St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-24
SHARP IS THE KNIFE,
But Reformers Still Doubtful
Just Where to Stick
1t In.
Reardon Evidently Itches for
a Chance to Cut at Demo-
Gratis.
A Peculiar Case in Which An
other Copper Quickly
Resigns.
Unfortunate Accident to a
Young Dakotan by a Pts
tol Shot.

The "retrenchment and reform" fever
has not abated. Assemblyman Rear
don is as hot to cut down salaries and
compensations as he was in the election
campaign, and in this respect he is an
anomaly, for there are mighty few poll
ticianS who really have the courage of
their convictions. Reardon, on the
contrary, is determined to cut every
emplOye of the city down to minimum,
especially if that employe chances to be
Democrat.
Mr.. Montgomery suggested at the
meeting of the special committee yes
terday that the salary OF the chief of
police, $500. was little too high, but
bis was one of the things fixed by the
city charter. Mr.. Reardon wanted to
know about the salaries of the detect
Ives, and lie was notified by the mem
bers present that there could be
no tampering with these, SO
he turned his attention to the
health office. The tabulated statement
of salaries showed that Lorenzo HOyt
was receiving SIS month and Robert
son got $50, and Hendrickson also is
paid s75. 1t was argued that both Rob-
ertson and Hendrickson are non-res-
dents, and to give them their proper
Quietus, AID. Franklin moved that no
nonresident of the. city be kept In its
employ, and the motion prevailed.
Then the subject of vehicles allowed
10 run Oh sidewalks came up. Franklin
cited the city charter and showed that
no hack, wagon or cart could cross a
u idewalk without a permit from the
III ay0r, and he made the point that
hi cycles often violate this law, although
nothing is really done with it.
AT this Juncture, Inspector Morris, of
the building department, was intro
duced. Mr.. Reardon suggested that
cut could lie made in the salaries OF his
department, but Mr.. Morris explained
that not a man in his employ was re-
ceiying high or eXOrbitant cOmpensa-
ton, and the prices were left intact.
One of the most important themes
question of curtailing the expenses of
the board of public works. Mr.. German,
the president, was summoned, and he
explained that while it might be posi-
bic to dispense with the services of one
man, the city would not profit by the
change. Every man is in charge
of important work and every
man must do good service.
The bone of contention, however, cane
up when the question of street commits
sioners' pay was considered. Mr.. Mont
gOmery pointed to the fact that Mr..
Stanley receives $3.50 a month. and
President German, of the board of pub
lie works, brought out the reminder
that Shaniey has charge of all the
bridges and that his responsibilities are
considerable. There was no change
made.
Aid. Franklin was of the opinion that
economies might be employed, but he
seemed to be in doubt as to just how to
apply his theory.
Franklin moved that no employe of
the street commission force be paid to
exceed $1,000 per annum, and this pre-
vailed. But it was not without pro-
tracted discussion.
The tabulation that had been submit
ted by the city engineer of the monthly
salaries drawn by the different employees
OF the street commissioners force reads:
&. b. Stanley, $50; j. Maher, 500;
j. Sofranet. 500: NJ. Lux, 500; p. j.
Gleason. 500: T. Mcclure, 1925; 7. J.
Murray. $50. The compensation allowed
Mcclure and Stanley. somewhat in ex-
cess of the other commissioners, was a
matter that ReardOn and DAILY marveled
at; still the list was passed for the
nOnce.
Reardon then jumped on the board of
public works. He urged that the charter
provided for the expenditure of $4,000
only in salaries, while the pay roll
shows 81, $40 in excess. He objected to
this sort of thing, and Assistant Cor
poratiOn Attorney Michaels was sum-
moned to conStrue tine Bell charter. He
had not looked up the subject and was
little reticent, although he gave it as an
opinion that the secretary of the board
is city official and not included in the
schedule. Upon Mr.. Daily's motion
the salary list of the board of public
works was cut to three clerks at COM
pensation of 500 week as whole, and
upon motion of Aid Franklin it was
voted that the board of public works be
notified that reduction must be made
to Sl,S40 year in the clerical staff.
montgomery was Stickler for char
ter provisions and read the Bell act
present. He agreed that the committee
paid firemen and also policemen.
Reverting to the street commission
ers, Mr.. Daily moved that Mr.. Shanley's
salary be cut to 500 month, and this
was adopted, and after an informal dis
cussion of the compensation of other
city employees, in which the assistant
city clerk was pulled over the Goals
with the others, the committee adj
Journed until O'Clock tomorrow after
noon.
Mountains of New Fall Hats
Rise from the counters OF the "Plym-
outh" Hat department and fall before
the army Of buyprS