Great Falls daily tribune., 1919-01-22
T0FEEL PUBLIC
OUT ON ECONOMY
COUNCILS PLAN
Municipal Fathers Discuss Fou-
SEX Scheme; Name Committee
Of Three to Sound People.


feelings appeared at different times
while the matter was before the council,
hnt withal the city's legislative body
devoted serious hour to the financial
situation that has grown out OF the
/ closing Of the saloons and when another
order of business was taken up there
WAS left little room for doubt as TO the
attitude Of the aldermen in relation to
! certain of the mayors proposals.
4 IN written communication the. mayor
enumerated eight ways In when ne tno1
nenses. Only two Of them were discus
sed-reduction of the fire and police de-
nartments. Practically all of the nine
/ ro,nciImen present expressed their views
/ T., regard to the cutting down OF the
number of firemen and policemen EN-
Moved by the city and while II may De
| found advisable to do without the ser
vices of officers now on .tne Peilce
force there was no suggestion OF a SEN
timent favorable to reduction OF the IRE
| department. No actual test vote was
taken but from the stand taken by the
sneakers there did not appear TO ne eVi
dent the least belief that any portion or
the city's fire fighting forces should De
dispensed with.
Sullivan Wants Peoples Voice.
The MAYORS communication was read
hv the clerk when the session first came
TO order and was followed Immediately
by a speech by Alderman g r. Hubbaru,
who addressed the council with an idta
to having all of Mr. fouseE rec9nl7 1
/ mendations placed. Immediately III uis-
favor He concluded by moving that the
mavar's request for q resolution giving
! him authority to put his economy pro-
gram into action be denied. The mouoh
was seconded by Alderman GeorY Il.
Shanley. Possible precipitate action was
prevented by Alderman A j. sullivan,
who. speaking briefly and to the point
said he thot there was evident III the
II Hubbard motion a distinct flavor OF pol
! itics. Mr.. Sullivan thot the present
moor time to allow politics to exercise
influence and took the stand that unth
the council made a systematic elIort 10
i learn the wishes Of the publlc rejection
or acceptance of the mayor plan Would
be premature. >,
amendment TO Iubbard's motion that
provided for the appointment of a COM
mittee Of three to inform themselves as
to public sentiment, which Immediately
was seconded BY Alderman Harry Stey-
ems; who, taking the floor for the first
time since his appointment, said he thot
Mr. Sulliranss idea was an excellent one
The amendment was carried with only
ative, Stanley at first voted no, put
later changed it to yes" Explaining
his original vote, Shanley said he be-
ieyed prohibition was u good thing,
that it had come on vote of the people
| and he believed the people are. willing
to pay the costs. He favors, he said,
the raising Of taxes as means Of keep
ing the business Of the city up TO the
standard that has been maintained dur
ing the past administration.
Booth Expresses His View.
! Alderman Booth said he had confer
red with numerous citizens and that he
found no one IN favor Of reducing either
! the fire or police departments. Redue-
tion Of the fire department, he said,
] would constitute q saving that would be
maid for in increased Insurance rates.
] Steven said. in supporting Sullivan S
amendment that trouble and fire make
business for the firemen and the police,
and that until these arrive there may
he no apparent need for either depart
, ment. 1t the fire Monday night, he
suggested, more firemen and officers
could have been used than are now en-
ployed but he believed the council
+ should take no action before learning
!, the desires of the taxpayers. Alderman
Grover was of the opinion that the peo-.
ple would not tolerate reduction OF
: the IRE department. put was 4iol taii w
thusiastic supporter Of the police de-
partment in it's present size.
!, 4 small byplay between Hubbard and
the mayor brot from the mayor state
ment conveying the idea that he will not
BE- d candidate for reelection In the
spring election Hubbards accused MIR
: Fousek OF obtaining publication of his
program as a political maneuver, te
which the mayor replied that he is not
a candidate for any office. Hubbards
J motion for rejection of the mayor
plan did not include the clause providing
5 for elimination of two council meetings
1 rer month This. Hubbard stated, he
would leave to the council, and said he
would be willing to forego his own sal
ary until the next administration takes
the reigns. The mayor said he would DC
willing to do the same.
The Plan in Detail.
The eight clauses in the mayors
economy plan were, briefly, as follows:
Law off six men on the police depart
ment' which would mean a reduction OF
S7a0O per wear in salaries, This would
reauire shelving of the patrol wagon, but
would leave the small car still IN service.
~ Law off seven men on fire department
and save $4,000 per year in salaries. Or
consolidate all fire stations and reduce
force from 3..5 to 70 men, saving Yl3,oN
in salaries and $4,000 on maintenance.
Lay off NJ. T.. Morris at the pumping
station, or put him IN the pace Oh Que
Of tbe other men. saving $1,000 per year
Consolidate market masters office
with that of pound master of boulevard
superintendent, saving $500 per year.
Lay off two men in city engineers Of.
flee during winter months, saving Sl3W
| per wear.
, , Consolidate office of street foreman
and barn man for five winter months
saving 5000 per year.
Work one man ON two garbage wagon:
instead az two. saving 5000 per year
Dispense with services of boulevard
superintendent for four months ever.
winter, saving 5000.
Amount saved if seven firemen laye'
off. $25, 100: if Is layed off. $5s,ooo.
40 particular date was set for hear
"a T. IA