Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-20

Misunderstanding IL 10 Coihihittee OF
Seven.
A General meeting of the members of the
chamber of commerce was held yesterday,
Gen. Sibley presiding for the purpose of
considering the retrenchment measure to be
submitted to the Legislature, The attend
ance was exceedingly slim, and when the
proceedings opened there was not the neces-
sary quorum of thirty, but an informal dis
cussion was opened.
Mr.. Hiram Rogers chairman Of the re-
trenchment committee, alluded to the sub
iect in general terms, and made the state
ment that there was an average of thirty
seven men on the police force.
Mr.. Lee asserted that the city was entitled
to twenty-nine on the police force, but had
only had twenty-four or twenty-five on duty
Hon. G. D. Gilfillan read an extract from
the city comptrollers report for 1877, show
ing that, on the average, thirtyseven men
had been paid for throughout the the year.
Mr. Lee replied that, with total force OF
thirty men, only twelve or fifteen would pc
available for duty at any one time. Police
the public, and were obliged to keep them
selves respectfully dressed. The speaker
did not believe in running retrenchment
into the ground by grinding down
policemen's wages, and, in reply to
question from Mr.. Hodgson asserted that
it was false economy to cut down the slip
ends of the city attorney, judge OF the NUM-
cipal court, and of the police force generally
Mr. Cochran submitted letter from Kan
sas City, Mo-, wherein it was stated that
therein were $4,000 in population, with a
police force of twenty -four, and the general
salaries much lower than corresponding ones
in st. Paul.
Mr.. Hodgson contended that the respon
sibility of policemen was mere myth.
Hon. G. D. Gilfillan asserted that the
county auditor had received in 1877 $3.50
for publishing and preparing the laws,
$265.35 for preparing the report of the
board of equalization, $113 for preparing
his report, 500 for twentw-three days SER
vices on the board of equalization, and fiji
teen cents fees from each party redeeming
taxes. AL this, Mr.. Gilfillan claimed, was
in violation of the law, as the whole was in
Guided in his salary.
Mr.. Cochrane averred that policemen had
never received more than $40 per month.
Since 1912 living expenses had been re-
duced from twenty to twenty-five per cent.
No class of persons was better paid
than ofice-holders, and they, like
the common run of citizens, must
economic. The question simply
resolved itself into this Can we have the
asserted that it could, and in support thereof
proceeded to show that all classes of labor
were now remunerated at much lower
figures than formerly.
BY this time it was 9:45 o'clock, and a
quorum having gathered, the formal pro-
ceedings were opened.
Gen. johnson withdrew his motion sub
mitted at previous meeting.
The first salary to be discussed was that of
the clerk of the board of public works. which
the bill fixed at 81 900 per annum.
MIR. Lee said the duties Of that officer
occupied the whole of his time,
and were equal to those of three men. The
clerk had to do all the calculations for the
board, and had to compute all the assess
ments ordered. In the opinion of Mr.. Lee
it was unreasonable. unfair, uni just and dis
honest to force the clerks salary down.
Making the salaries of officials below living
rates was not the way to preserve employees
honest.
Mr.. Cochrane said the talk about officials
having to support their families on small
salaries was all nonsense. Hundreds of men
stood ready to do the work at
the reduced rates proposed, and
the Chamber and the community
had no right to consider the families i'll
volved. Men could be found by the score
who would make efficient clerks of the board
of public works, and would gladly accept
therefor 81, 900 year.
Capt. Reaney thought 81 900 stipend was
enough.
Ex-Governor Marshall said the Office of the
clerkship of the board of public works was
both responsible and laborious office, more
80 than that of either the register of deeds
or county auditor, and he felt that it was a
wrong step to insist that the clerk should be
forced to perform those services for only
81 900 year. He moved that the salary of the
clerk of the board of public works be 81 200
per annum.
The motion was carried by vote of eleven
to ten.
The secretary then read the following
batch of salaries, as proposed by the bill:
City engineer, so, 900 year; two assistants
at Sl 200 year each; one assistant, 81, 900
year; two assistants to the assistants, rod
men, etc., $500 year each and two similar
assistants at 5000 year each.
Gen. Johnson wanted to know why all
these assistant engineers were required
Capt. Barney explained that their
services were demanded in the con-
struction of sewers, and would
be so needed as long as the present amount
of improvements was carried on.
Mr.. Bell said the employees in the city en-
gineer's Office commenced their labors at a
very late hour.
MI. Lee moved that the city engineer be
paid $4,000 per annum, that being the total
amount proposed for the engineering de-
partment, and that the officer provide and
pay for his own staff.
Gen. johnson moved to amend by making
the sum $4,000.
After few remarks by Mr.. Cochran and
Capt. Barney, MI. Willus said he thought
it was false economy to reduce the salary of the
city engineer. former city engineer, at
salary of $1,000, had cost the city much more,
through his inefficieny, and he objected
to MIR. Lees motion, as the officer might
plead that work was not performed because
OF the lnsufficiency of his salary to pay for
required assistance. Mr.. Willius further
averred that the Chamber of Commerce was
always too late in it's reforms.
Hon. j. M. Gilman opposed the motion
and it's amendment. both of which were lost
upon being put to vote.
Mr.. Lee directed attention to the fact that
there was not quorum present, whereupon
recess OF ten minutes was had during
which an active drumming up of absentees
was INDUCED in.
The chamber being re-assembled at IL a.
M. with quorum present, the city engineer
ing department. salaries were disposed of at
the figures above named, all below the en-