Evening journal., 1900-05-25

meeting of City Council, the result OF
which may be that John p. Welsh, /
OF the Fire Department. Will
receive no increase in salary during his
term OF Office.
After Welsh had been elected by the
combination fire companies to succeed
George W. Sasse, the present chief, a
movement was started TO obtain an In
crease in salary OF from $400 to 5000
per year for that official
WAS NO OPPOSITION.
This move met with no opposition
from any source, especially as Mr..
Welsh announced his intention OF de-
voting his entire time TO the duties OF
his office and resigning his position inl
the Pullman works. Accordingly. AM
ordinance to that effect was introduced
in Council. read and referred to the
Law Committee for It's approval
ASSISTANTS WANT INCREASE.
AS soon as it became assured that
the salary OF the chief engineer would
be raised. an active effort was made BY
firemen and friends OF First Assistant
II. NJ. Wiley and Second Assistant John
Palfrey TO have their salaries raised
from 5000 to $500 per year. PRESSURE
10 this end was brought TO bear upon
members OF Council. il being urged
that not only was IL just that the as
sistants' salaries be raised. but unless
such action was taken. Il would create
disscnsion in the Fire Department
The result Of the pressure was made
evident at last nights meeting of Coun-
ell, when an ordinance was introduced,
read and passed, increasing the salar-
les Of all three officials.
ACTION WAS NECESSARY.
Inasmuch as the law provides that
the salary Of no city official shall be in
creased during his term of Office, and
as there viii be no more meetings OF
Council before the newly-elected engi-
neers take Office. action was necessary
last night
Shortly after o'clock all the mem
bers of Council being. present except
Mr.. Smith. in the chamber, a private
caucus was held in the mayors office
to consider the subject.
KANE BOLTED CAUCUS.
The conference lasted for an hour
and a warm time was experienced. as
I high words were frequently heard is
suing from the room.
Finally James Kane. member from
the Fourth ward. and chairman of the
Finance Committee. left the caucus
room and vehemently declared he
would take no further part In the pro-
ceedings Mr.. Kane said that the origi-
nal ordinance increasing the salary Of
the chief engineer had been side
tracked and another substituted in
creasing not only the chiefs salary, but
that Of the two assistants. That the
transaction was illegal and he would
have no hand In It and that he would
refuse to sign the payroll with the in
crease Of salaries.
NEW ORDINANCE SUBSTITUTED.
After the members had returned to
their chairs in Council chamber, and
routine business transacted, Mr..
Mousely, chairman of the Fire Com
mittee, presented an ordinance calling
for an increase In the salaries Of the
chief engineer and assistants.
Mr.. Kane was on his feet i'm an mo-
mont and said: Mr. President, that
Is not the original ordinance that was
referred to the Law Committee. /
want to know who signed IT,"
President AleXander-"It was signed
by the Law Committee and approved
/ by a majority OF the Fire Committee. -
Mr.. Kane-"Who are a majority OF
the Fire Committee?"
Mr. Mousely. Mr. Pierson, Mr..
| Monaghan and myself"
| Mr. Kane-'Well that ordinance is
not legal and 1 want to be put on rec
ord as voting against it."
AFFECTS CHIEFS SALARY.
Mr.. Fisher here said that it was no
time 90 debate the question, in which
President Alexander agreed and the
new ordinance was given three read
ings and was passed by an aye and nay
vote Of II TO 1, Mr.. Kane voting In the
/ negative.
After the passage Of the act Mr.. Kane
said, addressing the chair: Il know
that's not the original ordinance.
don't know who drew it. but I'll find
out You have not only knocked oui
j the assistant engineers from receiving
more pay but also the chief engineer. I
MIR. KANE'S OBJECTION.
Mr. Kane says that the original or
dinance was read and referred to the
Law Committee for action. That no re-
I port was made TO Council upon IL
That the clause providing for the in
! crease in salaries of assistant engineers
was not offered as an amendment tC
the original ordinace. and that the or.
dinance passed was not offered as q
substitute.
COUNCILS SIDE OF IT.
It was explained later that It has
been the custom for Council commit.
tees to change ordinances without the
formality OF an amendment or a sub
stitute. as in the Legislature and othel
legislative bodies.
What action MT. Kane will take In
the matter further than already STATED
he would not say.
/ Special Train AccOuntiTotal EcIipse