The Cost of Governance in South Bend
Facing economic pressure, the city council slashes official salaries and eliminates the night watchman position.
South Bend's council made a sweeping reduction in salaries Monday evening. The clerk's salary was cut from $50 to $15 a month; attorney from $50 to $25; city engineer from $7 to $5 per day of actual service. The night watchman was dispensed with and the marshall ordered to serve in his stead, while citizens will be empowered to make arrests during the day.
“The night watchman was dispensed with and the marshall ordered to serve in his stead.”
Austerity measures were a direct response to the economic panic of 1893, which devastated Washington towns. The move to empower citizens to make arrests in place of paid staff reflects the extreme fiscal desperation of the time.
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