Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-01-08

figure the financial business of the
city the same as prudent business
man would figure his own, namely, "a
dollar saved is dollar earned.
''We should not forget We are en-
gagged in world s war, and that our
citizens from every angle are being
financially drained to meet the exig-
encies of unfortunate conditions. 1t
economy in city affairs should be prac-
ticed one year more than another, this,
| would say, above all years, is tho
time for conservation and elimination
of waste. Through the coming year,
let economy be the polar star which
shall guide us in our deliberations.
Adopt Policy ON Salaries.
"Owing to the high cost of living
and the shortage of labor, it has be-
come necessary to raise in some in
stances the salaries of city employees,
Nevertheless, | am confident of the
fact that it is easier to raise salaries
than to lower them when once raised,
and l should, therefore, suggest that
in case of any raise in salaries by
ordinance the ordinance be so drafted
that such salaries, at the expiration OF
the present year, will automatically
revert to where they were prior to be-
ing raised"
Ward and Nelson Clash.
The main differences of opinion
arose when Alderman Ward moved that
$500 be transferred from the library
fund to the library board, explaining
that the roof of the library building
was badly in need Of repair and that
other minor improvements were needed
about the building. The motion car
ried and Nelson then moved that the
$500 be used for no other purpose than
repairing the roof. This motion also
carried, Yhereupon Ward took the
floor and asserted that this would de-
prive the library board of part of its
funds as $500 was twice the amount
needed for repair of the roof and the
board had planned to use Jne re-
mainder of the amount for other pur-
poses about the building. Ward further
asserted that Nelson was deliberately
misrepresenting things, whereupon Mel
son Jumped t0 the floor with blood IN
his eye and stated in no uncertain
terms that he resented ''the insinua-
tion of the alderman that he lied.
Ward replied that ne had more of thj
same thing in store, several voices be-
gan to be heard at once, and only loud
raps from the mayors gavel backed
by that worthy Officials admonitions
finally restored order.
The outcome OF the matter was that
S. 500, the amount called for by the
budget, was appropriated to the library
fund, with 5000 transferred to the
board Immediately, the same TO be used
for no other purpose than the repair
ing Of the roor, as moved by Alderman
Nelson.
Comfort Station Accepted
The council voted to accept the COM
fort station and addowed the contrac
tors, Siewert & EngsTom, the balance
Of the contract price, $l,110.20, which
has been held up pending the action
of the council IN accepting the build.
ing. Ward objected to the paying Of
$500 to the contractors for replacing
the walls saying that if the work
wasn't performed correctly the first
time the city should not have to stand
for doing it over. Alderman Roberts,
Of the comfort station committee, re
Piled that the contractors had followed
specifications to the letter and that
it was not their faul the plaster had
fallen off the first time. Further, he
stated, the contractors had performed
some other work not in the speeirica-