The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-06
City Helps Electric Light EN-
plOyes to Keep Alive.
Every Man in Plant Receives a
Boost in Salary.
SNYDER is PAID MORE
Street Commissioner Will Re-
ceive 81, 500 a Year After All.
Other Acts of City Council at
Meeting Last Night.

The employees of the city electric light
plant are the next lucky set of city
workmen to receive a raise in salaries.
AT an adjourned meeting of the city
council last night the employees of the
plant were granted a much larger wage
scale. The raise approved was as fol-
lows:
Superintendent $1,000 raised to $1,000
Engineer $500 raised to $500.
Linemen $3.50 raised to $780,
TFimmers $3.50 raised to $3.50.
Firemen $500 raised to $3.50.
Assistant flremen (new) $500.
This raise will not amount to very
much more to the city on account of
the fact that the number of firemen
have been cut down and the salaries
of the few raised.
Practically all of the councilmen were
an favor of the proposition. The city of
Topeka has not raised the salaries of
Its employees for many years and with
the increased cost of living it has been
q hard matter to procure the right kind
of men and keep them satisfied with
their city work.
Councilman Hughes has been the
leader in the salary raising crusade and
he made a strong talk in favor of the
electric light plan last night. A few of
the conservatives fought the ordin-
ance but they soon saw the justice of
the change and threw down their arms.
The ways and means committee of
the city council met just before the
meeting of the council last night but
contrary to all advance notices moth
ing was done with the petition for a
raise in the salaries of the members
of the fire department.
BY some unknown means the petit
tion was not in the chairman's box and
thus the matter was not before the
committee. Chairman Hughes was
asked after the meeting concerning the
petition and he said that he knew
nothing of its whereabouts. Later it
was found in his desk in the council
chamber.
This means that the matter will be
delayed about a month before it can
be passed upon by the committee.
Then it will go back to the council
here a new ordinance ordered drawn
Up and when the mighty wheels finally
reach the end of the line it will be
Washington's birthday.
There are more ways than one of
getting home even if a person has to
climb over the trees. Last night Street
Commissioner Snyder was allowed $25
n month for the use of his horse and
buggy, thus raising his salary to $1,000
year again.
1t will be remembered that the city
Sttorney discovered not long ago that
The street commissioner was receiving
+ $500 more than the law allowed. The
discovery was made. public and at the
next council meeting Mr.. Snyder re-
turned all he had received in advance
of his salary. The law said that the
street commissioner should only re-
Ceive $1,000.
In creating this new gift last night
the council raises the salary to $1,000
again. The horse and buggy in ques-
ton is the same means of transporta-
ton that the street commissioner has
feen using for years and no payment
was made for their services The
councilmen believe that Mr.. Snyder is
worth more money and this is their
method of making it.
1t has been decided by the city
officials to issue the annual report OF
the city officers in the near future
on account of the prospects of the
commission form of government and
the chances to hold back some of the
available funds. the committee de-
cided that they would wait.
The ways and means committee
thought last night that the people OF
the city should know just what the
city officials have been doing and the
big report will be published.
Petitions for electric lights over the
city are coming to the councilmer
thick and fast. A large number o.
lights were referred to the electric
light commission last night. With tn,
new municipal electric light plant anC
the modern equipment installed, tn
city Is able to light up many darl
corners which have been dangerous t.
the public for many years
InVIIEc TIE CADMcDc