St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-06
SOMEBODY DISCOVERS A PIECE
OF LAW TOUCHING CERTAIN
OFFICIALS, PAY.
POLICE AND FIRE CHIEFS
AND THE LATTER,S ASSISTANTS
SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING
AT REDUCED WAGES.
THE APPROVAL OF DIR. STONE
Given to Garbage Bill Calls
Down the Displensure of the
Assembly.


ness with unprecedented dispatch
last night, adjourning before 10 p.
m. AS was the case at the meeting
of the aldermen Tuesday night, the
pay rolls furnished the most inter-
esting subject for discussion. But
this time a new feature appeared.
When the clerk came to the reg
ular November pay rolls of the po-
lice and fire departments, attached
to them was a recommendation by
the assembly committee on ways and
means that the pay rolls be approved
as to all the persons named thereon
save the chief Of police, the chief
engineer of the fire department and
his first assistant.
Mr.. Parker, of the committee on
ways and means, explained it's &C
ton. He said that the attention Of
the committee had been called only
a few hours prior to the meeting to
chapter 242 of the General Laws of
1895, in which there is section pro-
viding that after July 1, 1895, the
salaries of the chief of police and
chief engineer of the fire department
shall be reduced from $3,500 per year
to $500, and the salary of the chief
from $4,000 to $1,S00 per year. The
chapter also contains provision that
nothing in the act contained shall
apply to any present incumbent OF
any of the offices named"
Mr.. Parker and Mr.. Lewis doubted
whether the chief of police was en-
titled to draw a salary since last
July greater than $500 year. They
raised the same question as to the
chief engineer of the fire department
and his first assistant. Mr.. Parker
said that it was doubtful whether
the clause excepting present in
cumbents" applied to the chief Of
police, who is not supposed to have
a definite term of office, but holds
it from day to day at the pleasure
of the mayor. AS for the chief OF the
fire department and his assistant,
the committee had formed no def
mite opinion, but by reason of the
uncertainty Of the entire matter, the
committee recommended that the
pay rolls be passed as to all save
these three officials, whose cases
would be considered more at length.
Mr.. Lewis insisted that the council
could not conscientiously pass the
entire pay roll without receiving
more light on the subject.
Accordingly the pay rolls were
passed after striking from them the
names of the three officials named.
Thereupon it was decided that when
the assembly adjourned it should ad-
journ until next Thursday evening
to consider this matter.
JUMP ON STONE.
The garbage contractors Novem-
ber bill and Health Commissioner
Stones qualified approval of it ere
ated the same kind of a disturb
ance as the October bill. DR.. Stone
approved the bill by indorsing it in
these words:
81 approve this bill as being the
monthly proportion Of the contract
price, but not as indicating that the
work has been performed as required
by the contract. The sum OF IS
should be deducted as fines"
The committee on ways and means
made no formal report, but Mr. Far
ker made known his views in forci-
BILE language. He said: ii
ST would like to know what, DR..
Stone means by indorsing a bill in
this way. The health department
evidently doesn't know what 1t is
about. This is a ridiculous perform
ance. I am sick and tired of such
foolishness. 1 recommend the pas
sage of the bill"
Mr.. Johnson agreed with Mr.. Par
ker that it was the duty of the health
commissioner either to audit or not
to audit the bill The charter re-
ouired him to pass upon it. Such an
Endorsement as that which DE-. Stone
had Inscribed was absurd and RI
diculous.
absolute rot-net," commented
Mr.. Parker.
Mr.. Lewis contended that the in
dorsement on the bill was not an
audit, and therefore he would vote
to disallow the bill.
The bill was thereupon disalloWed
by a vote of to 4, then reconsldered
and re-referred to the committee on
ways and means, which will inter-
view the health department on the
matter.
LIGHTING QUESTION.
Aid. Brady's lighting resolution
provoked some discussion. A motion
to refer it to the joint committee on
gas was lost. The resolution itself
twas then adopted by vote of to 1,
cMr. Robb voting against it.
Immediately following it came the
Hare resolution, practically the same
in character, though not calling for
a Joint meeting of the council to
consider the lighting question. The
assembly indefinitely postponed con-
sideration of this resolution, as it
called for report from the board OF
public works on Dec. 5.
few minutes later, Mr.. Van Slyke
|, announced that he desired to change
his vote on the Brady resolution from
i Eyes" to no." inasmuch as that meas
,1re directed the board of public works
to inquire into the cost of the city's
owning and opera ting a lighting plant.
Mr.. Van Slyke was opposed to the
city's doing anything of the kind and
in this connection he charged the
Parker investigating committee with
suggesting the scheme.
Mr.. Parker could not let this mis-
take go uncorrected. He informed Mr.
van Slyke that the resolution did not
express the views Of the Investigating
committee, but came from Aid. Brady.
Mr. Parker added that he was ready to
vote for any measure that would re-
suit in giving the city more light. The
explanation satisfied Mr.. Van Slyke,
and he did not renew his request to
have his vote changed.
The six bids for gasoline lighting
were referred to the joint committee
on gas without being read.