Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-01

| cents per hour per man. Now if there
were Il great deal to do this would
amount to a considerable sum-
What are the facts? The bills of the
Light ana Heat Co. for repairs to the
system for the years 1912 were So. rs;
for 1923, $14.17: for 19O4-5. s22.7S. Is
|, anything more needed to show that
after all. this great amount OF work
is rather imaginary than real? OF
course there has been a certain amount
Of new work done. but the care of this
cannot be Onerous or eXacting, since
il is all done by expert men.
Allow il all to be worth something
however. and pay for it reasonable
sum; and with fair basis for the 9TH
er work. You will still be far from the
sum now paid the chief engineer.
l know of no city in the State, in
class to be compared with ours, which
pays anything like as much.
W"terville pays her chief engineer
$3.50. which is twice as large as the sum
raid until very recently. Auburn pays
SOB; Gardiner pays $l0O; Rockland
avs 500. and Bath pays $50, an av-
crage of about 1885, and an average Of
less than four times the pay of the
fremen.
1t has been urged. in my hearing.
that in certain cities of the State. an
electrician is chosen and ii has been
suggested that that be done here. l
90 not believe the people of this city
look with favor upon the proposition
to create another salaried office. In
crease of offices means increase of sal
aries and increased burdens for the
people to bear.
The control of electric wires rests
with the municipal officers, and they
are entirely competent to make such
regulations as the needs of the city re-
Quire.
l am of the opinion. therefore. that
the salary of the engineer should be
reduced to $500. and the $500 so saved
be distributed among the firemen, on
Il pro rata, basis.
The fremen are asking for more pay,
and it would seem that a just consd-
GRAFTON of the service they render calls
for recognition at your hands.
l hope this suggestion will strike you
favorably and that you will take ac-
ton upon it before you elect a new
chief. in order that it may be made
operative, this year.
At the conclusion Of the mayors re-
marks. Alderman Harrington, of Ward
l. spoke al some length. Mr.. Earring
ton was not in favor of such sweep
ing reduction of salary as was propOs-
ed, and was not of the opinion that it
should be carried into effect without
looking into the matter.
Alderman Boothby, of Ward g. was
i'm accord with the mayor. and amounc-
ed that at the conclusion of the con-
vention. he should present. in the board
OF aldermen. the following resolve:
Be it ordained by the City Council
of the City of Augusta, as follows:
Section l of the Revised ordinances,
relating to salary of chief engineer. b"
and the same is hereby amended by
striking out all the words after de
partment," in the first line. and adding
in place thereof, the words. three hum
drcd dollars" so that the section as
amended. shall read: Chief engineer Of
the fire department, three hundred dol
lars"
Alderman Roothby was followed by
Alderman Kocne. of Ward 6. Mr.. Keeue
ives in the main of the same opinion
as his predecessor. but thought tina,
the sum of $500 was too small. and an
nounced that he should sent to the
aldermen an amendment 20 the resolve.
making TIE amount of the salary $500.
Councilman Maher. of Ward 5. was
opposed to a salary Of $500. and thought
that it was for the city'S interest to
pay man q sufficient salary to enable
him to devote his entire time to the
duties of the Office of chief engineer
He thought that it would be poor policy
to have an engineer who should divide
the work of the office with his daily oc-
cnration. as he might be at work in n
distant portion of tho city, when an
alarm should be rung in. Mr.. Mahar
presented his arguments in forcefui
manner. and with n clearness that
seemed to meet the approval of the ma
jority of those present.
In the board of aldermen after the
convention had dissolved, the resolve