The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-16

several hospitals, and the salaries they
were to receive under the new schedule.
He wanted to know whether the
schedule adopted would apply to ON
GERS appointed and drawing salaries be-
fore the cut was made-in other words
whether the commission could change
salaries fixed by Act of the Legislature.
DR.. w. P. Matthews said there were
very few such officials, and if they
We're not satisfied with the schedule
they could put in a complaint, or re-
quest an opinion from the Attorney
General.
Secretary of State Curry said the law
provided that the commission should
fix salaries for the hospital officials and
employees, and that the commission had
acted within the law, thing the for
mer commission had not done.
DR.. Hatch said the officers whose sal
aries were reduced were few, and II
they so desired, the question might be
referred to the Attorney General for
an opinion.
Mr.. Barcar called attention to the
salary received by the Secretaries or
Boards of Managers, and thought they
were too small before the reduction was
made.
Secretary Of State Curry said the
duties of the Secretary did not con-
sumo more than two or three hours
month, and he knew plenty of business
men who would take the position for
the prominence it would give them,
without pay.
Mr.. Hale of Agnews said he had, at
a meeting a year ago, endorsed reso-
luton providing that employees sal
aries, which were less than 500 per
month, should not be reduced. Such
employees, he said, as had families,
now pay more for supplies than they
did a year ago. Employers in the East
were increasing, instead Of reducing
salaries and if reductions were neces-
sary, he thought they should have been
made two or three years ago, when
times were hard, and not now, when
times We're daily getting better.
Secretary of State Curry said the
schedule of salaries for persons receiv-
ing less than 500 per month were 70
per cent higher than persons outside
were getting. He was not in favor OF
reducing sialaries-Was, in fact, opposed
to it; but the reduction was made with
view Of spending no more money than
had been appropriated for the purpose.
Hospital positions were practically I'M
der civil service regulations, and once
a man was appointed to one, he might
expect to keep it as long as he lived.
Mr. Hale called attention to the fact
that employees in mercantile and other
establishments had a chance for pro-
H. ! H., hos
pitfalls had not.
Mr.. Greeninger of Agnews did not
like the schedule adopted by the coms
mission. Very few of the reductions or
increases were, to his mind, right. Sal
aries of many of the positions which
had been cut should have been in
creased, and vice versa. His principal
objection was that the salary of the
Secretary and Treasurer of each hos
pital had been reduced from $50 to 500
per month. He thought the salary
ought to have been increased, inasmuch
as meetings of the Boards Of Managers
were always held in that officials office.
That official had plenty Of work to do,
and was obliged to give bonds in the
sum of 100000 before taking Office.
Mr.. Woods of Stockton protested
against the reduction of the salary of
the baker of that institution from $75
to $50 per month. The man, he said,
had worked for thirty-six years and
had in that time asked for only one
vacation.
Secretary of State Curry said that the
bakers in all other institutions received
only $50, and one man did the work,
Al,
sistants to the chief baker.
Mr.. Woods called attention to the
fact that the Stockton Asylum baker
baked for LOO people.
j. H Seawell of Mendocino approved
Of the schedule prepared by the COM
mission. He said professional men
ought to receive more than 81 QUO per
year above maintenance, because if
they did they would soon absorb the
entire wealth of the world, He wanted
to see men paid good salaries. but
thought they ought to get a fiat con-
sideration. He agreed with Mr.. Cream
niger that the salary of the Secretary
and Treasurer should have been in
creased instead of reduced. He thought
the Secretary to the Medical Superin-
tendent should receive 1925 per month,
instead of 500, as fixed by the new
schedule. He thought the men who re-
ceived meager salaries ought not to
have had them reduced. Particularly
was that true with respect to the farm
hands, who were reduced from $40 to
$35. He said. however, that the COM
mission was working on the right line,
and if it continued the State would be
the winner for passing the law which
created it.
DR.. Campbell Of the Southern Cali
fornia Hospital thought the cut of the
laundryman was an injustice. The
laundryman was, in his opinion. the
most underpaid servant in the institu-
ton, and he thought that $50 for the
laundryman, and $50 for a farm fore
man, were rather incongruous.
Dr. Gardener of Stockton said 1t
struck him that the cut in salaries was
for the purpose of meeting a condition.
He cared little whether or not his salary
was cut, because he did not have to be
a Medical Superintendent unless he
wanted to. He said it remained to he
seen whether the adjudication made by
the board would be salutary or not
Cuts in salaries, he said, were always
acceptable to certain individuals. Re-
CARELESS of the extent of the cut made,
men would still be found to accept the
positions. His experience had taught
him that the best man was not the
cheapest No man could say what the
effect Of the cut in the salary list would
bring.
DIR. Crane of Agnews thought it a