St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-26
STRIFE IN THE AIR.
Aid. Woodward and Gray Had
Their Sparring Gloves on
Yesterday,
But They Did Not Quite Come
to Blows Over the Fire.
men.
A. T. Ankeny Returns and
Talks About the National
Committee Meeting.
Decision Of a Big Suit in the
District Court--Burns
Celebrations.

The council committee on fire depart
ment tackled the pay roll investigation
yesterday morning, with Aldermen
Woodward, Farnsworth and Flanders
present, and City Clerk Haney Otficiat-
ing as secretary. Aid. Gray, who
brought about the investigation and has
shown very lively interest in the mat
ter under scrutiny. was also present,
and the meeting had hardly been we'll
opened before he and Chairman Wood
ward, of the committee, INDUCED in a
lively little set-to
Aid. Woodward inquired of Aid. Gray
how the committee on claims learned of
the Irregularities in the pay rolls, and
why it was that the committee on fire
department had not been appraised of
these things at the same time. Aid.
Gray replied that the pay rolls them
selves showed the discrepancies and
also showed that the monthly rolls had
steadily increased from SlT,49l.06 in
January, 1891, TO S19, 1882. in December,
of the same year, and that the depart
ment had exceeded Its appropriation for
the year by $500.
How is it that this came to the
knowledge of the committee on claims
when the committee on fire department
was not informed of it?" inquired Aid.
Woodward.
probably because the committee on
claims was attending to its business and
the committee on fire department
WASN'T retorted Aid. Gray.
Aid. Woodward remarked that in his
opinion the city comptroller was not
acting properly in giving Aid. Gray the
tip on matters of this kind instead of
reporting to the council or the proper
committee.
Secretary Snyder was called upon,
and stated in explanation of the increase
in his salary that he had asked the
chief to raise his pay to 800 per month,
in consideration of the great increase in
his work, and the chief had given him
a favorable answer. He entered his
salary upon the pay roll at the increased
figure. 1t did not occur TO him that
there might be anything irregular in
the action.
Chief Runge stated that he had told
Snyder that he would raise his salary
without thinking that in doing so he
was exceeding his authority. 1t was
tine same in the case of Head. In re-
gard to the horseshoers the chief said
that the commissioners on fire depart
ment had suggested the plan of having
the department DO Its own ShOelng, ana
he had acted upon it. The men, how
ever, were detailed from the depart
ment itself and not appointed
for this purpose, The excess of
| $500 over the appropriation he
explained by stating that there had been
200 fires more than during the preced-
ing year. and that great deal or new
apparatus had been bought. The re-
pair shops he sad had done work at a
cost OF $1,000, which would have cost
ST, 900 outside.
City Attorney Russell, when asked
for all opinion, stated that the chief had
no authority to make appointments or
changes in salary except subject 10 the
! approval of the council.
Chief Runge was requested to pre-
| pare a statement showing the increases
in the salary list and how they came
about.
During the afternoon session Aid.
| Rollins said thai the city comptroller
called the attention of the city council
in July last to the fact that the fire de-
| partment appropriation was being over
! drawn. and that the matter was referred
to the committee on ways and means.
where it was lost sight of completely.
| The committee adjourned to meet
| again Thursday.