The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-07-11
Old Figures Are the Right
Salary in the View of
Voting Majority.
What Will Those Who Were
Absent Do When Issue
Is Again Raised?
NOTICE GIVEN OF ORDINANCE TO
A PLACE SALARY OF THE OFFICE
AT $2,ooo-sEWERAGE WORK
AND SIDEWALKS RECEIVE At
TENTlON.

BY vote of to 4, with three
members absent (and how they would
have voted not KNOWN the Council
last night, under the law permitting
an increase of the mayors salary 10
$500, fixed it at the old figures, ST.
200. motion to fix at 81 300, made
by Mr.. Calm, was withdrawn when
Mr.. Calm saw that he could not OBJ
tain a majority vote. In explanation,
he stated that though he had opposed
Mayor Bliss election, he believed
81, 200 not enough for the Office, and
thought that the Office should carry
creditable saia-y, whomever the
people elected. The matter came up
on consideration of message from
the mayor, stating his reasons why
should be granted.
The Opposition.
Those opposing the increase be-
lieved the present salary ample, mas
much as the duties of presiding over
the council meetings, acting as Judge
of the police court and membership
on the various boards were No longer
required of thu chief executive.
Arguments in Favor.
Those in favor OF the increase gave
as their reasons that the salary is
not sufficient for a person to exist
upon, and that the mayor of the city
should receive a salary in keeping
with his position. After the vote, Al
derman Rocheblaye asked unanimous
consent to introduce an ordinance fix
| ing the mayors salary at $1,000, and
| this consent being refused, gave no
| tice that he would give notice, in con-
| formity with the rules of the council,
| that he would at the next meeting in
| troduce such an ordinance. This was
the feature of the meeting, although
many other matters of Importance
| we're considered.
When the council convened there
were present President Goodman pre-
siding, and Aldermen Andrews, Brown,
Calm, Durham, McHugh, Rocheblave,
Williams, Wright and YonSe. The
minutes of the previous meeting were
read and approved.
Communication From Mayor
In communication Mayor Bliss
informed the council that st. Anthony
hospital held a claim against the city
for $31 so for rent of beds for city
patients The matter was referred TO
i the finance committee.
The Mayors Salary.
Another communication from the
mayor directed the attention of the
council to the fact that although the
last legislature had given the council
the authority to fix the salary or
mayor at any sum between $1,000 and
| 81, 500, no steps had been taken. The
mayor said that as the consequence
was that the mayor has no fixed
salary. He also directed attention 10
the fact that the mayor received
9TH
| officials, while mis- duties and respon-
sibilities were much greater, and that
by paying strict attention TO the bust
ness of the city the mayor could save
thousands of dollars for the city an
nuaiE.
The Skirmish Line.
Alderman Calm moved to refer the
communication to the finance COM
mittee. but his motion did not meet
with a second for Alderman Andrews
stated that the mater could easily be
settled at the present time and with
out the aid of the finance committee.
This was the opinion Of other alder
men.
Alderman Calm then moved that
the salary of the mayor be increased
to $500 year, and this motion met
with a second
Alderman Wright moved to amend
by making the salary 81 200 per year,
the same as at present. His amend
ment was seconded.
The Firing Line.
In making this amendment, Alder
man Wright stated that he opposed
the increase by reason of the fact
that the city now has president oil
the council and a recorder and that
the present occupant of the office has
less to do than any previous mayor
in the history of the city. He SAID
he would therefore oppose the In
crease until the next election.
Alderman Yonge-was opposed 10 an
increase as was also Alderman Brown,
both stating that they thought ths
salary ample considering the duties
now 10 be performed.
Alderman Andrews stated that tnt
time had come for the councilmen "a
do something besides think OF raising
salaries, and he would oppose any IN
crease except where absolutely neces
sary.
Retreat is Sounded.