The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-02
Mayor Green Makes Statement
of His Position on Salaries.
Says All City Salaries Should Be
on Equal Basis.
FIRST SUNDAY SHOW.
Mayor Gives Orthodox Jews Per-
mission to Use Grand.
Other Items of Interest Around
City Building.

The question of raising the salaries
of the firemen which has been the
paramount issue in the city council for
some time and has caused a series of
contradicting statements and troubles
among the councilmen. is still up in
the air and nothing will be done until
the next meeting of the ways and
means committee which is scheduled
for next Tuesday night
The position Of Mayor Green on this
question has always been a sort of a
conjecture on account of the many
published interviews and denials. This
morning Mayor Green gave out his
position in this matter and stated that
it was the end toward which he would
edvise the council if asked for an
opinion and the basis upon which he
would place his arguments.
The mayor sums up his views as
follows:
TN this matter of raising the SAL
aries of the firemen of this city I do
not take into consideration whether or
not the firemen are entitled to the
raise they ask for.
my idea Is to get the different de-
partments of the city on as equal a
basis as possible.
1.-The salaries paid in Topeka are
rot as high as some cities pay and
higher than others. I do not say that
the hremen get enough money and
do not say that they are not getting
enough. I will say that their salaries
are not sufficiently low that they
would justify the advancing of the
whole salary schedule in the city and
this is what would have to be done if
The f1remen received their raise.
'I contend that the city council
should go through the whole city SAL
airy schedule and make the changes
slst on making any changes whatever.
Let us say that a fifteen dollar a
month raise is the proper increase to
make. This would mean putting all
the departments on an equal basis. 1t
would also mean $4,000 a year out
1.-THE present finances of the city
would not warrant such an expendi-
trre. Furthermore, the commission
form of government is but four
not unload any such burden on their
houlders. 1t is up to them to make
.he salary raise if it Is needed. 1 do
rot think that the city council today
is justified in interfering or molesting
the present salary schedule. It is as
good as it can be made as far as
equality Is concerned at the present
time. he
every few cities which have report
ed in answer to the inquiries have a
ttlu6TGuC0 DcIWCCn Tic Scldf lCS VI IlC
fire and police departments. The po-
Fee departmnts receive as much or
more than the fire departments, as a
general rule. And will say that I
believe the policemen are entitled to
as much as the f1remen.
"If the city council intends to raise
the salaries of the flremen I believe
they should raise the entire city sched-
ule and place it On an equable basis. "
Early last summer the city council
ordered w. w. Webb of this city to
place along the south side of his tract
between the city and Oakland a suit
able sidewalk for the use of the peo-
pie in this district. Otherwise the
city threatened to take in the tract
as part of the city and commence
the levying of taxes. The orders
were given and Mr.. Webb was in
formed.
But he has not done it and the late
muddy season has aroused the wrath
of the people in this part of the city.
They have complained to Mayor
Green that their shoe tops are not
high enough to keep out the over
flow from the Webb tract. This time
of year the whole thoroughfare
through the tract is Jungle of Mud.
Councilman Miller who is the Guard
ian Angel of the Second ward will be
given warning of the oncoming cru
SADIE of his flock and asked to see
that the sidewalk is constructed at
once It will have to be- admitted
that under the commission form of