The Sentinel=record., 1917-02-02
INFRINGEMENT IS
 BEFORE COUNCIL
WHETHER CITY WILL INCREASE EXPENSE OR STAND PAT AS
 TIT IS NOW
Settlement With the Public Utilities Company, Which Has Due S42,00o Is One Of the Problems Soon.

through most or the proceedings of
 the city council last night. the issue
 heinz Frequently raised as to whether
 inc city would be able to restore cuts
 in salaries, and to take on needed eX penses, or whether it would have to
 some provision had been made for
 furnishing more public revenue than
 is now provided for
 Oue of the features of the proceed
 ines was that a large sum of money 1 Co which no total was given was awarded back to various citizens who had paid in under the demands of an 1 occupation tax ordinance of some
 time ago which later was declared to
 be unconstitutional
 The first time the subject came be l fore the council was on a proposition l to increase the salary of the pumbing 1 inspector to $l00 per month That Woposal with some others of a simi- lar nature, went to a committee com posed of Messrs Rigsbee. Davis and Burgauer There was a movement on hand to raise the salaries of the fire 1 boys and that move had more gen
 eral support than others of a similar nature, but it. too, went to a commit tee until some decision shall he reached as to how additional expen- ses are to be met A movement to pay the clerk to he mayor $75 per
 month also went the committee route
 The council varied from its re. trenchment long enough to give Chief Bray $l25 per month for his services, ! instead of the $lO0 which it is said
 is the stipulation of the last ordi- nance on that subject. and also to provide the chief with the authority
 to hire four additional patrolmen to | put on the streets at once. This need
 was recognized as thing that had to l be taken care of at this time. The
 city is filling with people of all
 classes and il was thought better to provide the public with this additional protection
 Retenchment again obtained when
 movement for the purchase of two additional fire trucks, one auto gravel l truck. and three trailers for the gravel truck. was sent to a committee The council wondered if this additional city expense would interfere with the agreement by which the city borrowed money for general current expenses, and the matter was referred. This ordinance may meet more favor later hut scarcely until after a general
 budget has been arranged which will
 establish that it is proper under the revenue system
 The matter of the debt the city owes the public utilities came up for ] consideration The public utilities naturally wants settlement The sum total due is about $4200o, and he public utilities offered Sl.500 off for an immediate settlement The matter was discussed at some length and was finally referred to a commit. tee composed of Messrs Housley. Rissbee and Woolston, with Mayor NcCleudon and City Attorney Nc Counall added They will take mp the 1 matter of a settlement and see f ao laereement can be req he'd th car recommend to the council for adop
 ion
 The matter of the municipal bill | ame before the council in two ways. sib Clerk Jordou had his brother
 crying as deputy To attend this ourt and a bill for $50 for the half month of he service was referred 10
 1 committee instead of being allowed, Then an ordinance which was to an h.r'1a the appointment of such | deputy went also To committee when l { was suggested that the city colec-
 LOT might be named deputy clerk and have time to attend to the duties of l he office at least until the court
 aas permanently established and it .ecame essential to have a man de ! sote his entire time to this cour, l clerkship This matter was referred
 10 Messrs Housley and the members
 af the finance committee for solution.
 Robert Pedersou. who built the
 ouutaiu at the Como Square and
 who had never been reimbursed for
 he materials he put in it. to say nothing of his own labor. was al- l owed SAT. and vote of thanks for he work he had contributed 10 a city
 improvements and Mr. Russ of the public utilities was also thanked for 1 he flowers he had placed within the fountain center Mr Pedersou has perhaps contributed more 10 civic beauty from slim pocketbooz than
 any other citizen in Hot Springs. and
 the precedent he established of unset.
 fish desire to make the city beautifm
 at least entities him to general ap- preciation
 The presence of the Salvation Army
 on the site occupied for some years