The morning call., 1892-02-27
FIREMEN'S SALARIES.
Auditor Smiley Gives His Views
in Plain Talk.
He Refuses to Sanction the Political Pick
ings by the Fire Department Be-
ca1ss Il Is Illegal.

Auditor SmHey's continued refusal TO approve
the salary warrants ct certain newly made fire.
men bas become the saDjecs OF sever comment
in political cIlces besides attracting some
public attention ana mole or less sympathy.
Ii II uu. uncommon 90 heai the leclouded Ere
men referred 10 IS sadly i.l-freated victims OF
bard-hea ded, autUcratc Official and that sc is "a
great shame that they aud their poor, suffering
families should be kept down 10 this manner
month after month. Tie ouus or the whole
situation appears 10 be aimed at the Auditor
personally, without taking into consideration
thai be Is bound by legal restrictions, and this i,
What he particularly objects 10.
he holds that IL is lis duty. so FAR as il lies IN
bis power. 10 protect the city from Illegal
plu8deIDg, and Tor that reason oniv-G0l b.
cause lie has auy objection 10 more tramen or to
any particular fIem-u-does be tase his present
stand. Questioned On he subject yesterday, he
expressed bis mind very freely.
a CONSTANT PRESSURE BROUGHT.
There IS a constant pressure Oh the Auditor"
said lie so have him approve stale auu unlawful
CLAIMS Pursuing Tie sjilct iiue Of Hiy official
duy every claim that comes IN this Office is
critically examined. Some claims fer small
amouats emDOdy a principle, which, If estab-
llshtd. might result iu great pecuulJry loss. Ia
one notable Instance / refused 10 approve q claim
which, had t0oihoia been granted would nave
cost the CITY neatly million OF dollars. THIS at
tracted no attention al tue time, but the fact re
There Appeals 90 be conceutra ed raid on
the Auditor 90 behalf Of 4 few gO-calied mem.
beers OF the lire Department. My acIs in this
connection are based upon section 81 OF tie con-
s0lldatiOu acl, which declares Every demand
upon lie Treasurer must be presented 10 the
Auditor who shall satisfy himself whether tie
money Is Legally due. No demand can
be approved or paid unless il specifies each item,'
etc, aud refers 10 he law by title. date and sec
tIOn authorizing The same.
BASED UPOS THE LAW.
THE law upon which is based the demands OF
the engineers. which ] have refused 10 aD-
prove IS section OF tie act OF March 8. 1873.
Let n.e quote part OF that law to you: The
officers OF Tie Fire Department shall be tour
assistant engineers The demands of these four
assistant engineers have always been promptly
approved. But three more assistant engineers
have been placed Oh The roll and lhe legality Of
their demands rests entirely on section Of that
acr ] cannot lawfully audit tie demands Of
seven assistant engineers when the law expressly
iiuIts The number TO four.
Nor is thls The only Instance OF the varied
; I'D vain attempts 70 make Tie Auditor unfalh-
fu TO his trust Offices in the department have
been created ad hbitum, Without warrant OF
Iaw-asssIant draymen, assistant hOstierS. clp-
tains Of wafer towers, foremen OF chemical
engines, etc.
u rec0guize fully that iu this progressive age.
wateI-tuWegS, chemical engines, and such, are
necessities. But these aud ike claims came 10
me win reference 10 and based upon section 6
81 Tie act Of March, 1873, before mentioned
NO such Office as captain Is provided Tor iu that
law. Tie section says, Each steam fire com
pany shall consist OF one foreman (sal-
airy $40 month";; each hose company shall
consist OF one foreman fsdlarV $40
month";; each nook ana ladder company shall
consist Of one foreman (saIaIy $40 a
m0utL.
THF LATEST ATTEMPT MADE.
"The att mpt is now made 10 force the Aud.
itOT 90 ray 'fOremeH' OF chemical engines SIPS
instead OF $40. which Is the only COMPENSATION
That can be lawfully given 10 fOremeu. But
new ONCE IS created. 'captainp IL won't sur
prise BIT Il We afe moi infested win com
mOdOTes' or admUais' bedccked with epauleItes
and Unset pal adlng 10 fiery red silver plated
bUggieS tor The deleciatiou OF The admuug pub.
iic But political pets acting in The capacity Of
IOTrmeu' can never with my official consent
receive Sl2J a month when he limit allowed by
law is S45."
The AUDITORS expression OF determination as
he uJ1eged these words left no room for doubt
that be had ''COme 10 stay on this line.
~ was an active fireman 10 san Francisco"
he continued. "bel0Ie many Of the present mem
berS If the Fire Department were born, aud I
am heartily 10 sympathy With tie best Of them.
Their eXertiOns when properly directed have
always received my cUmmeudaliOn. Bur as the
demands a paTd0ned and uapaldOnrd cOuviCts
are beng constantly presented for my approval,
] shall exercise the greatest care in the exam
iuation 81 their ci8ims, and none shall draw
cent That they ale not entitled 10 by law"