St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-24
PLAYING UP TO The LIMIT.
CITY TREASURER MILLER HAS A TILT
WITH ASSEM8LYMEH
ON THE SALARY QUESTION.

The Treasurer Stands Pat Tor his
Clerks and Their Salaries and
the Victory Is His-Reardon's
Chase After the Board of Pub
lie Works Rests-Bids for Pens
and Supplies Opened.
The committee on streets from the
assembly held short session yesterday
afternoon The investigation projected
by Assemblyman Reardon's resolution.
alleging that the board of public works
played favorites in getting out sprlnk-
ling assessment warrants, was laid over
two weeks. Mr.. Reardon said the man
whom he expected to get information
from was out of the city.
The report of the city treasurer, show
ing the force in his office included eight
clerks at monthly salary of s6S3.333,
caused some little discussion. City
Treasurer Miller said all of the clerks
row employed were needed, and at the
present rate the amount allowed by the
charter, $4,000 per year, for clerk hire
in his office, would not be exhausted. In
fact he said there would be a surplus OF
about $3.50 left at the close OF the year.
Mr.. Doran thought there was no need
of eating up the exact amount men-
toned i'll the charter for clerk hire In
this or any other Office simply because
the charter said it could be expended.
The Sixth ward assemblyman thought
there might be reduction III the force
or salaries.
Mr.. Miller plainly told the committee
as long as lie was responsible under his
bond there would be noreduction either
in salaries or force.
Mr.. Lightner called the city treasurer
down right smartly by telling him that
the charter gave the council the right to
fix the pay of clerks or. rather, to say
how much money should be spent for
clerk hire. He explained, however. that
it was not question of power, but
rather of right which the committee de-
sired to pass on.
This talk brought Miller from his
acknowledgements position very
quickly, and he explained that this was
his busy season, and all the clerks were
needed; in fact, he was compelled to
work his men nights to keep up with
the work in the office.
Mr.. Doran was of the opinion that
under the circumstances the salaries OF
the clerks should be reduced, claiming
that 81, 600 year was very good pay fOl
clerical work at the present tine.
Mr.. Schuette and Mr.. Lightner, how
ever. were both i'll favor of allowing the
treasurer all the clerk hire he needed
so long as he kept within the charter
allowance, and the resolution was
buried.
Two weeks ago the city attorney
asked for authority to commence pro-
ceedings against the bondsmen of the
Seven Corners bank, who were Sureties
for the $4,000 of the city's money which
was on deposit when the bank SuS-
pended. At the time the SuretieS APP
Feared and asked fer little time, and
promised to consult with the city at
tOIney. Yesterday that official Informed
the committee he had not seen nor
heard from the gentlemen. The matter
was laid over two weeks.
The committee recommended the pas
sage of the resolution repeating the
resolutions allowing the superintendent
of the police alarm system linenan
and operator to be paid from the gen-
eraI fund. The city attorney stated
that the resolutions were illegal and the
council had no power to pass them, and
while it cut no figure as 10 the two men
getting any pay, it was best to have the
resolutions repealed.
The city engineer was requested to
have the men now at work under the
$4,000 appropriation put Mississippi
street in a passable condition, there
being no money in the general fund fol
this work