Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-12-23
COUNCIL PARES
AGAIN AT CITY
100000 BUDGET
Original Figures of $655,OOO
Are Whacked to Extent
of $4,000
SPECIAL SESSION
Police and Park Departments
Occupy Commissioners
Attention

Contrary to expectations City Coun-
Gil this afternoon had to hold an
other special session to whip the
1916 budget into shape.
The commissioners fully expected
that yesterdays meeting for the pur-
pose would be the last but after sew
eral hours of weary pairing, the coun-
ctlmen discovered that at best they
were unable to lop more than S45, 900
from just estimates that totaled more
than $655,000.
Originally the estimates called for
an expenditure of s655, 5,462.04; the
cuts yesterday reduced the sum to
$61c, c,OS2.34. This is still too big If
the rate is to be kept even within nine
and half mills Hence the extra
session this afternoon.
On Park and Police Departments
Most of the figuring this afternoon
1T is understood, was done on the
police, fire and park department esti-
mates. What the allowances for these
departments will be are problemati-
cal. City Commissioner M. Harvey
Taylor, the retiring park superinten-
dent is fighting hard to obtain for his
successor as much at least as what he
was allowed for conducting the fire
and park systems during the present
year.
That the fire chiefs hope for an
ambulance is merely q dream after all
is generally conceded; so is City For
ester Harry ]. Mueller's request for
more than $4,000 to conduct his de-
partment. He may get $4,000 it is
said.
Mr.. Lynch's Portion
The bureau of streets and public
improvements will get $121,271 ac-
cording to the figures considered this
afternoon. City Commissioner Lynch
wanted s132,471.s0. The street COM
missioner asked for $4,000 for
sweeping streets, an increase of $3,-
900 over last years item. He will get
an additional thousand more, or al
most 100000 for this department.
The $4,000 which Mr.. Lynch had
asked for providing curving curbs on
some of the corners of the business
district was Topped to $1,000.
All told City Commissioner Harry
F. Bowman will ask for S70,127.84
for lighting, an increase of $4,000.
Some Other Cuts
About $500 has been cut from the
health department appropriation.
Just S44,578 had been asked for and
to date 1t appears that $4S,S7S will
be allowed. The food department will
likely get the same sum as this year,
$3,640, while $50 will be cut from the
$500. Some extensions have been
planned for the police and fire alarm
system and City Commissioner Bow
man has provided S5,215 for the pur-
pose.
That the five additional policemen
asked for will go by the board is gen.
orally conceded. incidentally Com
missioners Lynch and Bowman are
thinking very, very seriously about
the $500 that has been asked for
as salary for the chief of detectives.
To date however, the appropriation
has not been cut from the ordi-
nance.
Provision will be made too, for
sinking funds, interest, State taxes,
etc, for the floating of the 100000
fire loan. This will total something
like $2,500 or $4,000, 1t is figured.
The Walnut street bridge loan prob
lem and the necessary provision for
sinking funds, ETC., hadn't been
taken up at late hour this after
noon.