The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1908-01-01
THE ECONOMY
WAVE STRIKES
NEWP0RTERs

The city fathers Of Newport are ap-
parently worried about the money mar
ket. the salaries OF the Newport city of
fcers now being i'm the process Of a care
full considera tion and examination from
every point of view. with a view to
an extensive pruning OF any un-
due excrescence which may be detected.
rhey even intend to abolish some Of
fees entirely In the effort 10 keep down
expenses
The committee on salaries of the rep
resentative council OF Newport recently
made some recommendations to that
august body. in which they showed that
they were possessed OF the economizing
idea.
The city clerks office and the police
department receive the hardest blows by
the recommendations of tho city commit
tee At the present time tho city clerk
has a sinecure of $500 year, while his
deputy receives mere $500 a year. In
this Office there are also two women
clerks. The unfeeling committee dares
TO recommend that the city clerks sti-
pend be cut to $500. and that of the
deputy to s14oO, one Of the other clerks
also is to be dispensed with and the sal
ary of the other limited to 5000
The license commission of the police
department Is recommended for 5000 per
annum for each of the three members
and an additional $50 to the one who
acts as clerk.
The police commission. which the pres
cnt license commission supcrsedes. re-
ceived salaries OF $1,000 a year, with a
paid clerk extra. II this cut alone goes
through the city will be saved $4,000 I'm
this department alone
The chief OF police is slated TO have
n 5000 slice taken Off from his $l700
Several minor changes are also recon-
mended in the makeup OF the depart
ment.
BY abolishing the office OF city engi-
neer these saving sleuths have dlscov-
cred that $1,000 may be crossed off the
city's pay rolls. The keeper of the city
clocks, the assistant to the probate clerk
and two clerks In the offices of the high
way department have all weather eye
out for another job. as they, too. are
billed to go.
That the city OF newport III laying out
$500 in having the bells rung three times
"A day is committing a grievous mistake
and is maintaining a wasteful extrava-
gance, is claimed by the committee in
recommending the dismissal Of four bell
ringers.
The collector OF taxes Is to be made
to do the work OF two men. his other
duty being that Of permanent clerk OF
the board of tax assessors. This saving
amounts TO $1,000 a year,
The offices Of harbor master and health
inspector are combined at a salary OF
$500. 500 i'm this case remaining in the
city's treasury.
The Inspector of nuisances will here
after be obliged TO inspect milk, the sal
ary being 5000, saving of 5000 being
erected in the case Of this combination.
The messenger to the council and the
inspector OF kerosene will each work for
less money next year II the recommended
ton Of the committee goes through.
The man who extinguishes the street
lights Is the only one of all the long list
eof unfortunates who gets an increase.
He Is TO receive the munifcent stipend OF
$3.50 per day Such are the devious
WAYS of the city committee on salaries OF
the representative council of the city OF
Newport
The report OF this honorable commit
tee. which is to go before the representa-
tive council next Monday. is creating
considerable comment and commotion
among the honorable councilmen.