The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-17

mates committee, which was so rash
| as to refuse to raise the salary OF the
recorders secretary to $1,000. after the
eX-secretary. who more than any one
else should know what the Office ds
worth, appeared before the committee
personally and besought them individu-
ally and acknowledgements those
OF them who have friends OH the police
force---to vote in favor of the increase,
Mr.. Melvin, Democrat, not content to
let partisanship blind his sense of right
and Justice, graciously led the fight to
restore the 5000 which the committee
Topped Oft and add another $500 to tt.
Mr.. Oliver, one of the seXtette which
effected a combination to rule the esti-
mates committee, rose to explain why
the salary had been cut and why 1t
was not eXpedient to increase 1t. He
did this in an interesting little speech.
Said Mr.. Oliver:
'"rhe salary OF this clerk was origin
ally 5000. When he was called upon to
act also as the clerk to the chief Of
police an extra $500 was allowed him.
The position is now shorn Of this extra
work, and by reason of the division of
the executive duties consequent upon
tho formation of new departments, his
lSSulaT WuTk Is IIlduelidIIS IlSILlSiIcll.
The work this clerk does is not worth
$50 a month, but because Of the dis
tinction and dignity which attaches to
the position. the committee was per-
suaded to allow him $1,000.
WHAT SALARIES COST.
The sum OF $l97,256. or eight mills
Of the ten levied for general city pur-
poses is used to pay salaries. 1t is
time to call a halt OH new offices and
salary increases. The services rendered
do not warrant this big outlay. This
ATTEMPT to increase the salary of the
recorders clerk is an imposition. 1t is
nothing less than looting the treasury.
We should be more thoughtful and
cautious in spending the peoples
money. The fire department calls FOR
an increased expenditure of $4,000:
new offices must be provided for, and
next year we must pay off every cent
of our big floating debt, which amounts
to more than sl50,000. When this in
crease in expenses is brought home to
the people in the shape of increased
taxes there will be a reckoning. Re-
member. we must face these people"
Mr.. Melvin referred to the extra work
of drawing warrants, which the new
charter puts on the recorders clerk,
and gave this as a reason why the in
crease should be granted. Mr.. Clemons
argued against Mr.. NIelvin's motion.
saying it was impolitic to challenge the
work of the estimates committee in the
matter of salaries. as the committee Is
supposed to have made a thorough CAM
vass of the salary matter and acted as
it's best Judgment dictated. He moved
to indefinitely postpone action on the
proposed increase. but his motion was
lost by the following Vote
Ayes--NIessrs. Finn. Evans. Wagner. Oliver,
Clemons. Vaughan, Chittenden-1
Nays-Nlcssrs. Ross, Costello. Morgan, Regau,
Melvin. Schneider, Shea. Cosgrove, Schroeder.
OBoyie. O'Malley, McAndrew-la.
COSGROvE CHANGED.
ON the motion to adopt the Melvin
amendment the vote was eleven ayes
to eight nays, Mr.. Cosgrove changing
sides.
Mr.. Costello though to get $500 addi-
tional for clerk hire In the controllers
office, but Mr.. Vaughan spragged him
with one of the most unrestraincd
criticisms ever heard Oh the floor OF
the councils.
I'VE are annoyed here cunstantly."
said Mr.. Vaughan. with appeals from
this oftic.. for additional clerk hire
They arc always holering for a raise
in salaries. I've been in that office
frequently. but have never seen any
one working there I do not like to
talk this way and wouldn't if | was
not forced to it. The controller has "A
long communication in one of today's
papers telling all about the hard work
in his Office and how the new charter
increases his duties.
"If the ripper bill increases his du-
ties, it also increases mis- salary $500
q year. Now he comes in with sneak
ir,, resolution for 5000 more. l think
n gets enough. The whole appro-
pvia ton to the city controllers de
Iartment with the exception of 800
tnr stationery goes to one family. Be
sides that he gets $500 from the school
board. The law says the controller
must be an expert book-keeper. Every
body knows the present controller is |
not an expert book-keepe,. Who ever
saw the controller in his ot1ice?"
EXTRA DUTIES A MYTH.
Mr. Chittenden remarked that he had |
seen the controller in his office. but
u.
Yer said he was of the opinion that |
all this talk. about extra duties im-
posed was pretty much of myth. It |
was only reasonable to suppose, he add |
ed, that the increased number of Off |
cials would tighten the work of all the |
offices. The vote on the motion to grant |
the increase 10 the controller was as |
follows:
Ayes Messrs Costello Morgan Regain Mel |
vim, Cosgroye, o'Boyle, McAndrew--7
Nays--Messrs. Ross, Finn, Evans, Wagner,
Schneider, Shea, Oliver Schroeder, Clcmons,
Vaughan, 0Nilley, Chittendcn--l2.
An amusing and remarkable incident
then occurred. Mr. O'Boyle offered a
motion that the salary of the city clerk |
be increased from $1,000 to $4,000 Mr.
Vaughan moved to Indefinitely post.
pone. Mr.. O'Boyle began to talk about |
the good work the city clerk does and |
how he above any city official should |
ing was in order.
That's all right" said Mr.. Vaughan.
mo one is questioning the value of the
city clerks services. II he just whis-
pers that he thinks he is entitled to |
more money he can have twenty-on
votes to give it to him. The city clerk |
hasn't indicated that he wants more
salary and doubt If he would take H."
Mr.. O'Boyle chimed in: Just try |
him. Maybe he would take it,"
City Clerk Lavelle all the time sat |
at his desk with downcast eyes blush
ing like a school girl. No one seemed |
to know how he felt about the matter |