The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
CITIZENS COMMEND
COMMISSIONS ACT
Retrenchment Policy Meet
ing With Hearty Approval
EMPLOYEES COOPERATE
Take Cuts in Salary Philosophically.
More Reductions Coming-Lane
Explains About the Police
Department

Action of the city commission in the
new retrenchment policy as announced in
yesterday mornings Age-Herald met with
much praise and commendation from citi-
zens in all businesses and professions yes
terday.
The retrenchment was met with a spirit
of cooperation and willingness even by
the city employees whose salaries were ef-
fected The commissioners were very
much pleased yesterday over the way the
heads of the different departments and
their employees philosophically accepted
the situation and assured them that the
decrease in salaries would not necessarily
mean decrease in interest in the city $
work or department efficiency
More Cuts Coming
The retrenchment, which was first an
nounced in The Age-Herald several days
ago, is not over yet, according to state
nents of the commissioners yesterday,
although they confess they do not exactly
know Just where they can make any
further decreases. AS it is. every depart
ment head has been effected by a de-
crease in salary, and all of the depart
ments except the fire department have
felt the retrenchment In the ranks.
Il think the commissioners have made
another step In the right direction said
former Mayor w. M. Drennen yesterday,
| "and especially so If they are later to
ask the citizens for an increase in tax
rates. They have demonstrated to the
public of Birmingham that they are in
earnest in their efforts to meet and rem
edy the city's financial condition.
while | am not familiar with the sal
aries paid at the city hall. [ know the
commissioners have given much thought
to the matter and l think they are capable
of handling the situation. In their zeal
to do their duty by the city government
they have even felt it necessary to reduce
their own salaries, and | think that is ve@Y
commendable. There is no doubt but
what their action has met with the al
most unanimous commendation of the
taxpayers of Birmingham. L am satisfied
they have acted conservatively and that
no i'll effects will follow. | don't appre-
hend any lack of efficiency in any of the
departments where the retrenchment has
been felt, for i believe that the city en-
ployes realize as well as the citizens and
the commissioners that some such step
has been made necessary by financial con-
ditions.
1.-The commissioners and others have
told us that an increase In the tax rate
is absolutely necessary. So If this In
crease is to come, | think the commits
sioners are going about it in the right
way
Commissioner Lane Explains
The large decrease In salaries in the
police department was explained yester
day by Commissioner A o. Lane when
he stated that 1t was not that very much
had been taken off any one man. but that
there were so many employees In the po-
lice department that the average was
high. The chief of police was cut $50 per
month and $3.50 came Off the salaries of
the sergeants and the detectives. Two
patrolmen were dropped, but the other
patrolmen received no decrease in wages
A large saving in the police department,
or rather one which will no longer appear
against the police department, will be the
matter of repairs for automobiles, bicycles
and other vehicles and equipment used,
repair shop has been fitted up at the
Southside city stables and with the street
department in charge, all of this city re-
pair work will be done there This the
commissioners believe will add still
further to the savings.