New Iberia enterprise and independent observer., 1915-07-03

moved that two officers be employed on
the day force at sixty-five dollars per
month and two officers on the night
force at salary of sixty-fve dollars
per month The amendment being sec
onded by Mr.. Fontelieu, was carried"
few months later, the night police
force was reduced to two and subsequent
ly the day force to one. After Mr..
Romero's discharge as Chief of Police,
MI Fontelleu appointed Mr.. Phil Brough
ton In his stead at salary of seventy
five dollars per month, Subsequently
Mr Broughton's salary was increased to
ninety dollars per month, my vote being
cast against this increase The custom
OF furnishing the Chief of Police with
horse and buggy was discontinued at my
instance, and this has saved the CITY an
expense of nearly two hundred dollars
per annum. The office of City Jailer at
a salary of $500 per month was abolish
ed by me last March.
With reference to the number and
salaries of employees for .he Light
Power and Water Plant, l stood for
smaller salaries being paid, and one en-
ployee less than was suggest by Trus-
tee Villermin. (See minutes of July 21,
l9l5p On January l, 1915, Mr. vilIer- /
min reduced the force of employees a.
the Power Plant by one. The salary of
the City Clerk already shown was
fixed at seventy five dollars, which was
paid Mr. Compton until he resigned. /
When another Clerk was employed to re- /,
place him, l fixed his salary at sixty dol !
mar L
being paid the present City Clerk.
During the latter part of August, last
anticipating shrinkage in revenues for
the year 1914. on account of probable
decrease in the assessments than being
prepared for that year, and noticing a |
tendency to increase expenditures in
some of the City's Department l sent
communication to the Board of Trus-
tees suggesting the necessity for cur
tailment in City expenses. Did this
show any want of appreciation on my
part for the necessity of retrenchment?
In this matter. as in other matters, my
record with reference to retrenchment
and conservatism in the management of
your affairs will be borne out by the
minutes Of the proceedings Of the Citv
Board OF Trustees, careful perusal of
which | suggest if you desire to have
better understanding of CITY affairs
l have in all matters and transactions
stood for the City getting full value re-
ceived for every dollar expended In
the mater of mailing rr-~ho-ee for .he
City, 1 have carried out the Charter pro.
visions in getting competitive bids on
all goods and materials BOUGHT for the
City. Only in small purchases, and
where the current prices were we'll
known to me. did I waive this rule. In
rnat'ro rrrcnases I havA endeavored
to place the orders. whenever possible
With local firms and have followed the
policy of dividing the Cty's business
among local firms whenever this could
De done consistently with the City's in
crest.
TAX EXEMPTION.
l have consistently urged the ADOPTION
" a system of taxation by which every
'ne owning property subject to taxation
icing required to pay his just share Of
axation only, and that no property not
egally exempted should be exempted
rom payment of taxes. For this reason
Ind for the further reason that any ex-
ension of tax exemption is calculated
o place additional burdens of taxation on {
he manv for the benefit of the few, I
I'M therefore opposed to granting exemp-
ion to the Hotel Frederic. the Fraternal
orders and certain church property. y
I appreciate the position which I oc-
upy is one rather difficult to fill to the r
abstraction of everyone. I have much :
o do with the collection of monev and :
$ you know. collector is generally
elbow much disliked Nevertheless. j.
ave much satisfaction in the knowledge
hat in the performance of the duties Of =,
ny office all have been treated in like
hammer.
J. P c-p--p----
Trustee of Finance.