San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-20
MAYOR BLACKS
INVESTIGATORS
TO LOSE JOBS
Other Employees in His De-
parment Also Must
Be Let Out.
MONEY ALL GONE
Black and Rieden Have
Spent So Much They
Have Nothing Left.

Drastic cuts in the departments of
Mayor Black and Street Commissioners
William o. Rieden, in an attempt to
cut down the running expenses Of the
city were promised by the mayor at
the city council meeting Monday after
sssse6n. According to a recommendation
submitted by the mayor, the street de-
partment will be virtually closed down,
leaving Commissioner Rieden only n
city engineer, a stenographer, a per-
nit clerk, . small repair gang and a
Waterman. The mayor promised to
dispense with the services of his
special Investigators and all clerical
help in his own office, with the ex-
ception of stenographer and his
secretary. He also recommended cur
ia lment of the force in other depart
ments.
Hints that it might be necessary to
make cuts in the department Of Fire
and Police Commissioner Phil Wright
brought bitter protest from that COM
missioner who declared that his de-
partment is functioning with just as
few men as possible, commensurate
with furnishing fire and police protec-
ton to the city.
Wright Protests Being Penalizea.
Il am willing to go over the final
budgets with you and see If any cuts
can be made" the police commissioner
said, but I do not feel that when /
have kept within my tentative budget
that you should penalize my depart
ment to make up shortages in other
departments where this budget has
been exceeded"
A conference will be held Thursday
morning when the final budgets will
be checked up and the pruning knife
welded.
Mayor Black, in submitting his rec
concentrations, stated that he expected
to cease all work in the street de-
partment, except that which is abso-
lutely necessary TO keep the streets in
repairs. On question by Commissioner
Pfeiffer IL he expected to do likewise
in his department. the mayor replied
that he would. The tax commissioner
urgedAthat the mayor dispense with the
services of everyone excepting his sec
rotary. The mayor replied that he
could not possibly get along without
a stenographer.
"The only reason I urge this" Com
pr~<iaeioner Pfeifer said. sis because
your predecessor got along with only
n secretary and 1 think you should
cut off everyone not vital to the run
ming of your office"
Mayor Again Urges Loan.
The mayor explained that two
courses are open TO the commissioners,
either cut the budgets to come within
the city's income. or borrow 5000 900
additional o make up the shortage.
1t will require, the mayor said. about
100000 to conduct the city govern
ment for the remainder of the fiscal
year. whereas there is only about
$3O3,O00 available. These figures
were estimated on the most rigid
economy basis. The mayor again SUBJ
,mittef his proposal to borrow $780,
900 from an Austin financial institu-
ton.
Commissioner Pfeiffer reiterated his
stand taken at the Saturday meeting,
explaining that he would not oppose
the plan, but that he would not vote
for it.
1.-THE council" the tax commissioner
said, sis in the position of trying to
lock the gate after the horse is stolen.
Personally. feel no guilt in this
matter. fought the temporary budg-
cts when I saw they were going to ex-
coed rhe city's income. also recon-
mended separate appropriations for
the various departments. My recon-