Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-10-19
5000 WASlADDED TO
COMMITTEES BUDGET
Council Cannot See Way to
Reduce Appropriations
and Do City'sNWork

tccN
ficiency street fund levy OF ! l-2 mills,
and 81, 200 added to the $1,000 for new
sewers, a totaf-sum of $4,000 was added
to the budget of tine city of Salem at
| the special meeting of the council last
night. The first $4,000 is primarily
for the purpose of repairing and build.
ing new bridges in the city and the 9TH
er thousand is for the purpose of clear
ing out South Mill creek so as to af-
| ford the residents of southeast Salem
some relief from the water that an.
nually overflows because of no ade-
quate outlet.
However, although there is the in.
crease of $4,000, this increase will not
put the budget beyond the IA mill limit.
This is on account of the fact that the
city receives two ped cent interest on
the daily balance of money deposited in
the banks, which amounts to the sum
of $4, 1880, and leaves the budget
about $l,l33.30 within the Ii mill
limit.
Only two changes were made in the
/ items as presented by the council com
mittee on accounts and current expenses,
mate the salary of the police matron at
the Oregon Electric depot, who has new
er yet been officially appointed, and
an effort to have the amount of the
Salem public library increased from
$4,000 to $500, the appropriation of
last year when it was cut down from
$4,000 A fight of considerable interest
developed over the salary of the deputy
health officer, and a move was made
to eliminate him because he was thought
to be useless, He remained, however,
and if there had been money enough it
is probable the whole health depart
ment would have been nlareged.
In Committee of Whole.
In the discussion of the budget, the
council went into committee of the
whole and chose Councilman N. D. El-
lott chairman. AT the opening of the
meeting Mayor White was absent and
Councilman Mills was chosen acting
mayor.
AS chairman of the committee on ac-
counts and current expenses, Council
man Mills said that the idea of the com
mttee was not to single out any one
department for the cutting process but
that they sought to reduce only as much
~ necessary to bring the budget with
in the II mill limit and run the city
properly. He moved that the budget
be passed upon item by item. The mo-
tion carried.
Clerk hire for the recorder was the
first item that drew fire and Council
man Huddleston asked if it could not
lie reduced rs some of the candidates
for city recorder have promised to get
along with only one clerk or less. 1t
was the opinion of Councilman Mills
that the amount ought to stand for if it
was not used it would revert to the
general fund and not be lost. The item
passed.
Regarding the increase of 81 ,49S for
the salaries and maintenance OF the fire
department, Councilman Cook wanted to
know whether it was for new equip
ment and Councilman Mills replied that
it was partly for new equipment and
partly for the up-keep of new equip
ment should such be purchased, and also
to keep the department full.handed. He
| stated that with the increase the item
was $1,000 less than asked for by the
department.
Want Auto Truck.
Councilman Unruh wanted to know
what the new equipment was to be
purchased and Councilman Wilson said
the department was planning on buying
an auto truck so that hose could be taxi
en- to the small fires about the city
without taking the big engine. He said
this would practically do away with the
horses and that the keep of the horses
would soon pay for the new machine.
With the auto truck they could hitch
quickly to the engine and go faster
where needed.
Councilman Cook was of the opinion
that if the new equipment would do
away with the horses it would be q good
thing as the saving on the team would
save the cost in the increase in the
budget. Councilman Roberts replied by
citing the purchase of jacks to lift the
engine off its tires when not in use so
as to save tires. He said also it would
not then be necessary to send the big
machine to small fires and leave the
downtown district unprotected. The
item passed.
When it came to the salary of the
deputy health officer Councilman Hud.
dleston moved that the salary be cut
from 5000 to $400 as he did not believe
it proper the deputy should have big
ger stipend than the chief health Of
! ficer, who receives $500 a year. Coun.