The herald., 1898-11-08
LCOULD NOT AGREE
COUNCIL FAILS TO AMEND THE
SALARY ORDINANCE
GOES TO FINANCE COMMITTEE
An Amendment offered by Which All
Salaries Of Chief Deputies Were to
Be Raised-Council Notes

The increase of salary SO ardently sought
after by Second Assistant City Attorney
Thomas and Deputy City Engineer King
was again before the city council yesterday,
but for various reasons did not receive as
warm reception as that with which it was
greeted by the same body two weeks ago.
Yesterday the matter appeared in a message
from the mayor in which he said:
l herewith return the enclosed requi-
sition of city engineer for extra pay for
his chief deputy, without my approval,
for the same reason given in my mes
sage of October Goth.
The reasons given by Mayor Snyder were
that he thought it would be establishing
bad precedent to approve requisition pro-
viding for the payment, to an officer of the
city, salary larger than that allowed under
the salary ordinance.
In his message he advised the council that
If it intended to make the proposed changes
to do SO by legal methods, which would be
by amending the salary ordinance passed by
the council on jug 10Th. The council ac-
knowledged the justice of the mayors veto
and at its meeting October 3lst requested
the city attorney to amend the ordinance so
as to fix the salary of Deputy City Attorney
Thomas at $l35 per month and that of
ACpuVy SIOy GuSiIlccT NIHB az plCU, anu CndC
the ordinance be dated back to Julylst. At
the meeting yesterday the amended ordi-
nance was presented, whereupon Mr.. Toll
moved that it be adopted.
At this stage in the proceedings Council
man Nickel saw what he considered an op-
portunity to do friendly turn for one of
his friends, SO he offered as an amendment
that the salary of the chief deputy in the
city clerks office be raised from 800 to 800.
He said in support of his amendment that
he considered the work of the clerks chief
deputy as worthy of an increase as those of
the others named.
This had paralyzing effect on the men,
bers favoring the increase. 1t was almost
minute before anyone spoke, then Mr.. Ash
man rose slowly to his feet and seconded the
amendment. From that time it became ap-
parent that it would be impossible to pass
the ordinance as proposed by Mr.. Toll, and
that gentleman appreciating the fact, moved
that if the ordinance was to be amended to
the betterment of half the deputies, he was
in favor that all the chief deputies should
be raised from 500 to 500 per month. He
called the councils attention to the system
which had been adopted at the commence
ment of the fiscal year when the budgets for
the several departments had been made. At
that time he said no provision had been
made in the department apportionments for
increased salaries, and he did not see how
changes carrying such a large amount could
be made. Mr.. Toll was supported and upon
his motion the matter was again referred
to the city attorney.
Mr.. Nickel said that he did not believe
that there was any law to uphold the coun-
ell in passing such an act. II think" he
said, 1--WE have no right to go back three
months andsc schange the reading of an ordi-
nance from that date. If we can 60 back
three months we can go back three years,
and in my opinion there is no law that
would uphold SO illegal an act. I think it
would be wrong principle and bad perce-
dent"
"Then you acknowledge that you voted on
m illegal measure" said Mr.. Toll, "when
you voted last Monday in favor of the re-
QUESTION of Mr.. Thomas" Mr.. Toll then
called his attention to the fact that all sal
Try ordinances date back to the commence
ment of the fiscal year. Mr.. Nickel retorted
that this was true of the regular salary ordi-
nance because they could not be passed until
after the completion of the assessment roll.
The matter was then dropped but was
later again revived by Mr.. Toll, who moved
a reconsideration, stating that he thought
The proper way of disposing of the matter
was by referring it to the finance commit
tee. This met with general approval and
was SO ordered.