St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-25
The Knife Committee -Reck-
lessly at Work for Public
Effect.
Charter Provisions Cover
Many Of the Very Men
They're After.
Fine Combing the Depart
mentS for Chances to
Make q Record.
No Thought of the Result Of
Gripping Valuable Mu-
nicipal Arms.

oaidIleS Htlu oil duJQuTHtu SeSSiOH YES
terday afternoon. The work done or
talked about Tuesday was gone over
again at the meeting yesterday, and
after session of two hours the commit
tee had made little if any progress.
President German, of the board of pub
lie works, was before the committee
and was questioned about the number
of clerks in that department and the
salaries paid them. According to the
opinion of the committee the $4,000 set
apart by the charter to pay clerk salaries
in this department should cover the
salary of the clerk of the board as we'll
as other clerk hire. Mr.. German said
he was not there to argue the question,
but as he understood it the clerk of the
board was city officer, and as such his
salary should not come out of the Sc, 600
set apart for clerk hire in the depart
ment. His idea was to allow the board
to fix salaries of clerks and not have
the committee fix them. Aid. Mont
gomery said there were at present sew
ell clerks, and the committee had de-
cided $1,000 was all that could be used
for salaries; the board had explained
that none Of the clerks could be
were apportioned now either some of
the clerks would have to be discharged
or the salaries cut to get inside the
limit. The suggestion was made that
if the board would send in list of
clerks and salaries it might help out the
committee. MIR. German thought it
would be better to let the board fix the
salaries as they deemed proper, but to
this the committee would not agree,
their recommendation that no salaries be
over 500 per month in any department
being. pushed to the front. Mr.. DAILY
said he had been informed that Mr..
kerker, clerk of the board, was not
capable man for the position. This in
formation he had been given by a clerk
in the office. Mr.. Montgomery said he
had been told by clerk III the Office
that Mr.. KerkeI was a very valuable
man. Mr.. German being appealed to,
SAID the duties of the clerk were numer-
Gus, and had general charge of the office.
He mentioned the duties in detail, and
wound up by saying the clerk was re-
quired to give bonds in a good sum for
the proper performance of his duties.
Mr.. DAILY wasn't satisfied with this. and
went out for Mr.. Kerker in order that
the committee might hear an eXpIana-
ton of just what the duties of the office
were. Mr.. Kerker, being introduced,
said his principal duties were to see
that all orders of the board were
carried out. He aid a part of
the work in the Office and
Nj. Erwin assisted him. He received
all reports from the different depart
mentS, wrote all communications and
reports to the council, and had general
supervision of the Office. Mr.. Erwin,
he said, had charge of the publication
proceedings, made up monthly reports
to the conference committee, and did
other work when called upon or direct
ed. Mr.. franklin wanted to know
whether, if the salary should be re-
duced by the committee to 81 900. Mr..
kerker would not consider he was
getting fair wages. This proposition
seemed to strike the clerk in such a
manner as to render him speeches.. as
he made no reply to the question. AS
clerk Of the board, his hours were from
a. m. to 5 p. m, and sometimes longer,
depending upon the amount of work.
This statement seemed to satisfy Mr..
DAILY and the other members, and
MIR. kerker was allowed to de-
| part. The duties OF Mortenson, another
clerk. were questioned. Mr.. German
| said MortensOn had charge of the rec
| ordS of the board, which were required
| to be kept in readable shape, so that
| evidence and testimony in any action
| by the board could be referred to. He
considered MOrtenSon one Of the most
valuable men in the office. Mr.. Reardon
said it didn't make much matter about
the salaries as, according to his
$4,000 was to be spent by the
board for clerk hire. Figuring that the
salary of Mr.. Kerker came out of that
| sum, it would leave very little to pay
the other clerks. The comptroller, he
| thought, would take this view, and the
result would be there would be no
money to pay salaries fol the last four
months of the year. Assistant City
| Attorney Michaels said he was not
prepared to give all opinion as to
whether Mr.. Kerker was to be paid as
city officer or to be paid from the
amount set apart for CLERK hire. He
| but would hand one in to the committee
in day or so. The matter was laid over
until the next meeting, but the COM
mittee SAID afterward that there was no
chance for any other opinion than the
| Que they had expressed to be given.
Engineering Department..
The city engineers Office was again
| taken up, communication being re-
ceived which stated that $500 per month
| had been saved already. The engineer
| did not think salaries less than $50 per
! month should be reduced. The places
| of the men drawing lower salaries might
easily be filled, but the engineers that
| have been long in service might
not be easily replaced. 1t woulp
he penny wise and pound
foolish to run the risk of losing the serv-
ices of such men. The cost of the de-
partment had been reduced from
S54, 154.O2, in 1889, to $4O,3l9.0S. in 1891.
| The management of all engineering
| work of the water and park boards had
been added last year to the work of the
| engineering department. where at least
| $1,000 per year had been expended be-
| fore. He was of the opinion that when
the season closed the field parties could
be reduced by the discharge of another
| crew.
Aid. Montgomery wanted the street
commissioners salaries cut down. He
knew that the man who was mployed
in his district would be glad to work for
5000 year, and he thought the others
would also. Mr.. Reardon said that
there were not more than one of the
eight men who were worth the money
| paid them. His idea was to have one
street commissioner and the balance
bosses. The salary of the commissioner
ought to be $1,000, and the rest of the
men paid by the day.
AID: montgomery said he had talked
with MIR. Rundlett and President Cor.
man, and they both said the work could
be done much cheaper. The committee
decided to recommend the fixing of the
head commissioner, c. B. STANLEY. a
500 per month instead of $50. r. Ma
guire will get 800 per month: the 9th
ers. j. Maher, j. Safranek, Nj. Lux. P
J. Gleason, n. Schuntz, II. j. Murray
will be recommended to be paid SIS pc
month.
Out of Their Reach.
The health Office salaries were cor
sidered, but Mr.. Montgomery said tn
law fixed it So that the health commits