collector to consent to reduction in their salaries, and proposes to reduce the salaries of the other officers, it is said, whether they will or not Hence it was opposed by Mayor Kilby, Aldermen Cooper and Robertson who agreed that it was un- constitutional. Furthermore, as the sal aries are fixed by ordinance it is said that further flaw will be found in this measure on the ground that an ordinance cannot be repealed by resolution.
 Agree To Reductions. Both Recorder Greene and City Attor- ney Agee stated to-day that they had agreed to the 10 per cent reduction, but further than that they were non-commit- tai. City Physician Moon says that he will accept the reduction in his salary, as did Chief Sweets. City Clerk Ledbetter says that he has not fully decided what ha txyill do nd hat a be quoted directly. It is likely that he will oppose the reduction though. D. B. Garter, city tax collector, stated very em- phatically that he would not agree to reduction in his salary. He says that he will make no objection to any extra amount of work that the city may see fit to impose upon him, but that he went to work for the city on a contract which stipulated his remuneration and that he expects the city to live up to that con- tract City Treasurer Young stated that he would agree to the reduction proposed, and 1t is considered that most or the other officers, including patrolmen, Will accept this being the information gained at the police station this morning in an indirect way.
 Besides the proposed reductions 1t is the intention of the council to combine the building, plumbing and meter inspec- tors duties with that of street tax col lector and also require the sanitary tn- spector to be stableman. The office Of assistant warden is abolished by the resolution.
 License Reductions.
 Reductions in the salaries of city offi- cials, reductions in some license taxes and the taking of legal steps to collect others, the amendment and passage of new city prohibition law and the pass age of an ordinance to restrict the service of the Southern Bell Telephone company were the features of the City Council meeting last night
 The license reductions included the An niston Water Supply company, from 5000 to $60O; the Southern Bell Telephone com pany from $100 to $50; the Southern Elk press company to $60; guarantee com panies, s25. The proposed newsboy license was tabled, but bootblacks having two chairs were assessed at $2.50 for each additional chair after the first. There has been considerable complaint