Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-02-04
PRUNING KNIFE
LAID ON SALARIES
NO SALARY SHALL BE HIGHER
THAN PRICE AT WHICH COM
PETENT MAN CAN BE SECUR-
ED MAY BE RULE

commenced last night when Com
missioner Miller stated he had re-
duced the force in the street depart
ment to one man, who will clear the
crossings under the direction of the
street supervisor, who has been re-
duced in salary from SIS to $50 per
month. The salary of the city at
torney's Office has been reduced from
$3.50 to 500 per month, and the
services of one man have been dis
pensed with at the city cemetery.
The committee appointed to fix
the salary for city assessor reported
in favor of allowing $3.50, but upon
motion of Salsberg an amendment
was offered and carried fixing the
salary of this official at $275. A.
spirited argument followed the
amendment offered by Salsberg, In
which 1t developed he had received
assurances from one of the appli-
cants for the position that he would
perform the work for this amount,
The names of II. X. Barnett, Story
Buck, r. T. Thompson and j. Fl.
Benton were submitted as apph-
cants, and the vote resulted in the
election OF Buck with three votes,
Mr.. Barnett receiving the support of
two members.
The question Of reducing the sal
airy expense was before an executive
session Of the council held Saturday
afternoon at o'clock, at which time
each commissioner was authorized to
Investigate his department and make
all possible reductions in the operat-
ing expense. An arrangement has
been effected by which Fire Chief
Martenson becomes day policeman,
thus relieving one of the regular Off
GERS from duty and in conforming
with this order lack Haddock has
been laid on. 1t is stated the COM
pletion of the downtown sewer sys-
ter will make possible material re-
auctions in the city engineers OF
Ace. and action In this department
win probably be made within short
time.
1t was stated by one of the MEM
bers Of the council last night that
the reduction In the wages Of street
supervisor was made because the
city had received an application
from a competent person to perform
the duties of street supervisor for
the sum OF $50 per month, and the
council did not see how such an Of
fer could be rejected and the pres
emit incumbent retained at the for
mer salary Of SIS per month. He
stated he would be favorable to act
ing similarly in any of the city posi-
lions, and IL the present incumbent
was not willing to have his salary
reduced to meet the offer at hand
he would vote in favor of placing
the applicant In the position. He
said he believed the city's business
should be conducted as an individual
would handle his own affairs, and
when the same services can be secur-
ed for lesser sum he believed 1T
was not only business proposition
hut also the duty of the council to
accept the reduction offered.
A communication was received
from William Enoch. contractor for
the pumping station for the down
town sewer system. to the effect
that the dynamos were now Install
ed In the pump house and the equip
ment ready to be tested and turned
over to the city. Mr.. Enoch stated
Che pump house was not properly
ventilated, and the moisture from
the sewer would greatly injure the
dynamos within short time On
this account Mr.. Enoch refused to be
responsible for the condition OF the
equipment and demanded an inspec-
ton at once,
The matter was explained by En-
g'neer GuiIland, who stated the well
leading TO the sewer should be COW
cred and proper ventilation pipes In
stalled. The matter was referred To
Commissioner Booth and Engineer
Guilland, who will prepare an esti-
mate Of the cost of such a covering
The council received from T. s
Ward of the J. Alexander company
an application for lease OF zoo
feet covering the ground held by a
lease to the Lewiston Navigation
company on the Snake river water
front, which has been assigned TO
the Alexander comnany The naYi-
cation company's lease covers 15O
feet OF water front and an additional
so feet is asked in order that grain
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