The age-herald., 1899-06-11
Attempt to Increase Salaries of Baile
 and Mood MEETS WITH OPPOSITION Ordinance Has Introduced in an EXaCu-
 tive Session FIXING THEIR SALARIES AT $1,OOO MT. Baine Says if Economy is the Word Plenty of Men Will Run the
 Mayors Office for
 $l,5oO
FIXING THEIR SALARIES AT $1,00O

The predicted clash between the two fae- tions in the city council is rapidly coming to head, and will doubtless be on in full force at the next regular meeting of the mayor and board of aldermen. The trouble arose over an ordinance which was intro- duced during the recent executive session of the city council allowing an increase in salary to H. c. Woods and Thomas Baine, clerks to the auditor, and chief clerk of the city.
 The meeting being an executive one the facts concerning the introduction of the or dinance were kept secret as long as possi- ble, but they finally leaked out and have caused considerable comment. The present salary of each of each of these clerks is $720. The ordinance proposes raising this to $1 ,00O The name of the alderman intro- dusing the ordinance will not be given out, but it is said that he was a warm supporter of MT. Smith in the recent mayoralty con- test. Messrs. Baine and Wood were also supporters of MT. Smith, Mr Baine doing
 
 active work around the Smith headquar- ters. These facts may have nothing to do with the proposed increase in salaries, but the Drennen faction is intimating that the whole thing is a scheme to pay off po- litieal debt. Mayor Drennen said yesterday afternoon that he was against the ordi- nance.
 ''Men can be secured for $60 per month to hold these places as has been done hereto- fore, and see no reason for increasing the salaries just now" continued the mayor. "l am opposed to paying off political debts at the expense of the city of Birmingham." The ordinance has been referred to the committee on finance. Chairman Kerr of that committee was questioned regarding the matter. On being asked who introduced the ordinance, he said:
 This matter was brought up in an ex- ecutive session, and l do not think it proper to discuss it.
 He had nothing to say as to the probable result of the controversy.
 Get Cheaper Man for Mayor
 MT. Baine, one of the beneficiaries under the ordinance said that several of his friends had proposed to introduce the ordi- nance and he did not know exactly who 1t was that did it. On being told what the mayor had said in regard to men being hired for s60 per month to do the work he replied
 "WeI, if it is a question of economy purely, know of several persons who could be gotten to run the mayors office for $500 year. 1t keeps me busy about ten hours a day to do this work, and 1 do not think the increased salary would be too much."
 The salary of the auditor and city clerk is at present $1 800, and if their assistants $2 800 annually to run these departments. This will be $40O more than is required to run the mayors office. Here is where the kick comes from the Drennen faction of the council. The finance committee is com posed principally of Drennen men, and 1t is exceedingly doubtful whether the ordl- nance will get a favorable report from the committee. It is stated. however, that majority of the council are of the Smith faction, and that they may bring the mat ter up on minority report and pass the ordinance over, the committee.
 
 Haywood Go-Carts at