The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-11-27
Ross .VETOES IT
Ordinance TO Increase Police
mems Pay Not Approved,
CITY CANNOT AFFORD 1T
Measure is Now Likely to
Rest Until Next Year
CITY CANNOT AFFORD IT

Mayor FInlay Ross at the meeting Of
the city council last night vetoed the
ordinance passed at the last session Of
the council providing for an increase Of
the salaries in the police department
His reasons for doing so is contained in
the following communication addressed
to the council: IT return herewith an
ordinance entitled tAn ordinance fixing
the salary Of policemen in the city Of
Wichita, Kansas and repeating all ordi-
nances or parts Of ordinances Of said city
in conflict herewith without my sig
nature
In my Judgment the present condition
OF the general fund of the city does not
warrant the increase of salaries proposed
by this ordinance, besides Wichita is
now paying its policemen as much as is
paid for ike service by any other city
in the state and in at least one instance
we are paying more than is paid in other
cities. To make this increase. Of salaries
would necessarily reduce the amount Of
labOgers on our streets and thus depriva
many worthy and needy citizens Of an
opportunity to earn support for them
selves and their family II the financial
condition Of the city would warrant #
I-.would have no objection to the proposed
increase Of salaries of policemen, even
though such an Increase would give our
policemen larger salaries than are re-
ceived by policemen of other cities in
this state, but under the existing cir
oumstances. L cannot give my consent
20 this increase"
The ordinance provided for a raise from
SO TO $50 per month and was passed
without dissenting vote at the last
meeting. Upon motion the mayor. com
munication was ordered filed, but no
further action relative to the ordinance
was taken. Tt suu can become effective
by two-thirds vote OF the council re-
CARELESS Of the veto, but council must
take such step at the next meeting
The indications are that the matter VIII
5e permitted to remain in statu quo until
next year when a new ordinance viii
BE- drafted
The following report Of City Electri-
clan McVay is self explanatory:
To the Honorable Mayor ana City Coun-
Gil:
Gentlemen: 'In compliance with yolr
request that T test the candle power Of
the arc lights furnished this city by the
company having the contract. I respect
fully submit the following report:
irst however, I desire to exIain the
terms necessary for you to understand
Ia your consideration of this matter.
You viii remember that the contract
reads. that the arty Of the first part
shall furnish 179 arc lights Of 1900 nom
ina1 CandIe-power.
IT wish to say that there is no arc
lamp made, or at least in use, capable Of
giving 1000 cadle power. and most cities
have added to this part of the contract
the following sentence, And that they
shah be constantly supplied witch an cleo
trical energy of not less than $50 watts"
"The watt is the unit Of electrical
pdwer. 1t is not known how the term
oandle-power came into use. as the
mean spherical candle power is not half
that; but the terms have been used as
a standard by over which two-thirds
of the are light contracts have been
made
The senaral meaning Of q 1900 cadle- /
power lamp is a lamp that constantly
consumes $50 actual watts. READINGS /
taken at the terminals of the lamps the /
electrical societies and leading electrical /
engineers have adopted the rule that a
1000 cand}e power lamp shall consume at
the very least 459 actual watts, and on
this basis we must deal with The present 1