Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-14

salaries for city officials is as follows:
Per annun
mayor; .........; ...................S "
COuncilmen, each. Observation-Disclosures.
City clerk. Il w
City attorney .......... IL
Police Judge. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. W
City marshal. ] ,OS
Policemen, each. n
treasurer. tO
When the report was read Healy move
that the report be adopted, and in minut
received Kenyon as second.
Richey amended the above motion by al
lowing the mayor and councilmen to draw
the proposed salary after the middle of mex
coming April His amendment was accepted
by Healy and his second.
The mayor then stated that in his opinion
this council could not decide upol
the wages of the next
| Harris-'I don't think one dollar a year i
enough to go to Europe on. Ten years agt
councilmen received $50 and I think today
that their services are certainly worth some
thing"
Healy-"None of us expected any more
when we were elected"
Carey-'I agree with Mr.. Healy 1t does
not seem to me that we should ask any more
than the people expected to give when they
elected us. If we cannot stand it as it is lei
us resign our places. If you vote $50 to me
will not accept dollar Of it, l think the
salaries of our policemen should be raised
1oI 81
torney for his opinion about the power OF
the council to fix salaries for the next coun-
Gil and mayor, who stated that it would not
he illegal to take effect at that appointed
time.
His honor, the mayor, then said that when
he was elected he thought he would have no
salary. Since the city has been made one of
the first class the work has increased and he
would expect one.
Councilman Harris amended the motion
allowing the mayor and councilmen to draw
the amount recommended by the committee
which brought Stone as second man.
The amendment was submitted to q vote
which showed four in the affirmative and
five in the negative. The original motion
was voted upon with fatal result, showing
three for and six against
This seemed to put quietus upon the
affair for few minutes, and the long inter-
esting siege was thought by the members Of
the council sufficient cause to take breath
and little rest, but all this time the mayor
was busily engaged writing. Finally the
council was called to business attitude by
the clerk, who read the following: II re-
spectfully tender my resignation as mayor Of
the city," which was signed by B. W.
Aldrich.
This served the part of an enthusiastic eye
opener to many around the table as well as
to the spectators. Everybody was painfully
silent and each one looking at all the rest
with an expression of surprise depicted upon
utes was able to open his mouth, but finally
Mr.. Harris stated that he was not in favor of
accepting the resignation. He was of the
opinion that the council had treated him I'M
fare and unjust, and that in some way the
matter should be decided differently He
closed his remarks by moving that the ten
dered resignation be not accepted, which was
seconded by Mr.. Stone
Mr.. Allen, president of the council, put
the motion 10 a vote, which was carried
Richey then stated that it was the duty of
the council to make laws and the work of the
mayor to enforce them. He did not think
his honor had any more to do than the chair
man of some Of the important committees
Mr.. Campbell asked the consent OF the
council to speak, which was granted, and he
said he did not want to speak of the salary
of the mayor. He said: There is matter
in which have say in and that is concern
ing the salary of the city attorney. When 1
first held this position 1 was given 5000 per
year, and am sure earned every dollar of
it. Before long it was raised to SIS per
month. Ny duties are increased as the city
grows. l do this work at the ex-
clusion OF every thing else. If 1
was worth $50 per month, I am worth 300
now. Ny work is not to be present at the
council meetings alone but.the most of it is
out OF these meetings. don't believe there
is first-class attorney in the city that will
defend one case l have for less than NV
years salary. Ny resignation is ready at
any hour if you don't want my services"
Carey-"Have changed my mind. l don't
think it is right to defer paying the city Of
flcials until next April
Healy-''There was good deal Of kicking
when we raised the city attorneys salary
from $50 to s15 per month. Think that $50 is
enough. A good lawyer told me ct was
enough, and that he could furnish good at
torney for that"
Richey-Don't think there is a lawyer in
the city who knows what the city attorney
has - do The business has greatly in
creased from what it ever was before
By this time some of the members of the
council were making anxious inquiry about
what was before the body and what was the
order of business. For some time there had
been statements OF grievances accompanied
by comments on the same. and part of the
of the council was of the opinion that the
snip had lost her bearings, and was out upon
rough, rude sea, soon to be the victim
OF the mercileSs waves The alarm
was spreading with wonderful
rapidity when Mr.. Healy lead out with a
motion to reconsider the whole matter and
ne had not taken his seat until Brown availe1
himself Of the chance to second a motion.
Richey at this juncture put in another one