Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-11-17
COMPLETES
THE CITY BUDGET
Every Department and a Total
Reduction Is Made Of
$l6,9O2.2O

the expenses Of the city Of Salem for
the ensuing year was made up last
night in the city council meeting
Every single item with the exception
Of the bonded indebtedness and fixed
expenses was cut 10. the bone where
possible. One or two were raised above
the amount asked by the chairman of
the committees handling those depart.
ments, A cut of $4,000 was made in
the police budget. Councilman Won
Eschen asked for $4,000 to run that de.
partment but the council reduced il to
$4,000 which will provide for four
policemen and allow 5000 Of this sum
for extras In the summer time.
The fire and water committee asked
for $l3,7S0 for salaries Of firemen aud
maintainance for the department but
this sum was cut to $l2,S35 which will
provide for reduction in the salaries
Of the paid firemen and a certain num-
Der of call men, Last year the fire de.
partment received $l4,560 in the
budget,
The City Hydrants.
An item of $4,000 for water supply
for fire hydrants aroused considerable
discussion as this would only provide
for l60 hydrants at $3.50 per month,
which price was fixed as just AMI rca.
sonable by the order Of the railroad
commission The city holds a contract
with the water company which cen
tract was one Of the stipuations when
the franchise was granted to the water
company, stating that. $l.62 per
hydrant shall be the maximum charge.
The city attorney was constrained to
hold that the powers Of tho railroad
commission did not extend TO the
franchise provisions Of the water com.
pany and that the commission could not
order the revocation Of a contract be-
tween the city and the water company
In this event the city would be justified
in holding the water company to the
original contract price regardless Of the
order of the commission affecting the
water users Of this city.
VIII Furnish Work.
The item of $4,000 was finally passed
in lump sum without stating the mum.
Der Of hydrauts or the price for each
The sum Of $4,000 was allowed for
engineering and surveying as against
"a, 800 for last year and a number Of
smaller appropriations were reduced as
well as few eliminated from last
years budget. The sum Of $1,000 was
sought for maintenance Of public build.
ings and as 5000 Of this sum alone was
to be used for insurance IL was voted
to place 1900 in this fund so that the
roof Of the city hall might be painted
ynnutynl frl,a ap tEnnn
set aside TO provide for new sewers and
Councilman Southwiek spoke in favor
Of increasing this sum to just as much
as the city could stand because he said
that the present indications were that
the city would have to provide charity
for some Of the people OF this city before
spring anyway and IL the city had
work to do It could give some Of the
deserving idle men work to do. Ac.
cordingly Il was voted TO increase this
sum to $1,000 with the provision that all
new sewers installed should be done by
the city and not by contract and that
II should be done by day labor
Reduction Is S18,902,20.
This item completed the budget for
next year and made grand total of
$173,0lGs0. Exclusive Of the sewer
fund the budget Of the general fund for
this year was a decrease Of $l6902. 90
over last years budget Of Sll7, 7,239,00
for the general fund and the street fund
also shows q decrease OF $1,000 over last
years budget. The policy Of the eoun.
eli was to retrench on all city expenses
and even after the committees nad cut
their individual budgets 10 the quicl,
the council Topped Off total Of S50s7
more but added $2G50 to some Of the
items which were considered TO be
necessary.
The budget in full for 1915 followsi
General Fund.