St. Paul daily globe., 1892-07-02
The KNIFE AT WORK,
Salaries Slashed Of Court
House Custodian and
Engineer.
Hon. Pat Egan Eloquently
Pleads Before the Reform
Majority,
But in Vain, for He Is Now
MinuS an Assist
ant.
West Side Business Men Or
ganize for Mutual Pro-
lection.

form was begun yesterday by the joint
committee OH city hall and court house,
1t remained for Aid. Il zimmerman TO set
the ball in operation, and it would seem
that the stated plan of procedure is to
make haste slowly" The ak fell
upon the neck of an under employe,
whose salary is comparatively inconse-
quential. He is summarily dismissed
from service, Ostensibly as an economic
measure, but the suspicion obtains that
it IS to make room for a favorite, or to
pay political debt at some time in the
near future. Then there were two en-
ployes OF the committee whose salaries
were shaved, and two that were in
creased. The victim to the former is.
the chief engineer OF the building,
upon whom, it is asserted by the most
competent judges, more responsibility
rests than upon all the rest of the EN-
ployeS combined.
1t had been anticipated that there
would be general tearing up, but it
transpired that the officials in domina-
tiOn have not yet decided as between
candidates for appointments. This de-
veloped when the mayor suggested that
all applications be LAID over, and one of
the members, ,grasping the point.auickly
made a motion to that effect The sub
Ject came up through the Secretary'S
reading the application of John Lun-
den, who bankers for position as iani-
tor. His friends claim that he was
rampant Wright hustler in the cam
paign, aud that he should. therefore,
be recognized. But the brakes were
shut down quick. and the applications
all went over without reading.
Commissioner Mitsch raised the point
that the library board should keep its
own rooms in repair, and he insisted
tnat such was the agreement when the
library board was given permission to
occupy the rooms. The board has per
cent of tax collections to meet such in
cidental expenses, it is urged, but the
committee took no definite action.
Then came the Zimmerman resolu-
ton. 1t was carefully drawn up and
revised. The object, it was related,
was to establish new salary schedule.
The compensation of custodian and
chief engineer were reduced from
Sl,S00 year to 1920, and the salaries
OF the firemen were increased from $50
month to $50. The resolution also
abolished the Office of assistant custo-
dian.
While he was not surprised in the
least by the movement, Commissioner
Mitch moved to amend SO as to increase
so as to increase the salary of the chief
engineer $500. He wished to make
compromise, and, in support of his
amendment, he argued that the position
OF chief engineer involves matter of
great responsibility. The position re-
quireS an accomplished and eXperi-
enced mechanic, and the present. in
cumbent saves the amount of his COM
pensatiOn many times over to the city.
This brought out ASsemblyman Daily.
He thought the salaries of custodian
and chief engineer Should be alike.
While he favored a reduction, he would
oppose making distinction between
the two 81 =, <qsff-~ ss e..,
Custodian Egan took the floor and
requested to be heardsn He was granted
the permission, and he, then exclaimed
that he did not desire TO. speak for him
self, as he should probably leave the
employ of the committee, but he felt it
incumbent upon him to bespeak fair
treatment to his successor, no matter
who he might be. He went OH at some
length to show the need of an assistant
custodian.
Commissioner Wright also fancied
that there should be an assistant in
order to facilitate matters, but the mayor
felt differently, and at this juncture
1Ats uiitoSil IllS
Despite this, however, Aid. Zimmerman
felt impelled to fortify his position by
giving further reasons for his course.
He asserted that he bad been waited
upon by a hundred citizens who cry ont
under their burdens of taxation. They
had importuned him to do all in his
power to give relief, by cutting down
expenses, and it was his purpose to ac-
cOmpliS! the desired end.
The mayor settled the matter by ex-
planning that janitors may be called
upon to perform the Office of assistant
custodian and the resolution was passed,
Mr.. Liedman voting az inst because he
opposed raising the pay of the tiremen.
The pay rolls and usual bills were
passed and after The mayor announced
the appointment of these standing COM
mittees the committee adjourned.
On Claims-Copeland, DAILY and Mitsch.
On Purchases and Supples-Zimmerman
Copeland and Liedman --..-
On Lighting-Wri2ht, Daily and Zimmer-
man.
On Fuel-Daly. Zimmerman and Wright.
On Grounds - Wright Copeland and
Mitsch.
There was one other thing that came
in incidentally. Aid Zimmerman had
resolution terminating the lease held
by Milton Smith for the corridor cigar
and news stand, and awarded the same.
to A. w. Anderson. 1t was instantly
laid over upon the suggestion of the
mayor.