St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-06-07
AID. HARE's SALARY REDUCTION
RESOLUTION is PASSED IN i
TACT.
OBJECTIONS ARE NUMEROUS,
BUT RATHER THAN RISK FAIL.
URE THE EARLIER ACTION
is INDORSED.
SMOKE ORDINANCE PASSED,
In the Form Introduced by Mr..
Parker-ROutine of the Meet
ing.

4
After session lasting until II :.
o'clock last night the assembly con-
CURED with the board of aldermen by
adopting the resolution of Aid. Hare,
reducing the salaries of all the city
officials and of all subordinates re-
ceiving more than $1,000 per year.
The reductions have already been pub
lished. The resolution reduces all \
$4,000 salaries to $500; lops off $1,000
from the $4,000 paid to the comptroller,
and cuts the salary of the superin-
tendent of the workhouse from $500
to $4,000; the judges OF the municipalI
court from $4,000 each to $500 each;
clerk of municipal court from $500
to $1,000, and the secretary of the
water board from So, 500 to 81, 400. The
salaries of subordinate officials are
reduced in smaller proportion, the to-
tai saving amounting to $23, ,500-pro-
vided the resolution ever becomes OPP
erative, and this seems to be doubt
full
The matter was called up by special
vote, as it belonged to the board of all
dermen file, and in the ordinary course
of events would not have been reachedi
before midnight. But several members
of the committee of forty were pa
tiently waiting for the assembly to do
the deed so Assemblyman Johnson sug-
gested that as it was growing late, the
resolution might as we'll be taken up
| and disposed of.
Mr.. Johnson opened the discussion,
and all who followed agreed with him
in criticiSing some of the reductions
in the Hare resolution, though all de-
clared themselves in favor of reducing
salaries. Mr. Johnson said that the
Hare resolution went too far and
made some of the salaries ridiculously
low-notably those of the mayor, city
comptroller and superintendent of
workhouse. He declared that it looked
to him as though the Democratic all
dermen purposely went" Aid Mark
hams resolution zone better" In order
that they might play football with it
In case the assembly made any altera-
tions in the figures.
! RESOLUTION BY PARKER.
Just prior to the discussion of the
Hare resolution Mr.. Parker had intro
duced the following resolution, which
Mr.. Johnson now moved be taken from
the table:
Whereas, On account of the severe
financial depression it has become nee
essary that the utmost economy should
| be practiced in the management of the
various departments of the city gov-
| ernment; and
| Whereas, We are of the opinion that
the government of the city of ST. Paul
can be operated on far more econ
omical plan than at present and that
a large amount can be saved to the
citizens and taxpayers Of the city by
the practice of proper economy In
the public affairs of the city, now
therefore, be it
Resolved, That joint committee be
| appointed, consisting of two members
of the assembly, to be appointed by the
| president thereof, and two members OF
the board of aldermen, to be appointed
by the president thereof whose duties
| it shall be to inquire into the manage
ment of each department OF the city
| government to ascertain the expense
| of the operation thereof, and to de-
| termine as near as practicable the least
| amount for which said department can
| be properly and successfully operated,
| and report to the common council the
facts so ascertained and their recom-
! mendation in the matter, with a view
| to making such reductions and cur
tailments in expense as may be nec-
| eSary.
The resolution was adopted by a
unanimous vote. Subsequently Presi-
dent Copeland appointed Messrs. Par
ker and Lewis to represent the as
sembly's side of the committee.
| Mr.. Parker urged the assembly to
( pass the Hare resolution, though he
| made the same criticisms upon IL as
| Messrs. Johnson, Lewis and Arosin did.
| In order that the assembly might
learn the views of the corporation at
| torney upon the effect of the resolu-
| ton, Mr.. Parker read Mr.. Darragh's
/ opinion, which is herewith given inf
| full:
DARRAGHS OPINION. 4
Hon. Robert A. Smith Mayor of the
| City of ST. Paul-Dear Sir: In reply
| to your request for the opinion of this
| department relative to the power Of
! the common council, | have 70 advise
! you that the common council has no
| power to reduce the salaries OF mu- !
/ nicipal officers, or employees, i'll the tol- /
! lowing cases:
First-When such salaries are fixed
| by a legislative act which repeals all
former acts inconsistent herewith I
| and gives no power to the commons
council TO change such salaries.
Second-When such salaries are to ,
be fixed by independent boards under1
the law relating to such boards, and |
giving the directors, as commission
ers, full power to fix such salaries.
Third-When the salaries are to be-
| fixed by the chief of the department
and the common council simply haS3
the power to fix the gross amount Of
the clerk hire for the departments
such salaries when fixed by the chief
cannot be changed by the council.
.l.aKsf NfN
are to fixed by the common council
they may be reduced in its discretion.
The first rule applies TO the salaries
of the following officers. and they
cannot be reduced viz Mayor (see
Municipal Code, 1893, p. 800, city
352), city clerk municipal Code. 1893,
D. 351), city treasurer CMunicipal Code,
D. 500. corporation attorney (Munici-
pal Code, p. 21D, first assistant COR
poration attorney CMunicipal Code, p-
355), city engineer municipal Code, p.
pal Code, p. 2OO, clerk Of municipal
court municipal Code, D. 20O, COM
missioner of health (Municipal Code,
D. 352), members of board of public
works (Municipal Code. p. 800, build
ing inspector (Municipal Code. p. 30S).
chief engineer of fire department.
(Municipal Code, p. S53). first and Sec
ond assistant engineers of fire DEPART
ment (AIunicipal Code, D. 35S).
The salary of the secretary or the
board Of water commissioners (Munici-
pal Code, p. 212); and the superintend-
ent of the water department (Munici-
pal Code, p. 212) are fixed by the COM
nnissioners of the water board, with
the approval of the common council,
and as such salaries have been fixed
by the board with the approval OF the
council for the present year, they cam
not be reduced until the expiration OF
the year without action first being had
by the board.