Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-02-17
NO ACTION TAKEN
 ON CITY BUDGET Aldermen to Frame Civic Expense on Next Mon-
 day Night.
PROVIDE FOR SCRIP.
Vote for $20,00O to Take Up Time Warrants for April, 1916-De.
 creased Expenditure Discussed.

In anticipation of there being pos sibly some radical moves regarding the city expenses for the year, there was very large attendance at the meeting of the City Council last night. There was comparatively little done in the way of routine business, as the greater portion of the time was given over to a discussion as to what should be done to lop off some expenses so as to bring the expenditures within the city's income.
 In order to relieve some immediate necessities, the Council passed reso- lution, calling for sum of s20,0O0 being laid aside with which to take up time warrants to fall due on April 1O, 1914 This will enable the City to issue scrip for some necessary mat ters.
 No definite action was taken in re- gard to the budget. While it was held that there should be some action taken, and taken at as early a date as practicable, the Council will not take action until next Monday night when meeting will be held.
 The major portion of the time was taken up by Alderman w. B. Sorrells and Ben B. Well, with others also voicing opinions, as to what course to pursue in reference to cutting down the city's expenses. The two alder men were widely different in their views as to what remedies should be taken, but all they advocated was merely in the way of suggestion and no official action was taken.
 Alderman Sorrells advocated that there be revision of privilege li- censes. He said that some were too high and some were too low. He de- clared if there should be a revision, it would, he thought, meet with ap proval and that there should be considerable gain in revenue for the city.
 He declared that his advocacy for reductions was not for political req sons, but on the other hand, that the public ought to know of conditions, and also of the struggles that had been gone through to make ends meet. He cited the fact that the City now derives a sum of $3S,0O0 now from the five mill tax. He gave fig ures to show that by systematic ti- nancing of City revenue, the City would be able to offset the indebted ness immediately outstanding, and that for time the City would be only a few months behind in pay ments of obligations. That after July there would be no trouble in meeting affairs.
 Would Cut Forces. On the question of cutting down forces at work for the city, Alder
 man Sorrells declared that the city
 has more policemen than necessary.
 He said that four policemen could be
 cut off and one stock man could be
 dispensed with, and that this cut In Lexpenses would save $4,2O0 annually.
 He also said that the City could dis
 pense with the street sweeping de-
 partment and that the two horses us-
 ed could be sold for $500. That ten mules of the street department could he sold for $175O, leaving three for
 city use. This, he declared, would tend to save feeding them at heavy expense.
 Alderman Sorrells also advocated the discontinuance of fire station NO. 3. proyided insurance rates would not be affected. He said that very few runs are being made from this sta ton and the stock there could be sold. He said 1t costs the city $500 to maintain men there. He also re- ferred to a cut in the salary or the city attorney, bringing it down to $500 per annum. In reference to council meeting he said that he did not think that 1t would be necessary to meet more than once . month ana that at times it would not be neces-