Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-12-18
1T DEPENDS
UPON WHO
GETS MONEY
GeSner Makes Bitter Fight
For Extra Pay For Fourth
Ward Election Board

When the question of pay to the
judges and clerks of the general cleo
tion came up by the reading of the
minutes. Alderman Gesner called at
tention to the fact that. as the judges
and clerks had worked over eight
horus, a days work under the city
charter, they were entitled to two
days pay each for the general cleo
tion and the correction was made ac-
cordingly.
The question came up in more
aggravated form, however, when
Chairman Churchill of the committee
on accounts and current expenses re-
ported a bill for the six judges and
clerks of election in the fourth ward
for SO each, making a total of $50,
and It developed that this was the
only bill for a double days pay to
have been submitted.
This brought Alderman Frazier to
his feet and he said he thought it
was just little bit too thin. That
IL was a funny thing that the judges
and clerks of only one ward had sub
mitted bills for the extra work when
he did not see that II was necessary,
even II they did put in one or two
hours over the eight-hour limit, for
them to stand upon the charter tech
nicality. Furthermore, he said he
had talked TO nearly all OF the judges
and clerks Of the election and that
he had not found single one Of
them that wanted to charge more
than SO per day and some felt lit
tie bit ashamed to ask for even 81,
considering the amount of work per-
formed.
He also stated that he had talked
to some of the members of the board
in ward four and that none of them
expected TO receive more than 81 for
their services. but said in a jocular
way that they would put in their
bills for SO anyway just for the fun
of It. "It is very funny thing to
me-" he continued, that none OF
them thought of asking for SO extra
until It was whispered in their
ears"
Alderman Gesner. who represents
the fourth ward and who called the
councils attention several times to
the charter provision concerning the
eight-hour day and advocated that
an extra days pay should be allowed
because some OF them had worked
n little overtime. arose again to exc
plain the situation and exclaimed that
he thought the Judges and clerks Of
election In his ward were worth the
extra pay anyhow, but did not know
they were or not in Alder
man Frazier's ward.
At this point Alderman Downing
asked the pertinent question OF WHO
presented the bills. and whether or
not the men put them in individually
or whether the aggregate amount
was presented TO the committee in
one account? Can you tell MS that,
Mr.. Gesner?" he inquired,
Alderman Churchill then stated
that the bills were certified to by G.
w. Tarpley. Alderman Gesner then
stated that he had nothing to do
with the bills and knew nothing
about them. After some little fur
ther discussion of the subject, he di-
rected his attack upon Alderman
Downing personally. He said IL was
very funny TO him that some OF the
who were working so
hard TO secure an increase in salary
for some of the officers OF the tire
were the ones that OBJ
leeted most strenuously TO the allow
anee of the extra days pay to the
Judges and clerks of election, and one
Of them was Alderman Downing.
After some further perfunetory ar
gument pro and con the matter was
finally settled by referring the bill
back TO the committee on accounts
and current expenses for investiga-
tion and further report.