Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-12
ON A
STRAIGHT SALARY
Is Idea Of Chairman Devine, Of
Judiciary Committee, as En-
bodied in an Ordinance
WOULD PUT IT UP TO PEOPLE
If Voters Did Not Elect Solicitor Com
petent to Handle city's Business, II
Wa. Their Fault, and Not Councils
Says Devine-Mayor Says Admin
istration Would Be Blamed.

Chairman W. s. Devina, of the ju-
dietary committee of the city council
would put the city solicitor on a
straight salary OF 5000 per year. and
put 1t up to the people to elect a lawyer
to the office who was competent TO
handle the city business, or take the
blame for additional expense created
by the necessity OF employing outside
legal talent.
At the regular meeting of the council
Monday night Mr.. Devine introduced
an ordinance amending the ordinance
already in force, which places the So
licitors salary at 500 per year. In pre-
senting the ordinance DR.. Devine said
his object was to save the city fees
that We're going wildly on year after
year. He thought the city had too
many solicitors, when it paid from So
900 to $4,000 per year, owing to the
amount of litigation. 1.-The question
has been raised" he stated, what
would the city do IL it got a poor man
for it's Attorney" Devine said that
that would be up to the people; If they
elected poor man they would nave 10
assume the responsibility, not the
council. He thought $500 salary
would be sufficient to induce good
attorney to devote what time would be
necessary to city business. AS u was
o{t hip fees.
There were no restrictions. II litiga-
ton came attorneys were hired, and the
city paid their prices. He thought that
salary for the solicitor would tend
to stop litigation rather than encourage
it.
DR.. Devine's ordinance was as fol-
lows:
BE it ordaiHed by the city council
Of Marshsllltown, Iowa, that section 4,
of chapter 49,, of the revised ordinances
Of the city OF Marshalltown. Iowa. be
repealed and the following ordained in
lieu thereof:
Section /. The city solicitor shall
receive a compensation of 5000 per year
for attendance and services In all cases
in the district court, and in the SUI
preme court Of Iowa, and for all trials
in the mayors court he is requested to
attend, for giving. written opinions to
all city officers, when requested, as to
their duties, powers, and all opinions
in which the city is interested, for
drawing all contracts in which the city
is a party, for drawing all ordinances,
resolutions and notices requested by
any city official; and he shall also re-
ceive all his necessary costs. expenses
and disbursements expended in attend
ing to his official business, which cost,
after full report of the city solicitor as
to amount, and on what account he is
entitled to same, shall he audited by
the city council"
Not Ready to Vote.
While the rules were suspended and
the ordinance passed to Its second
reading, further action was deferred
until the next meeting, as there seemed
to be quite a general feeling that the
members were not ready to5vote on it.
While many saw some good points.
some opposed it openly.
Clark thought public discussion
should be allowed before action was
taken. Psenicka opposed 1t, and
Packer thought it was too important to!
permit Of an immediate vote. Iseman
favored it, and Herman did in way,
altho he made very plain statement
of what he thought the city ought to
have in the way of solicitor.
Ingledue Opposed Strongly.
Mayor Ingledue asked the council to
grant him few words, and came gu.
openly against the ordinance. He said
that in the two years of his admins
tration the city had paid only abou.
$500 for legal services on cases that
came about in that time. To be true,
other fees were paid, but theyjwere for
cases that had been inherited from
past administrations. If the city got
along on $3.50 year for it's attorney,
why should it pay 5000. He cited the
from past administrations. He thought
much of this was due to a good ju-
dietary committee, whose policy had
been to settle rather than sue or stand
suit.
In answer to the mayor, DIR. Devine
said that he had interviewed several
of the leading attorneys, and some OF
the heaviest taxpayers of the city, ana
they We're in favor of such an ordin-'
ance. The city is a corporation that
disburses 100000 annually, and the
people should realize the Importance Of
electing city solicitor who is COM
petent to handle the legal business Of
such a corporation.
DR.. Devine himself moved to defer
further action until the next meeting.
Mr.. Psenicka raised an objection,
wanting to bring the matter to imme-
date vote, but on roll call voted aye
with the others. Mr.. Mcdonald was
the only absentee.