St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-27
Official Salaries Analysed and the
Chamber Assuming the Role
OF Law GiYers,
Make a New Schedule Supposed to be an
Improvement on the Existing
System.
The Grand Opera House Committee Make 6
Notable Report and Box the Ears Of
the Nendacious p. p.
The Robert Street Bridge Discussed Again
and Adverse Action Taken
Miscellaneous.

from till IL O'Clock, during which great
deal was said and a good deal done. Among
other things adopted was proposition to
AMEND THE CHARTER.
The committee on legislation submitted a
series Of amendments tO the city charter re-
curing reports to be made from the board of
education, the board of water com missioners,
the board Of control, the board of public
works, the city attorney, chief OF police,
clerk Of the municipal court and the city
clerk The amendments further provide for
suspending without compensation any officer
violating the law in this respect. The amend
ments were adopted.
FIXING Up THE SALARIES.
The legislative committee made the fol-
loving report on the salaries Of county and
city officials:
Your legislative committee have had a
conference with the county commissioners,
and after consideration recon mend the adop-
ton of the following:
First-That the city attorney be Instructed
to insert a clause in one Of the bills to be
brought before tie legislature, authoriZin z
aud directing the city council 10 take all
books and papers Of any Office or board Of the
city Of ST. Paul who has failed to make a re
port as requested by law TO the city council
and 10 appoint an auditor or board of auditors
10 audit all accounts Of such office and TO
make such report as such officer or board of
officers is required Ly law to make.
Second-That the salaiy OF the county as
SCISSOR shall be 900 on real estate years
aud s., 900 on personal property years, in
sluding all assistants aud clerk hire, aud
hat his bond shall be fixed at 5000, and
that it be referred to the city and county at
torneys TO draw up suitable one, satisfac-
tory to the county commissioners.
Third-That the salary Of the county treas
urer be g, 500 per annum for himself and
clerk hire.
auditor shall be So, 500, including clerk hire,
If the Jaw remains as II is at present. but
$500 If the Knox bill passes.
Filth-That the salary Of the county at
torncy be 81, $50.
sixth-Tbat the salary Of the city attorney
be So, 500 in addition 10 the salary Of his assis
tant
seventh-That the salary Of the city comp
troller b. $1,000, who shall have a perma-
nent assistant with a salary Of 1890, and
that the city council be authorized by law to
allow the city comptroller as much extra help
as is deemed necessary for the next six
months.
Eighth-That the salary OF the city treas
urrr be 50, 900. with 81, 600 extra, or SO much
thereof as may be necessary for clerk hire,
aud that he be allowed no fees, perquisites,
or percentages.
Ninth-Thut the salary of each county
commissioner be- $500.
Tenth-We further recommend such legs-
laton as will give the clerk Of the district
court aud register OF deeds fair cOmpeusa-
ton, not exceeding 200 each, Including
clerk hire, per aunum, aud that the printing
OF detailed reports OF fees collected be ADAM
doned. p. II. KEi ~,
J. VI. GILMAN,
WA. LINDEKE,
CHAs. NICHOLS,
p. BERKEY.
coMMUxfuAT1oN FROM MIR. EAGAN.
In this communication Mr. Eagan sets
forth the duties Of his Office and the large
amount OF work that he has to do, aud SAYS
that rather than have his salary raised from
s., 500 to 81, $50, only $3.50. he would much
prefer 10 We It left where It now
is. On motion OF Mr. Gilman an increase
of $500 to the salary OF the county attorney
was approved, making it 50, 900.
Z. Il. Kelly explained what the difficulty
was that the committee bad To- contend with.
IL Was next to impossible 10 get at the truth
Of things aud rqualizc the salaries rs they
ought 10 be equalized. There was no sense
IN the clerk OF the court getting
salary of $4,000 aud one
or two other county officials receiving
about The same, while other officers that did
fully IS much work and had equal rrspunsi-
bilitIcs should be put of with one or two
thousand dollars. Il is at the root OF these
unreasonably large salaries that the knife
should be put. The committee found the
difficulty In scaling the prices.
J. II. Drake, who Is n member Of the Ram
sey county delegation, attended the meeting
OF the board 81 obtain information. He
thought the Gifiiculiy In correcting many II
the evils complained Of was in NOT -ommenc-
ting earlier The trouble Is that the people Of
S. Paul postpone everything 81 the legisla-
ture Il Ia session and then they are all be-
hind.
Mr.. McClung thought the increase in sal
aries was reasonable, bat not equal. He did
not think Il ght that Que officer should be
allowed 10 make from $40. 900 10 so, 900 a
year while the comptrOller gets $1,000 only.
READ ny SECTIONS AID SALARIES FIXED.
On motion Of Me-. Driseo,l the report Vas
read by sections and SO considered.
When the county assessors salary was
reached Mr.. MeCiang argued that there was
not difference enough between IS, 600 FOR The
real estate year aud 81, 500 for the personal
TAX year
Mr.. Nichols said Mr. Beaumont. the asses
scr, was before the CON mittee and explained
the workings Of the office. Finally the re
port Ol the CON miticv vas adopted In regard
to the assessor, the treasurer and auditor.
The county attorney had his salary increased
20 $1,000.
When they came to the SALARY for the CITY
attorney, Capt BerScy said be was wiling 10
Pay that oflcrr Abvrslly, bat he did 10. want
that othesr paid by any bosrd in the
city. At present. ia addition to his
regular salary the city attorney
Is paid $500 BY the school board aud 5000 bv
the board Il public works. In his opinion
the city attorney shuald b. paid hy the city
sufficient salary 50 that part % bis duty ill
BE- TO he the attorney for all the b1arls. His
SALARY should include all TIE elarls Tie
sboa.d be- thc only insn 70 10 ;hls work.
Mr.. DriscCu saiI that We have divided Nd
the legal businrss eg the city too much. We
ought 10 have Il Organized under eonps-
teut and sullicivat had We arr growing,
AID stiu everything gOcs slip Saod. What
We want IS consolidation aud system
aud order. We had better par god
salaries. aud have al the business 50 brought
tngc;he- that H eau b. managed jgdieiously
and PLAYED urder one bead He declared
tbCrc vas not business man IN the CITY %
s.. Paul taat Suuid manage hts private bgssi-
ness a. The business Of s.. Paul Il managed
to-day.
Mr. oppenhe.n took the sane view aud
SAID the els sttsTusy ought q be shat Is
knowa As the corporation attorney.
NJ. Driscon moved taAt tae salary Of he
e.tY attorney Be sxsa az $1,000 TO iseiz4e