The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-29
City Salaries Slashed
in an Effort to
Make the Annual
Expenses Meet Income

CONTINUED from Page Fiye)
able for running expenses for the year
amounting to $407,93949, after allowing
for borrowed money to be paid back.
The budget for the year. after all the
reductions previously made and those
announced yesterday, totals $f,176,eS
Every Department Affected
In the last reductions very depart
ment has been affected One reduction
was made in the charity appropriations,
the nti-Tuberculosis association be-
ing reduced to $500 per month from
$500 per month. Employees in nine de-
partments of the city were dropped
from the roll, counting the departure
of the city engineer after January l.
The chief of policies automobile is to
be made into patrol wagon, and it is
probable Chief Sanitary Inspector Bur
sons runabout will be turned over to
the street commissioner
In addition to all these immediate
savings, the commissioners expect dur
ing the year saving of some $4,000 in
the city purchasing department which
has recently been organized and which
VIII begin to operate the new city
warehouse December l.
This warehouse has been under way for
the past four or five months. Through
the hands of this city purchasing agent
passes everything that the city buys or
that the city gives out, and great savings
both ways are expected. The new ware
house is located on the new city jail
property on the Southside where the COM
missioners have been establishing a reg
ular municipal plant. On the same lot
are located the city Jail, the city stables,
the city warehouse, an incinerator and
other municipal buildings
Board of Education
Within the near future the commission
ers will hold conference with the board
of education in regard to the appropria- :
tions for that body. The purpose of the
conference will be to reach an understand
ing with the board so that the city's ap-
preparation in the future, for that body
may not be exceeded as it has been in
the past. 1t has been the rule to ap-
propriate 100000 annually for this board,
but they have been exceeding this appro-
priation annually, 1t was stated yester-
day, as follows: 1911, $4,000; 1912, $27, 600;
1913, $685.
The commissioners will endeayor to reach
an understanding with the board of edu-
cation that whatever the city appropria-
ton is. it will not be exceeded.
The commissioners believe that in addi-
ton to these apparent savings that as the
for the year their reduced activities will
| add further to the list of savings from
| former expenses.
| The budget, together with tables show
| ing the reductions in salaries and the re-
| ceipts of the year as compared with the
budget will be found in another column
| of this issue
Letters to Be Sent Out
| The following letters were prepared yes
| terday to be sent out by the commission.
ers, one for the salary reductions and the
| other for the dismissals:
November 2S, 1918.
"The commission regrets very much the
necessity of advising that in reducing ex
penses your services must be dispensed
with beginning December 1.
"It Is impossible to take care of the
| pay roll as it exists at present; there
| fore, departmental work has been concen
| trated and will be handled by remaining
employees.
Trusting we will have an opportunity
| of assisting or serving you in some other
| way to your advantage, and thanking
you for past services, we are, very re-
! spectfully
&c. WARD,
| "A o. LANE,
JAMES WEATHERLY.
| Commissioners.
The letter to those whose salary will be
cut Is as follows:
! November 2S 1918.
"I am directed by the commission to ad'
wise that commencing December l YOU
salary will be s. per month.
| I'm taking this action the commission
| hopes you will recognize the fact that the
/ city's critical financial condition makes II
necessary and that you will assist by
| oheerfully and patriotically accepting the
change and along with the commissioners
work for better conditions. Respectfully
&c. ABBOTT. Comptroller"