The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-26
THE REJECTED BILL.
Delegate Bagley Condemns the
Aldermen.
EFFORT TO REDUCE SALARIES
The Member From the Eighth Ward
ment Committee and Its Undoing.

The salary retrenchment ordinance passed by
the house of delegates on Wednesday night and
Immediately after killed by the board of alder
men, comprised schedule of salaries drawn up
by committee of both houses and agreed TO az
ter nearly three months of consideration. Meet
ings have been held once or twice week during
that time. Delegate Bagley is one of the mem
bers who has been most active, together with
Aessrs. Shipley and Jones, in advocating the
passage of some such measure. Mr. Bagley was
interviewed yesterday By PosT-INTELLIGEScER
reporter on the subject
"Ar. Bagley, what are your views in regard to
the action OF the board of aldermen in defeating
the so-cslled retrenchment ordinance
Mr. Bagley replied with emphasis: 81 think
their action was gross outrage upon the tax
payers of Seattle. and an inexcusable insult to
the joint retrenchment committee and the
house of delegates. This bill was the result of
many days of hard work on the part OF the COM
mittee and the delegates. The bill for the re-
organization of q large part of the public SER
viee-that under the direction of the board OF
public works-had already been agreed upon,
and would have been presented at the next
meeting, and the two would have effected
large saving to the city, in my judgment, at
leaet $4,000 per annum. The defeat of the sal
airy ordinance makes me feel hopeless in regard
to the other measure The members of the
house OF delegates have given much more time
TO this matter than have those of the other
house Messrs. Shipley, Jones, Muldoon, Ian
sing, kittinger, Barnes Morford Hanford and |,
collectively and separately, have given it great
deal of thought and bestowed great deal of hard
and conscientious labor upon it, Messrs.
Hall, Pontius, AiiIler and Korn joined
in a good deal of This work The most eminent
lawyers, many business men, the city officials,
were all counseled with, and every attempt was
made to accomplish the work that the taxpay-
ers of the city have demanded of the council
that OF reducing the expenses OF the city within
its income
"The retrenchment committee found itself
. seriously hsmpered by the provisions of the
charter that fixed the salaries of several of the
city officers, and also forbade any change in an
officers salary during the term for which he was
elected or appointed. 1t may have been all
right to forbid an increase of salary. but it was
preposterous TO deny the city council the power
to reduce a salary if it should be found neces-
sary to do so. The proposed ordinance contem-
plated a reduction in the salary or pay of nearly
every officer and employe OF the city from mayor
all down the list
1.-THE likes and dislikes of the individual
members of the committee in regard to TIE in
cumbent of any Office were not allowed to con-
troll The action of the committee. 1t iegislated
for the Office and not for the man who filled the
position. 1t was agreed that if any officer whose
salary could not legally be reduced should de-
mand the full sum allowed him by law, the ex-
cess not appropriated liz the general ordinance
should be included in the monthly appropria-
ton bills There was no attempt nor design to
repudiate any just or legal liability. However,
nearly all the officers had signifed their willing
ness TO accept the proposed reduction.
sit will be necessary to pass salary ordi-
nance during the term of the present council, or
the succeeding body will find itself in the same
difficulty that the present body labors under. If
the one now under discussion had become the
law, as rapidly new officers should be chosen
to fill vacancies caused in any way they would
legally be entitled only to sums agreed upon in
the new ordinance, although the present officers
can draw the larger sums now allowed by the
charter.
SIT was found impossible to reduce the police
force below its present number, and the ma
jority refused to allow any reduction or change
in the force of the fire department, but a small
reduction was made in the pay of the members
of the two forces. Every detail of the city's ex-
penditure was given careful consideration, and
after all this for the board of aldermen to kill
the measure without any consideration was al
most criminal in its perversity. Had that body
attempted to amend it, to better ii or to even in
crease some of the salaries there would have
been some excuse for their action. Had these
changes been refused by the delegates call for
a committee of conference should have been is
sued, and every attempt should have been made
10 reach harmonious action. But no! The
measure that had taken months to prepare was
incontinently rejected without any proper con-
sideration, just as the same body has treated
several other very important measures to which
the house of delegates have devoted great deal
of hard labor"
"To what do you ascribe the action of the
board of aldermen, Mr.. Bagley?"
alt is no secret that consider Messrs Miller
Wilcox, Snyder and Korn the most ill-condi-
toned assortment of cranks that trusting con-
stituency ever elected to legislate for them
For unreasonable animosities, concentrated
egotism an! assinine stupidity I will back
them against any like number in all this city of
| $4,000
SIN addition to this, Mr. Snyder's son is chief
engineer OF the water works, and that useless
appendage of the system was dispensed with
by the proposed ordinance. This accounts for
! the milk in Mr.. snyders eocoanut.
'It is no secret that Mr.. Miller has aspirations
| 10 succeed Mr.. White as mayor, and Mr.. Miller
| undoubtedly consulted with himself and rea-
| soned that If he helped prevent the reduction
! OF salaries and pay of officers and employees he
/ would receive in addition to gold headed cane
the loyal support of the boys in his political
| labors.
"Mr Wilcox is inspired with most arrogant
sef-conceit and puerile envy, and belle yes that
| he possesses more qualities of st6tesmanship
than the rest of the city council combined, and
as he had but little or nothing to do in prepar-
| ing the ordinance, he could not coax himself
into consenting to vote for il.
81 can only assume that Mr.. Sweeney, who is
| Democrat, voted against IL on political grounds
! with the hope that his party may ride into
power on the wave that will overturu the ex-
! listing city government il the present extrava-
| gance and loose business methods shall continue
| few months longer
! $50 far as Mr.. Korn Is concerned, / don't
| think any one is ever surprised at any vote he
/ may cast He and Mr. Miller attended several
! meetings OF the committee, Joined in the out
! SIDE work and while they objected 10 some of
/ the minor details OF the proposed ordinance
they certainly gave the rest of the committee 10
understand that in its main features il would
/ receive their support, and personally feel that
they have added duplicity to their general
/ cussedness."