The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-14
A SALARY ORDINANCE.
This One is for the Purpose of
Amending
Two or Three of the Salaries of
City Employees.
Other Matters Settled by the City
Council Last Night-Items.

The city council came near having
trouble about a salary ordinance" last
night. Nothing will throw the city
council and citizens in general into such
state of CONSERVATION as the mention
OF a salary ordinance. One faction is
afraid that salaries are to be raised and
another is fearful that they will be re-
duced.
But in this case there was no cause
for excitement for if there ever was
harmless little ordinance it was the
salary ordinance" introduced and
passed last night. The ordinance was
introduced simply to take a load off the
shoulders of the committee on claims
and accounts and that is all.
The council by resolution has for
years allowed the street commissioner
$40 per month for the use of horse.
The deputy city clerk by the same
method was allowed So a month for ex-
ira work performed for the mayor. The
stenographer to the city attorney is also
allowed SIS additional. These extras
have been presented in the form of bills
and allowed by the committee on claims
and accounts. The ordinance places
these amounts part of the regular
salaries of the officers named. So no
salary was raised by the ordinance.
But Councilman Skinner was lying in
wait with a knife up his sleeve. He
does not believe that the street COM
missioner should be allowed $40 for the
use of his horse and he went after the
ordinance in his usually vigorous man
ner.
When we came together under this
administration said Mr.. Skinner dra-
matically, I'VE passed a salary ordi-
nance and I think we did noble and
a wise act. Now 1 believe we should
stand by our guns. We should pay sal
aries that will enable the poor man to
pay his tax and support his family. If
any salaries are to be raised believe in
| commencing at the other end of the
line
Mr.. Skinner then charged the street
| commissioner with keeping two of his
| sons on city work. 1.-The tax payers
! are furnishing the music for us to
| dance, he continued, land if we set a
| faster pace they will have to play fast
| over my protest I will submit but when
1 go home tonight and lay this little old
! gray head on the pillow l will feel that
| L have done my duty"
| Councilman Warner of the Fifth
ward explained that the ordinance in
! creased the pay of no officer of the city
! but was for the purpose of facilitating
| the work of the committee on claims
and accounts. Il understand said he
| that when the resolution was intro
! duced allowing the street commission
| er $40 for the use of his horse Mr. Skin
ner was one of its supporters and
| ed his change of heart. The records
| show that he voted for the resolution"
Councilman Skinner said he believed
the committee on claims and accounts
should stick to the ordinance. He did
not believe in allowing other claims
On the vote Councilmen Burgess,
| Warner, Roundtree, Nettels, Drew and
Morgan voted for the ordinance
and Elliott against it.
Under the new ordinance the salary
of the street commissioner will be SS5
per month and he will be made no al
lowance for a horse. The deputy citv
clerk will receive $50 per month and the
stenographer to the city attorney $50.