The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-25
THE CUT IN SALARY.
Hangs Over All Like . Sword
Of Damocles.
FilIo APPLICANTS WITH FEAR.
And Lesne1s tAo Numbse Apply1ng fog
0vn service DlsalEs. EspscaAlly
In Firs Deparfneas.
FsLls APPLICANTS WIN FEAR.

The iAsrcducficA o. civil service rufss
was setback 10 many Of the gentlemen
Who believe in ofsciaI rewards for political
services. whether thsy have aay c1nlifca-
co1s far the once being . consideration
too remote for thar erztAnding, ba. to
the great majority Of citizens who Eel, that
they could pass any reasonable examsna-
fioa for the once for which they applied
the adoption os the civil service sysssm
seemed TO be move In the right direction
But Just at the moment when this new
system 3 icing put into operation the city
council appoints . committee to cut down
salaries What this cut viii be nobody
knows, or VIII know. until Monday even
Ing. when the committee viii report the
result Of its ard1ous labors to the council
When man applies for any position he
usually does 90 with knowledge OF what
the position win bring him as salary.
Those who desire 70 apply for positions
under the municipal government OF this
csty. owing 70 the appointment OF the sal
AIRY committee, are In the dark on this
point
To this may be attributed the fact that
me number OF applications for examina-
tons for ofaciai positions up to yesterday
was only 80. while the number of positions
TO be filed is over 80. The number OF Ia bor
applicants Is 10. which il as large as could
be expected. for II ID believed that the city
council VIII not Care 10 cut the wages OF
labor even down to the day rate tia. bust
ness firms are paying.
Today 10 the last day Ia which 20 f,,a
Applications for the police and fire eepart-
ments- Up TO last night four applications
for examination for the position Of chief
OF police had been fled. sixty for the police
department. and about nsnety-esgh, for the
fre department. These numbers viii no
doubt be largely increased today. as in re-
gard TO the firemen particularly, many OF
the present force have not put in their ap-
piications for examinations, on the ground
that II the salary Is cut they do not desire
to continue In such positions. This is q
wrong view to take OF IL. II they do not
ME their papers today they cannot go up
tor examination. and IL they do, ana the
cut in salaries Ii more than they can
ton.
There was . rumor yesterday that a pc
ction had been circulated among trades
people that both the nremen and police
were to have their salaries cut to 80 a
month. and asking the tradespeople 10 pro-
test against II. but none OF these petitions
could Be found. The salaries COMMITTEES
sat yesterday. but none OF the members
had any information TO give about their
protracsec deliberations. beyond the de-
cssion TO report to the council on Monday
night, and that there were certain points
In this report ~ TO which all the members
were not yet decided, which would be set.
tied at meeting on Monday afternoon.
Civtl Service Commissioner Blaine re-
marked yesterday that II was unfortunate
that the cutting Of salaries should take
place Just at the time the civil service
rules vent Into effect He said that IL any
serious cut was made, and the city as a
consequence obtained but inferior service.
there would be an attempt a year from
now to saddle the blame upon the civil
service.
One thing that Is bothering everybody
interested In police affairs Is the exact
position Chief Rogers occupies No one
seems to be able TO ssnd out whether he
pus IN an application TO be examined. and
until the matter Is settled there VIII be a
doubt about his being beaten In the race
for the chieftalnship. Sergf- Templeton
has been mentioned frequently OF late a.
being . good man to step into Rogers
shoes. but II IL understood that he applied
to be examined for q sergeantship.
Mayor Wood has given some corsidera-
ton to the problems that are botherlng
fremen and policemen. as will be seen By
the following letter. which was posted at
IRE and police headquarters last evening:
TO the Officers and Members OF the Fire
and Police Departments Of the City OF Se-
etlr-tfeEltmtD- II EAg come TO my
knowledge that there - an Apprehension
IN the minds Of some members. al least, Of
the above named departments that II they
apply for higher positions than they now
hold. and fail 70 get such higher positions.
they may be left OF the force By the new
chiefs when they come TO organize their
departments.
Il do not think there Is any danger OF
such a result. but 70 settle any possible
doubt on that point beg to assure you
that all members Of the above departments
VIII be fully protected against any such
discrimination
1T has been suggested that some Of the
members IN said departments hesitate 10
take the civil service examination on &C.
count OF limited eiucstion-
''ft Is the desire OF the administration
that, 50 far ss possible. all persons now
In the service OF the city shall continue
therein under the civil service recrwsng-a-
ton. that tire city may have the benefit of
their experiences. The value OF experience
viii be taken into account by the exar,in-
Ing board as q partial offset AZ least for
limited education. I an advised BY the
secretary cf the civil service commission
that persons who pass the examination
and become eligible for higher positions.
hut fail 10 receive the sppoia tneut there
for, VIII be eligible. under the same exam
nation. for lower positions in ,hs szne
service 20 which fh~ir papers entifie them
hut that II they fail 70 pass such exa-nfn-
alton for higher Position they cannot be
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