The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-24
MAYOR MAKES THAT PLAIN IN
STATEMENT TO THE JOURNAL,
Amount of Reduction May he as Much
as Three Cents-Firemen's Ordi-
nance Pared.

Bookwalter last night announced the de-
cision reached at conference of these Of
ffcers and to-day at Q o'clock the pro-
posed amendments to the ordinance will be
submitted TO committee representing the
firemen and to members of the Council and
then copy of the substitute ordinance,
prepared by City Attorney Joss, will be
handed Mr.. Sourbier.
The new ordinance will provide the same
increases in the pay of the privates that
the Sourbier ordinance contemplates, but
changes are made in the schedules for the
is probable that the amended ordinance will
be brought before the Council at the next
Meeting, two weeks from tonight
In this connection it is also announced
that the city will establish new engine
house during the next year in Garfield
Park. on Raymond street. near East The
new engine house will cost from $4,000 to
$4,000 and will be similar to the one recent
ly established in Irvington.
RESULT OF CONFERENCE.
Mayor Bookwalter i'm announcing the re-
suit of the conference of the city con-
trolIer. members of the Board of Safety and
chief of the fire department, said last night:
I'VE met to take up the estimates for
the coming year for the fire department and
of course that brought up the question of
the proposed increase in salaries OF the
firemen. Under the Sourbier ordinance in
creases are contemplated which woul6
mean an addition of s27.951 to the payroll.
We felt that we could not approve the
schedule of increases because of inequaii-
ties, the increase provided for officers
of the department was out of all proper
ton to the increase for the privates The
Sourbier ordinance also seeks to create
new positions which we cannot approve.
We feel that We have agreed upon every
dollar OF increase that IL Is possible for the
city TO stand. L am determined to reduce the
tax levy and reduction shall be made. If
the Sourbier ordinance should he passed an
increase in the levy would In all probability
be necessary.
AT our conference we decided upon in
creases in the salaries of members of the
fire department which amount to a little
over $4,000 However, by economies in
other items in the estimate for the
department we arrived at an estimate
for the coming year that is but little over
$4,000 in excess of the appropriation for
the department. for the current year. This
engine to take the place of the broken-down
engine now doing .phony service over in
Haughville- Thus, because of the econ
omies i'm other items, the increase due to
excess of 5000, and in reality but about
half that amount. as the ordinance provides
for the pay of substitute firemen by the
city and the city will be reimbursed for
such payments by deductions from the SAL
aries of fremen who lay off.
GRADING OF MEN.
1.-The Sourbier ordinance provides for the
grading of the firemen into three classes.
which is an admirable idea. The men
should be graded. There is no reason why
a new man I'm the department should re-
ceive at once the same pay as the man who
has spent years in the service. fitting him
self for the work. We leave the figures of
the Sourbier ordinance, as they apply to
the men, unchanged The third-class men,
or new appointees, will receive $3.50 per
year instead of 1921. Is. as at present The
second-class men. those who have served
from one TO two years, will receive 1921. Is,
the same as all members of the department
now receive. The first-class men, those
who have served three years OF more, get
the only increase. They Will receive 1912
| instead of ssh .25. an increase of ss1.25, or
! IL per cent. This increase affects 103 men,
out of total of ZIG men at present in the
| department
THE Sourbier ordinance provides for an
! increase in the salary of the chief from
i $1,000 to $500. We leave that unchanged.
| The Sourbier ordinance provides for in
| crease for the first assistant chief from
$1,000 to 81 $50. We place the figures at 81 400
! The Sourbier ordinance provides for an in
| crease for the second assistant chief from
| Sl,2U TO $500. We provide an increase TO
$3.50. The Sourbier ordinance increases
| the salary of the superintendent of tele-
graph from 200 to $500. We fix the fig
ures at 81, 400. The Sourbier ordinance seeks
to create a new office of assistant superin-
tendent of telegraph at salary of $l,O5O
| We cut that out entirely, believing that
/ the work can be done by member of the
department drawing the pay of a first
| grade man.
OTHER CUTS MADE.
"The Soubier ordinance increases the sal
| aries of thirty-seven captains from $500
4 to s1,050. We fix the salaries at 81 02O The
ordinance creates thirty-seven lieutenants
/ at salary of $500. This work is now done
| by members of the department and we
| believe that IL can be done in the future
| by f1rst-grade men, rawing S912.50. Accord
| ingiy cut out entirely the provision for
| lieutendnts. The Sourbier ordinance in
\ creases the salaries OF engineers from 500
1 10 $1,000. We fix the figures at 1000 The
| Sourbier ordinance seeks TO create the office
| of chief operator at salary of $500 This
| work is now done by member of the de-
! partment. We cut out the provision for
/ the new Office and the work will be done
| by first-grade man, drawing s9l2.50
THE Sourbier ordinance provides for the
payment of twelve substitute firemen at the
| rate OF $3.50 per year. We leave the provi-
! sion stand. Heretofore the substitutes have
! been paid direct by the members of the
department laying of, and last year a little
| over $4,000 was thus paid by the men. In
| the future, III the new ordinance is adopted
deductions will be made from the salaries
OF the hremen when they lay off, makine
the work of substitutes necessary. and these
| deductions will so toward the payment OF
the salaries of the substitutes Twelve sub
| stitutes at $3.50 per annum will cost the city
s.. go per year and figuring on the amount
. paid by the men 10 the substitutes this year
the city Will be reimbursed about $1,000 OF
| this amount.
\ CONSIDERABLE SAVING.
'"Thus. ON the whole, the increased cost
| TO the city by reason of the increase in
pay of firemen will be in the neighborhooc
of $4,000 instead OF $4,000. under the
amended ordinance The estimates for the
needs of the department for the coming
year will really be about $4,000 instead oi
$4,000 in excess of the appropriation this
year. and of this $4,000 one-half will &c
for a new engine. making the increased cos
to the city by reason of the increase in
paw OF hremen approximately $500. We
| are able To accomplish this through econo
mics on other items. as | have said. A
| considerable saving will be made on the
item OF feed for the horses and again vs.
shall not have To make the repairs ant
improvements on engine houses and pur.
chase new equipmsnt at such expense al