Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-03-02
Tn Brief Afternoon "Econ- omy Squad" Prunes Ap-
 propriation Bill $63,589
s1TPERINTENDENT'S
 SALARY MADE $3,60O
Numerous Items Passed by Budget Committee, After Investigation, Re. duced by House Without
 Hesitation.

Little ROCK, Mdfcn l.-Ihe house spent practically all this afternoon considering the appropriation for the support and maintenance of the State Hospital for Nervous Diseases. The original amount asked for was $959,- OOO and this was cut down by the budget committee to approximately $7O0,000. By working all afternoon on the bill the house cut it down $63,5S9 more
 The economy squad" was led by Representatives Holloway and Wag- goner of Lonoke and Hardage of Clark, with occasional assistance by MT. Gentry of Hampstead and a few others.
 One of the hardest fights was made on an item of $S,200 to pay the salary of the superintendent for two years. MT. Hardage offered an amendment to reduce the item to $7,OO0, or $3,50o a year, arguing that with all his living expenses paid, this would be equal to $6OOO a year, which he considered enough.
 Mir. Buchanan and Mr. Buchanan argued against the bill, contending that the best. talent must be paid for at a rate commensurate with ability. MT. Gentry, opposing the amendment, charged that the Legislature is go ing absolutely wild on the subject of salaries and. appropriations" and that they had to stop somewhere. Mir. Ellis of Randolph also favored the amendment. MT. Joseph finally settled t by offering substitute that the salary be $7,2O0 for the two years, which was adopted.
 Items Pruned.
 The following amendments were then adopted, each item being for two years:
 To strike out one of two internes at $1,200.
 To reduce salary of assistant steward from $1,S0O to $1,2OO
 To strike out assistant farmer, $500. To strike out salary of one assist ant carpenter, $1,600.
 To reduce salaries of female night nurses from $8,O00 to $6,000.
 To reduce salary of dairyman and meat cutter from $1,500 to $1,200.
 To reduce salaries of outside night watches from $1,640 to $1,00o.
 To reduce salaries of male night nurses from $10,0SO to $7,000.
 To reduce salary of head baker from 3l56O to S1,40O.
 To reduce salary of head cook from $lSOO to $1,6O0.
 To strike out item of mail carrier, $720.
 To reduce salaries of three stenog- raphers from $3,600 to $3,000.
 TO reduce item for general repairs rom $20,00O to $15,0OO, an amendment toy MT. Hardage to reduce to $10,OOO having failed.
 The following section of the appro- pilatlon came in for severe drub- ping:
 For current expenses of the in sutatlon, including fuel, light, water, Oedding, medicine, all kinds of sup ppnes, feed for stock, insurance on uunalngs, to erect warehouse on rail- !oaa which may be used as distribut- .as point for all charitable institu- ..,: .noas: to bore deep wells; to equip all hr o'Si oAC olO1y uA6A OCSupACN ". " patlents with an automatic sprink- Ma ,sl system, or provide other necessary nse protection; to purchase a farm .| .ear Little Rock and erect buildings t.aereon for an epileptic colony, and m all other purposes, including nec- ssssary buildings not herein provided Si' provided all monies derived from sss s sale of slop, junk. surplus stock sau iama rom counties to pay for main- tSu tSSaance of patients, shall be used by tas tae board of control and the superin- ;na.,e ;ienuent to purchase supplies for the 'usttution, $5O9,749."
 ,os Mr. Gentry offered an amendment to ss;s .sSace this item to $450,0OO, which, he last year. 'o' o''0 o' @-''0V' %. t, Harrison, chairman of the bud H,s ins.,s' committee, explained the section nanaa nrsasaaylng the various items of ex- itam:,, itrss, put admitting that it should be s,atsit%lzed, stitn.. He thereupon offered sub hu'e h.o amendment as follows: To prot.p e ueep wells, $10,OO0; addition fire stor's steclon, $15,000: to add another ss s,S "So to buildings, $35,000; warehouse, -.-VO' current expenses, $444,0o0;